Europe pledges hydrogen powered green energy

There are many reasons why hydrogen is a key priority to achieve the European Green Deal and Europe’s clean energy transition

Renewable electricity is expected to decarbonise a large share of the EU energy consumption by 2050, but not all of it. Hydrogen has a strong potential to bridge some of this gap, as a vector for renewable energy storage, alongside batteries and transport, ensuring back-up for seasonal variations and connecting production locations to more distant demand centres.

To mention one country, which is taking the topic in earnest, we can refer to Boris Johnson’s ambitious 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution which will create and support up to 250,000 jobs. This revolution in green energy includes the use of hydrogen in powering fuel cells. One reads how such a vision involves working with industry aiming to generate 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 for industry, transport, power and homes, and aiming to develop the first town heated entirely by hydrogen by the end of the decade. Apart from the evolution of nuclear energy plants and electrification of all kinds of mobile transport, one meets with an altruistic drive by the UK government to boost innovation and research.

Readers may ask what is Malta doing to meet its requirements to decarbonise its fossil-based energy sources. The recent budget proposals aim for the island to become zero emissions by 2050, but as such there have been no announcements as to when the use of fossil fuel will be phased out particularly in domestic transport. The use of hydrogen in cars seems to be an alien concept to most readers so one may excuse my indulgence to explain its advantages. It is increasingly be

“Many ask what are the characteristics of hydrogen and fuel cell cars. Are these safe and cheaper to use than electric models? “

coming a focus area for use in both cars and aircraft. In fact builders, such as Airbus, look forward to the future ushering of zero-emission flights. The aviation industry is under increasing pressure to adopt environmental-friendly technology. In fact, it is good to mention that Airbus wants to explore the concept of the world’s first climate neutral, zero emission commercial flight. They hope to put such aircraft in service by 2035 but naturally the success of these planes would require infrastructure at airports for hydrogen transport and refuelling facilities to meet the demands of daily operations. Appropriate legislation will need to support this new sector. It would also need extra funding for research and technology, digitalisation and mechanisms that encourage the use of sustainable hydrogen fuel.

Another innovation resulting in zero emissions is the use of fuel cells in cars. This is not rocket science; we should not forget that hydrogen technology is not new, but has been tried and tested in a range of fields. By way of example, refineries today use large quantities of hydrogen as a process gas in the processing of crude oil. Pipelines and hydrogen storage have also been in operation for decades. Hydrogen is not naturally occurring, yet it can be found in various other substances and can be extracted. Hydrogen can be generated from natural gas and biomass and electrolysis using renewable energies such as solar, wind or hydropower generation. As hydrogen can be generated using methods suited to regional characteristics and climate, an ideal hydrogen cycle that does not rely on fossil fuel can be established in the immediate future. Needless to say, in Malta there is a challenging dilemma how to plan for the change-over from petrol/diesel motors to electric or fuel cells ones.

Undoubtedly, governments in the past have commissioned various scientific studies on how best to introduce efficient mass transit solutions. These present important opportunities for commuters, in a drive to sustain the challenge of a sustainable green economy. Malta has just been offered millions in EU funds to be invested in future green projects and this is a unique chance to exploit their use. Recognising such opportunities, we read how on a global scale the automotive industry is investing billions in developing, manufacturing and bringing to market engines that are cleaner and more fuel efficient. It goes without saying that the ideal solution how to turn our traffic in green mode is not an easy one. Noble efforts have been made by Transport Malta to exempt electric cars from registration tax, and so far, the island has a growing number of charging bays (albeit limited in number). Technological advances in electric mobility enable carmakers to offer an ever-expanding range of vehicles, which makes buyers spoilt for choice.

As stated earlier, in Europe, public concerns about air quality and greenhouse gas emissions are growing. This concern is coupled with increasingly stringent EU emissions regulations and changing trends in car ownership and ride-sharing has added increasing impetus to the automotive industry’s commitment to produce cheaper ultra-low emission vehicles. It has led to a range of different solutions, including hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, extended-range electric vehicles and the introduction of zeroemission tailpipe vehicles such as battery electric vehicles (BEV) and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. Many ask what are the characteristics of hydrogen and fuel cell cars. Are these safe and cheaper to use than electric models?

The answer is that both electric and hydrogen technologies come with their advantages and challenges. To start with, hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. It is itself renewable and can also be produced using renewables such as wind and solar. It has been used safely and successfully in industrial processes for a number of years. In fact, a fuel cell stack is made up of a large number of individual cells. In each cell a chemical reaction takes place between hydrogen molecules (H2) and the oxygen (O2) present in the ambient air. This reaction produces both water (H2O) and an electric current. A number of electrons so generated move from the negative to the positive electrode, thus generating electricity to drive the motors.

In conclusion, as more attention has turned to limiting global warming, the potential for hydrogen to enable the necessary energy transformation has taken a pivotal role. As a fuel, hydrogen has distinct benefits when compared to electric motors, including fast refuelling and high energy density. Another practical advantage is that hydrogen refuelling infrastructure could also be readily scaled up without the need in Malta to invest in expensive electricity distribution upgrades at Enemalta.

The technology of the future is with us, as fuel cell vehicles are particularly suited for applications with longer-range journeys (in between refuelling), ideal for aircraft, which once tourism picks up, can fly over our island with zero emissions.