Good Question: How Important Is Affordable Hydrogen for the Energy Transition?

Mrs. Schröder, how important is affordable hydrogen for the energy transition?

Affordable hydrogen is a key component of the electrification of the chemical industry and, consequently, of the energy transition. While fossil fuels, which currently cover a large portion of our energy needs, are finite, renewable energy sources such as sunlight and water are available indefinitely but do not provide a constant supply of energy. This raises the question of how we can store excess electricity and balance out periods of low generation.

Green hydrogen, which can be produced using renewable energy via electrolysis – that is, the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen – represents a key form of energy storage. Hydrogen has a wide range of applications, such as in ammonia production, fuel cell vehicles, and as a substitute for coal in steel production.

Since the hydrogen used to date has primarily been a byproduct of petroleum processing, the use of renewable hydrogen is desirable in all these applications. This requires cost-effective production to economically replace fossil-based hydrogen. Researchers around the world are already working on alternatives to the use of ultrapure water, more efficient electrolyzers, as well as on their scalability, so that green hydrogen can be made available at a low cost as a central component of the energy transition.