Green Hydrogen

Green Hydrogen production
1-INTRODUCTION:
Green hydrogen is a gas produced from renewable energy through particular technique: "water
electrolysis", that is a process allowing the separation of water (H20) into oxygen (O) and
hydrogen (H2) by an electric current.
Hydrogen is called "green" if the electricity used for this operation is of renewable origin, such
as wind or solar. It differs from grey hydrogen, obtained from fossil sources, such as natural gas
or coal.
To achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, humanity will not be able to simply consume less energy.
It will also have to produce it while emitting as little CO2 as possible and, to do so, use
decarbonized production methods.
Electricity, produced from renewable energies or nuclear power, has this characteristic and will
occupy an increasing place in the world energy mix. However, not all current energy uses can
easily be electrified: trucks and buses for long-distance transport, aviation, some industrial
processes, etc. For these uses, hydrogen is a possible solution to replace fossil fuels.
Used mainly by some industries (refining, fertilizer production), hydrogen is currently produced
from fossil fuels. Tomorrow it could experience a double revolution. First, it could be produced
from low-carbon electricity. The second: to be used for other purposes, particularly in transport.
For these two reasons, it is likely to reduce our CO2 emissions and play a major role in the
energy transition. Symbolically, the Eiffel Tower was illuminated on May 25 thanks to a
generator powered by low-carbon hydrogen.
2-HOW IS HYDROGEN PRODUCED:

There are different techniques for the production of hydrogen. According to the chosen process,
the hydrogen obtained can be qualified as black, grey, blue, green, yellow... Assigning a color
to hydrogen is a way to reflect the material and energy sources used in its production cycle.
There are three methods of making hydrogen:
 Water electrolysis.
 Gas reforming (or steam reforming).
 Methane pyrolysis.
*
The different hydrogen production processes:
I. FOSSIL RESOURCES:
Today, for economic reasons, 95% of hydrogen is produced from fossil sources: by reforming natural
gas in particular or by gasifying coal or wood.
- Reforming: Today, 95% of hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels by reforming: this chemical
reaction breaks down hydrocarbon molecules under the action of heat to release the hydrogen.
Steam reforming of natural gas is the most common process: natural gas is exposed to very hot
steam, and thus releases the hydrogen it contains. But the production of hydrogen by reforming has
the disadvantage of releasing carbon dioxide (CO2), the main gas responsible for the greenhouse
effect in the atmosphere. Some techniques have been put in place to trap carbon dioxide, but are
still under development.
- Gasification: Gasification is a technique for producing energy from fossil (coal) or renewable
(biomass) sources. It is a process of transformation of a solid into gas. This gasification is used to
convert carbonaceous materials (fossil hydrocarbons, biomass) into a gas called syngas. The process
consists of the pyrolysis of carbonaceous material at high temperatures (400 to 1,000°C) followed by
partial oxidation in the presence of air, steam or pure oxygen. This type of hydrogen is called: black
hydrogen
II. BIOMASS: The term biomass refers to all materials of plant and animal origin that have the
common characteristic of being biodegradable and renewable.
Biomass energy is currently extracted either by combustion (30% electricity, 70% heat), or by
anaerobic fermentation (methanization: 60% CH4, 40% CO2), or by gasification at high temperature
of low-fermentable waste.
III. ELECTROLYSIS: appears to be a greener technology. As long as it is powered by renewable

electricity. To produce hydrogen by electrolysis, water must be injected into a tank containing an
ELECTROLYTE. The water reacts at the anode to form oxygen gas (O2) and positively charged
hydrogen ions (H+). These ions then pass through a membrane, towards the cathode. There, they
meet electrons and recombine into hydrogen gas (H2) with the help of a catalyst.
BIOMASS & ELECTROLYSIS

FOSSIL RESOURCES
GREEN HYDROGENE:
Green Hydrogen can be produced by "water electrolysis": this process consists of passing an
electric current through water to break down its molecules (H2O) and extract hydrogen. If, in
addition, the current used comes from a renewable energy source, so all elements of the
production cycle have a low carbon footprint. The hydrogen produced is called green hydrogen.
It is also possible to produce green hydrogen from biomass through a gasification process. The
process consists of heating biomass to a very high temperature to extract a synthesis gas, then
hydrogen.
Water electrolysis technologies :

Alkaline water electrolysis: Alkaline water electrolysis is the most mature technology that has been
installed at a commercial level due to its high energy conversion efficiency and reliable performance.
It is a method of producing hydrogen by separating oxygen and hydrogen from water using an electric
current in an alkaline solution like POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE (KOH) or SODIUM HYDROXIDE (NaOH).
Proton Electron Membrane Electrolysers: PEM electrolysis (= proton exchange membrane)

consists in separating the electrodes by a gas-tight and strongly acidic polymer membrane, letting H+
ions pass. Very reactive, it can be used efficiently for intermittent energies. However, it requires very
expensive materials.
Solid Oxide Electrolysers : Solid oxide electrolysis is a process of electrolysis of water H2O or carbon
dioxide2 CO2 using electrolytes made of solid oxides, OR ceramics, to produce oxygen O2 and hydrogen
H2 or carbon monoxide CO.

Green Hydrogen

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Green Hydrogen production

2-HOW IS HYDROGEN PRODUCED:

III. ELECTROLYSIS: appears to be a greener technology. As long as it is powered by renewable

BIOMASS & ELECTROLYSIS

Water electrolysis technologies :

Proton Electron Membrane Electrolysers: PEM electrolysis (= proton exchange membrane)

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