Hydrogen-powered myth

When hydrogen is used as a fuel, it is green. But it’s a myth that it is a clean source of energy.

Yes, when it is burnt it only produces water, but it is the production of hydrogen that is the problem.

Most of the hydrogen produced today uses either coal or natural gas and is carbon-intensive, with over 90% being produced by steam methane reforming (SMR) process using natural gas.

The alternative for producing hydrogen is by the electrolysis of water, but this is currently a costlier approach than the SMR route. As dictated by the basic laws of thermodynamics, less energy is produced than consumed. In other words, the quantity of electricity required is greater than the energy output of the hydrogen produced.

When there is spare capacity of electricity generated by renewable sources, this will not be a problem. Until then, hydrogen-powered transport will not be green.

Robert Parker, Heversham