Posted by Brad Johnson on 18/10/2023 at 09:59AM
The Biden administration is spending
billions
on the National Clean Hydrogen Strategy, even recently celebrating
Hydrogen
Day
on October 8 (because hydrogen’s atomic weight is 1.008) to “mark a
symbolic opportunity to celebrate hydrogen—clean hydrogen,
specifically—and the crucial role this element plays in supporting a
robust, equitable clean energy future for all Americans.”
“There’s a lot to like about hydrogen as a fuel
source,”
climate journalists such as David Gelles gush.
The only problem is that “clean hydrogen,” also known as “green
hydrogen”—that is, hydrogen gas generated using renewable
electricity—isn’t particularly “clean” or “green,” although it’s less
polluting than “gray” and “blue” hydrogen, produced from natural gas.
Unfortunately, even “green” hydrogen is a powerful greenhouse pollutant.
As an important
paper from
Environmental Defense Fund scientists Ilissa Ocko and Steven Hamburg
explains, hydrogen is unavoidably leaky, because it’s such a small
molecule, and like methane, has a high short-term warming effect. In
fact, one of hydrogen’s main warming effects is to increase the
atmospheric lifetime of methane. Methane breaks down in contact with the
hydroxyl (OH)
radical
formed when ultraviolet light interacts with ozone (O₃) and water
vapor (Hâ‚‚O). Hydroxyl also reacts with hydrogen molecules (Hâ‚‚), so
significant hydrogen pollution means atmospheric methane doesn’t break
down. Thus, Ocko and Hamburg find:
Hydrogen’s 100-year greenhouse warming potential (GWP) is twice as
high as previously thought, and its 20-year
GWP is 3 times higher than its 100-year
GWP. Hydrogen’s maximum
GWP occurs around 7 years after the initial
pulse of emissions, with a range of 25 to 60 based on uncertainties,
and a central estimate of 40.
In short, “green” hydrogen isn’t.
The purpose of the
hearing
is to examine the opportunities and challenges in using “clean” hydrogen
in the transportation, utility, industrial, commercial, and residential
sectors.
Witnesses:
- Dr. Sunita Satyapal, Director, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies
Office, Hydrogen Program Coordinator, U.S. Department of Energy
- Dr. Glen Richard Murrell, Executive Director, Wyoming Energy Authority
- Mike Fowler, Director, Advanced Energy Technology Research, Clean Air
Task Force
- Michael J. Graff, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, American Air
Liquide Holdings, Inc.
- Brian Hlavinka, Vice President, New Energy Ventures, Corporate
Strategic Development, Williams
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
366 Dirksen
10/02/2022 at 10:00AM
BMW, Daimler, GM, Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Nissan,
Toyota, and VW will showcase their latest hydrogen vehicles. Rides will
also be available from 12 – 3pm.
The Hydrogen Road Tour is a two-week trip across the U.S. with more than
30 planned stops beginning on August 11 to showcase clean, efficient,
hydrogen powered cars. The tour, organized by the U.S. Department of
Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy, National Hydrogen
Association, and California Fuel Cell Partnership, seeks to highlight
progress made with the development of hydrogen vehicle and fueling
technologies. Hydrogen, in addition to biofuels and hybrids, is one of
many options that can play an important role in our future energy
portfolio. Among these options, hydrogen can make the greatest long-term
impact on reducing pollution and fuel imports from vehicles.
999 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20024. (Between 9th ST and 12th ST SW,
across from the DOE Forrestal Building and in
front of the Smithsonian Castle).
Department of Transportation
National Hydrogen Association
California Fuel Cell Partnership
District of Columbia
14/08/2008 at 12:00PM