CLEAN HYDROGEN JOINS US TRANSITION TEAM

By Lori Musser

Arms have been opened wide as the U.S. races to embrace new hydrogen production. That is good news for supply chain members who have been anticipating an upswing in the movement of components needed to build hydrogen production capacity in the U.S.

Hailed as the fuel of the future, hydrogen gas is the simplest of elements – colorless, odorless, tasteless, yet highly flammable. It is already used in many industries, from chemicals to electronics, and from foods to glass making. It fuels vehicles and helps generate electricity. Hydrogen is readily available, with the

Region: North America Problem: Long-term need for hydrogen has not translated into projects in the short term Solution: The importance of the fuel for the world’s decarbonization means that the pipeline will soon start to materialize right infrastructure. It could provide up to 12 percent of global energy demand and account for 10 percent of reductions in carbon emissions by the year 2050, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency, or IRENA.

Some industries are hard to electrify. In IRENA’s World Energy Transitions Outlook: 1.5°C Pathway study, it estimated that only 52 percent of end use can be electrified, and that 25 percent of CO2 emissions cannot be abated through the use of renewables or electrification, despite the use of very efficient energy processes.

“It is estimated that using hydrogen for heavy industry and transport that cannot be electrified can, however, reduce emissions by 12 percent and 26 percent respectively,” according to Barbara Jinks, program officer for green gas at IRENA.