Hydrogen
Podcast episodes about Hydrogen
Here're some of our podcast episodes related to hydrogen.
#74 The Future of Norway & Germany's Energy Collaboration (with Christian Maaß, BMWK)
In this episode, we explore the evolving energy partnership between Norway and Germany. Our guest is Christian Maaß, who heads Department II for Heat, Hydrogen and Efficiency in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.
We discuss the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, with a focus on hydrogen, energy efficiency, and cross-border cooperation. With both countries facing increasing demands for sustainable energy solutions, Christian shares insights into the integration of economic and climate policies, the challenges of transitioning to hydrogen, and how this unique partnership is shaping the future of energy in Europe. Listen for an in-depth conversation on how Norway and Germany are working together to address global climate challenges.
#68 Hydrogen Today: Status Quo, Barriers, and Overcoming Challenges (with Rob Stevens, Topsoe)
Today we delve into the dynamic world of hydrogen energy. Hosted live at the HySchool Days 2024, the episode features Rob Stephens from Topsoe, a technology provider specializing in catalysis and process technology. The discussion spans the current status of hydrogen, the various barriers impeding its broader adoption, and potential strategies to overcome these challenges.
As an expert in green fuels and a proponent of the energy transition, Rob provides invaluable insights into the role of hydrogen in achieving a sustainable future, touching on topics such as blue and green hydrogen, and their implications for various industries including aviation and heavy manufacturing.
#54 Hydrogen Safety - Rather Safe than Sorry (with Nicola Paltrinieri, NTNU Team Hydrogen)
Nicola Paltrinieri is a Professor of Risk Assessment at the NTNU Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, and leads the NTNU Team Hydrogen. He joins us to discuss the complexities of hydrogen safety and its role in the energy transition.
The conversation starts off by bringing up an earlier podcast episode. In episode 44, Professor Robert Warren Howarth, co-author of the controversial paper "How Green is Blue Hydrogen?" was a guest. Professor Paltrinieri was part of a comment team that aimed to provide a more balanced view of that paper, and helps us understand the nuances of the debate surrounding the paper, emphasizing the importance of data accuracy, context, and diversification in investment.
Following the blue hydrogen discussion, the conversation shifts to hydrogen safety. Professor Paltrinieri explores the complexity of hydrogen safety, emphasizing that it involves multiple factors beyond just combustion and explosion risks. He addresses the challenges of working with an emerging technology where operational experience is limited, leading to uncertainties in statistical analysis. Additionally, he discusses the interaction between human factors and technology, and the need for effective inspection and maintenance strategies.
#44 How Green is Blue Hydrogen? (with Prof. Robert W. Howarth, Cornell University)
Robert Warren Howarth is a professor and earth system scientist at Cornell University (USA), and is also member of the Climate Action Council appointed by the State of New York. In 2021, Howarth and Stanford Professor Mark Z. Jacobson, stirred up controversy with their paper, "How Green is Blue Hydrogen?"
Their study found that the production of blue hydrogen results in significant greenhouse gas emissions, both carbon dioxide and unburned fugitive methane, which is a major contributor to climate change. Even with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, the emissions associated with blue hydrogen are still substantial, argue Howarth and Jacobson.
The peer-reviewed paper sparked a lot of reactions. Among others, researchers here at NTNU later published a Comment on “How green is blue hydrogen?”, questioning Howarth and Jacobson's methods for computing the energy balance of blue hydrogen plants, and saying the assumed methane leakage in the United States cannot represent all natural gas and blue hydrogen value chains globally.
Has the dust now settled? We sat down and had a chat with Professor Robert W. Howarth, to find out.
#42 German Norwegian Hydrogen and CO2 Cooperation (with Odd Even Jakobsen)
Germany has two needs: First, hydrogen at scale to to decarbonize its heavy industry. Second, access to storage for its CO2. Norway can offer both. Therefore, Germany and Norway are currently exploring what pipelines to build, where wind farms can be built and CO2 storage can be accessed.
Odd Even Jacobson is a Project Manager at Gassco and looks at the feasibility of these mammoths tasks. Together with its German counterpart Gassco they are currently studying to see how a hydrogen and CO2 value chain could look like that would bring the two countries closer together. In this episode, Odd Even and Julius discussed the current gas infrastructure and how gas is transported from the Norwegian Continental Shelf to Europe. They also discuss how hydrogen could be used in the future for industrial applications, and the challenges that both countries might face in implementing a hydrogen and CO2 value chain.
Hydrogen
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Hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier that can be produced from a variety of renewable sources, such as wind and solar power, and can be used to power vehicles, heat homes, and generate electricity.
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One of the main advantages of hydrogen as an energy carrier is that it produces no greenhouse gas emissions when it is burned, making it a key element in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
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Hydrogen can be used as a fuel in fuel cells, which convert the chemical energy of hydrogen into electricity, with only water as a byproduct. Fuel cells can be used to power vehicles, homes, and other applications.
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Hydrogen can also be combined with carbon dioxide to produce synthetic fuels, such as methanol, which can be used in existing combustion engines. This process is known as Power-to-Liquids (PtL) or Power-to-Gasoline (PtG).
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The production of hydrogen is currently dominated by fossil fuels, mainly natural gas, which produces carbon dioxide emissions. However, the development of green hydrogen production methods, such as electrolysis using renewable electricity, is seen as a key element in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
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The cost of green hydrogen production is expected to decrease significantly in the coming years, making it more competitive with fossil fuels. This could drive a significant increase in the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier.
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Governments around the world are promoting the development and deployment of hydrogen technologies through a variety of policies and incentives, including research and development funding, tax credits, and subsidies for hydrogen infrastructure.
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Major companies across a range of industries, including energy, transportation, and manufacturing, are investing in hydrogen technologies and developing new applications for the use of hydrogen in the energy transition.