Hydrogen has become one of the most viable and attractive alternatives to replace fossil fuels and decarbonize industry. The reasons for this are diverse. One of them is that hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, and because of this, it has the advantage that we can obtain it from various sources. The only thing we must take into account is that it is not found alone in nature, and we must dissociate it from other elements to be able to use it. This is why it is not considered a primary energy source, like wind, solar, hydraulic or fossil fuels.
Depending on the source from which it is obtained and the CO2 emissions emitted into the atmosphere, hydrogen has been given different colors as a classification.
Which are the types of hydrogen?
Let’s see what characteristics each type of hydrogen has according to its source:
- Grey Hidrogen: is that which comes from fossil fuels. It is usually extracted from natural gas and as a result generates the dreaded carbon dioxide.
- Blue hydrogen: like gray hydrogen, it comes from fossil fuels. The difference is that part of the CO2 generated is captured and stored, so emissions are neutralized. Even so, it is not possible to capture 100% of the CO2
- Turquoise hydrogen: also produced from natural gas through the pyrolysis of methane. In this process, the methane passes through a molten metal and releases hydrogen and solid carbon, so it does not emit CO2 into the atmosphere. In addition, the solid carbon can be reused in other industrial applications. So this way is already more environmentally friendly.
- Green hydrogen: is that which is generated from water, through the process of electrolysis. Unlike the previous methods, it is a totally clean process since it does not generate waste. The only thing that is needed is a source of electricity, so the key is that this source is clean, such as wind or solar power.
- Pink hydrogen: is obtained from the electrolysis of water in nuclear power plants. It is just as clean as green energy and uses an energy source without interfering with its normal work.
- Golden hydrogen: is obtained from abandoned oil wells, thanks to the intervention of microorganisms and bacteria that decompose the materials causing hydrogen to be released. It is still in a recent process of research, although everything points to the fact that it could be an interesting source of energy.
Green hydrogen as an energy carrier
As we have said before, we do not consider hydrogen as a primary energy source, but as an energy vector, that is, it is a means to store energy that has been produced by primary energy sources and release it when and where it is demanded. Therein lies much of the potential of this element, in its functioning as a large fuel cell.
To store it, it needs to be compressed because, being so thin, the volume it occupies needs to be reduced to make storage efficient and practical for use in applications such as mobility or transportation.
For all these reasons, green hydrogen is positioned as a strong ally for the energy transition, since both its production and consumption are climate-neutral and make it possible to decarbonize both industry and mobility. We have the necessary knowledge on how to generate it, how to do it economically and how to handle it safely. All we need to do is to further develop the hydrogen value chain and transform this component into a major player in the energy mix of the future, ensuring clean energy and improving the climate situation on our planet.
At Hiperbaric, we are committed to sustainability and the decarbonization of industry and mobility. That is why we develop hydrogen compressors that improve hydrogen storage and transportation. These compressors are key to the green hydrogen value chain. Our work is aligned with the need for clean and efficient energy solutions, positioning hydrogen as an essential pillar for a sustainable future. We work to be an active part of the energy transition, ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations.