What is hydrogen?
Hydrogen is an energy vector: in nature it is found only
bound to other elements and a source of energy is needed to separate it.
Depending on the production method,
hydrogen can have different origins
and different environmental impacts, associated with different colors.
The final product is always the same.
The colors of hydrogen
Brown: obtained from coal gasification.
More than 20 kg of CO2 are emitted for every kg of hydrogen for its production.
Grey: obtained from the steam reforming of natural gas.
More than 9 kg of CO2 are emitted for every kg of hydrogen for its production.
Blue: obtained with the same production method of grey hydrogen
but with a partial capture, transport and storage of CO2.
It generates more than 9 kg of CO2 for every kg of hydrogen produced
and emits up to 5 kg of CO2 not captured for every kg of hydrogen.
Pink: obtained from the electrolysis of water powered by nuclear energy.
It has a high environmental impact due to the production of nuclear waste
even if it does not emit CO2.
Green: obtained from the electrolysis of water powered by renewable energy.
It has a very low environmental impact and generates zero CO2 emissions.
Let's analyze its production process
It is produced thanks to the electrolysis of water fed by renewable energy.
What is water electrolysis?
The process starts with the electrolyzer and consists of the decomposition of water into hydrogen and gaseous oxygen
thanks to renewable electricity.
Downstream, the hydrogen produced can be stored.
Where can we use it?
In those hard-to-abate industrial sectors that cannot be decarbonised
with direct electrification powered by renewable energy.
Main applications are:
as raw material, replacing grey hydrogen in the chemical industry and oil refinery
in industries where high temperature heat is needed such as cement, steel, glass
to replace the fossil fuels used today
What are the benefits of green hydrogen?
zero CO2 emissions
plant configuration is simple plant structure supports a decentralized and more flexible model
the plant has no impact on health, safety or the environment
For a more sustainable future, Enel Green Power has chosen Green Hydrogen, as a complement to electrification, for full decarbonisation including hard-to-abate sectors.