The sun, water, and our own bodies all include hydrogen, which is the most prevalent element in the universe. Although hydrogen has been there since the beginning of the universe, it is now gaining appeal as a viable future fuel that emits no carbon dioxide and may help lessen the consequences of climate change.
All kinds of vehicles, including automobiles, heavy-duty trucks, cargo containers, and marine boats, may be propelled by hydrogen engines and fuel cells. It doesn’t release any greenhouse emissions while in use.
Due to these qualities, hydrogen may be a crucial element in helping the Port of Seattle achieve its objective of becoming carbon neutral or better by 2050. The infrastructure needed to create and deliver enough hydrogen for broad usage does not yet exist, and manufacturing costs are still expensive.
In order to expand the availability of clean hydrogen in our region, strategies including creating a regional clean hydrogen hub in the Pacific Northwest are being considered. The Port is investigating how hydrogen may assist Seattle City Light’s power distribution system and integrate into marine operations.
The results of these investigations will provide us with additional knowledge about hydrogen’s potential contribution to Seattle’s waterfront’s decarbonization. Find out more about this “fuel of the stars” and the reasons the Port thinks it’s a good investment.
Hydrogen Chemistry 101
The lightest chemical element is hydrogen (H). There is only one proton and one unpaired electron in it. Hydrogen seldom exists in the world on its own; it generally is a component of a complex since this unpaired electron is anxious to team up with another.
Water (H2O), ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4), and table sugar (C12H22O11) are a few of the most prevalent substances. Molecular hydrogen (H2) is produced when two hydrogen atoms join forces. Molecular hydrogen is a harmless, tasteless, and colorless gas at normal temperatures.
1. Just Like Skittles or Wildflowers, Hydrogen Comes in a Rainbow of Options
In order to produce hydrogen fuel, hydrogen must often be extracted from a substance since it seldom exists on its own. varied industrial processes, identified by colored labels, have varied effects on the environment. Grey hydrogen makes up 95% of the hydrogen generated worldwide today.
It is used in the manufacturing of fertilizer, food processing, and petroleum refining. In a process known as steam reforming, grey hydrogen is created by heating natural gas at a high temperature to separate the hydrogen atoms from the carbon atoms. Carbon emissions are generated by this procedure.
We must use green hydrogen if we want to slow down the impacts of climate change. Hydrogen is separated from oxygen in water using this procedure, which employs power generated from sustainable resources like solar or wind energy. From production to use, this process emits zero harmful greenhouse gases (GHGs).
You might also hear about the hydrogen rainbow having additional hues like black, brown, blue, and pink. Black and brown hydrogen use coal and oil, which results in the release of greenhouse gases. The same method is used to create blue hydrogen as grey hydrogen, but instead of releasing carbon emissions into the atmosphere, blue hydrogen would instead capture and store them.
This is a cutting-edge technology that is not yet widely accessible. Finally, pink hydrogen is created by electrolyzing nuclear fission-powered reactors’ electricity.
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2. Green Hydrogen is Very Clean When It’s Used
Green hydrogen can be produced and is adaptable. It can be used as a liquid or a gas. Internal combustion engines and fuel cells both utilize hydrogen to generate power. Fuel cells use an electrochemical reaction with oxygen to transform the hydrogen’s stored energy into electricity.
While the positive protons in hydrogen mix with oxygen to form water, the negative electrons in hydrogen generate an electrical current. Hydrogen utilized in fuel cells only produces heat, power, and water; in contrast, fossil fuels used in engines generate carbon dioxide, other GHGs, and particulate matter.
Additionally, unlike finite fossil fuel reserves, our ability to produce hydrogen is unconstrained since water is both the source and the waste. Fuel cells provide a lot of advantages. They are far quieter than internal combustion engines and can create power indefinitely as long as they have access to hydrogen.
If fuel cells take the role of conventional engines in maritime boats, there will be less noise, which is excellent for marine life. Fuel cells can power anything that consumes electricity, as well as vehicles expressly intended to use them, such as automobiles, heavy-duty trucks, backup power systems, and ships. Some example vehicles exist while others, like ferries and tugs, are soon growing.
3. Hydrogen Has the Highest Energy Density (by Mass, but Not by Volume)
Energy density is the amount of energy stored per unit of mass or a particular weight for a specific quantity of fuel. The greater the energy density of a fuel, the more energy it releases when utilized and the farther a vehicle might go on a lesser quantity of gasoline.
Diesel has an energy density of 45 megajoules per kilogram (MJ/kg) but marine gas oil, a fuel often used by ships, has 42.7 MJ/kg. Hydrogen blasts them out of the water at 120.2 MJ/kg. Because hydrogen has such a high energy density, NASA uses it to power their space rockets.
However, since hydrogen is so light and exists as a gas at ambient temperature, it has a low volumetric energy density, or the quantity of energy in a specific volume or amount of the fuel. A little container would hold 1 kilogram of gasoline, which is equivalent to roughly 1/3 of a gallon.
One kilogram of hydrogen gas would need to be kept in 100 large balloons at room temperature. Since this is impractical, hydrogen gas must either be squeezed to 300–700 times atmospheric pressure to travel as a gas or cooled to cryogenic temperatures to turn it into a liquid.
Because hydrogen has a low volumetric energy density, its direct usage is likely to be tailored to the particular requirements of various kinds of vehicles and containers. Most significantly, hydrogen is a crucial component of upcoming marine fuels like ammonia and methanol. For more details see the Tweet below:
Incoming: here’s four interesting facts about hydrogen you might not know. Stay tuned 😉#BMWGroup #THEiX5Hydrogen #BMWi #hydrogen pic.twitter.com/ZiwWyaXLfO
— BMW Group (@BMWGroup) August 30, 2022
4. H2, or Molecular Hydrogen, is the Smallest Molecule in the Universe and Very Light
Air is 14 times heavier than hydrogen. The molecule is vulnerable to leaking as a result of this and its tiny size. The little particles will easily disperse if the spill happens in an open space. The hydrogen may, however, gather in small areas. Like many other modern fuels, hydrogen is combustible.
The correct quantity of oxygen, an igniting source, and enough hydrogen must all be gathered together in order for a hydrogen fire to begin. About the same amount of energy is needed to ignite a low concentration of hydrogen as is required to ignite natural gas or gasoline.
However, as the hydrogen content rises, ignition becomes simpler. There are existing safety procedures in place for businesses that now utilize hydrogen fuel, such as NASA and fertilizer manufacturers. New hydrogen initiatives will also lead to the establishment of standards and best practices.
While improving hydrogen safety is important, proponents contend that other aspects of hydrogen make it safer than conventional fuels. A leak of hydrogen wouldn’t pollute the environment since it is non-toxic.
In the absence of containment, a hydrogen leak will spread quickly, making ground-level fires uncommon. Since propane and gasoline vapors are heavier than air, they are considerably more prone to leak and cause fires near people and structures.
5. Hydrogen Funding and Development Has Increased
Because renewable energy is becoming more affordable, there has been an upsurge in financing and awareness recently. Particularly for industrial sectors that are challenging to decarbonize, hydrogen has enormous potential to both be an efficient energy transporter and contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions.
Hydrogen would also enable nations that create it to become more energy-independent since renewable resources are more widely accessible globally than fossil fuels. All of these factors make hydrogen a competitive challenger, and research funding will spur the creation of an industry that uses hydrogen.
Hydrogen cannot be transported by our present extensive infrastructure. Due to the high expense of electrolysis, green hydrogen now costs more than grey or blue hydrogen. Increased investment may promote innovation, expand production, and aid in reducing this cost.
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