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Power-to-X: Renewable hydrogen and other green fuels

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How can hard-to-abate sectors be powered by green electricity and water?

How it works

The science that makes wind into renewable hydrogen

Many areas of industry and most forms of heavy transport  are hard to power directly with electricity. So, how can we use electricity to power them in a different way? 

Power-to-X means using renewable electricity, for example wind power, to create something else (‘X’). The ‘X’ created is an energy carrier – usually renewable hydrogen – which can power medium- to heavy-duty transport or be used in industry . 

Renewable hydrogen, or green hydrogen, can also synthesised into other green fuels, such as e-methanol for shipping, e-kerosene for aviation, and e-ammonia for industrial use in fertilisers or as a shipping fuel.
 

The scientific process used to create green hydrogen is electrolysis. In other words, green electricity is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. 

Renewable power
×

Renewable electricity is generated from wind farms or solar centres and transmitted to the grid or directly to electrolysers.

Electrolysis
×

Electrolysis involves splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen with the help of electricity. Electrolysis produces renewable hydrogen if powered by green energy.

H2 Renewable hydrogen
×

We can use renewable hydrogen in industry or to power medium- to heavy-duty transport. We can also use it to create other green fuels – for shipping, aviation, or industrial use in fertilisers, among other things.

Renewable power Electrolysis H2 Renewable hydrogen
Power-to-X
  • Renewable power
    Renewable electricity is generated from wind farms or solar centres and transmitted to the grid or directly to electrolysers.
  • Electrolysis

    Electrolysis involves splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen with the help of electricity. Electrolysis produces renewable hydrogen if powered by green energy.
  • H2 Renewable hydrogen
    We can use renewable hydrogen in industry or to power medium- to heavy-duty transport. We can also use it to create other green fuels – for shipping, aviation, or industrial use in fertilisers, among other things.

Growth

Power-to-X must become a solid pillar in the energy system

One third of global carbon emissions come from industry and heavy transport. While we have the science for producing renewable hydrogen to decarbonise these sectors, the challenge is to:

  • combine and scale the solutions
  • make them cost-competitive
  • make them work in unison with fluctuating renewable energy production.
Green hydrogen storage tank

benefits

Key benefits of
Power-to-X


FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Power-to-X, green hydrogen, and other green fuels

  • Is hydrogen renewable?
    Yes, if produced from water via electrolysis using renewable electricity. Traditionally, producing hydrogen is associated with high carbon emissions, but by using electrolysis powered by renewable energy, the process is carbon-free.
  • Does the production of renewable hydrogen generate any waste?
    The only by-products from hydrogen production are oxygen and waste heat. The oxygen is vented to the air, which already consists of 21 % oxygen. The waste heat can be used for heating purposes, for instance in industry or district heating, depending on the individual project.
  • How expensive is renewable hydrogen?
    Renewable hydrogen comes at a price premium to fossil-based alternatives. However, with the right regulation and industry action, we believe that the gap can be closed eventually. 
  • Is renewable hydrogen safe?
    Yes, hydrogen is safe if handled correctly. Hydrogen is a non-toxic gas at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Hydrogen is explosive under certain conditions when mixed with air. Therefore, tried and tested international standards exist on how to design and monitor hydrogen installations.
  • What are the uses of hydrogen?

    Renewable hydrogen can:

    • replace all uses of fossil-based hydrogen in heavy industry and be applied in new areas of industry
    • be used in fuel cells in medium- to heavy-duty land transport
    • be used in aviation and shipping via synthesis to green fuels, such as e-methanol, e-ammonia, or e-kerosene.
  • How can we speed up the adoption of renewable hydrogen?
    Policymakers play a key role in making renewable hydrogen a successful carbon-neutral alternative to fossil energy sources. Until the technology has been scaled and costs have come down, we’ll need enablers and incentives to bridge the current cost gap.

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