Hydrogen has long been heralded as a potential game-changer in the energy sector, but the reality is fraught with overstatements and misconceptions. While some claims hold partial truth, others are misleading or downright false, leaving hydrogen’s role in the energy transition unclear.
Common Misconceptions About Hydrogen
Saying hydrogen is abundant is like saying gold is easy to get—it’s out there, but you have to work hard to extract it. Hydrogen’s abundance in the universe does not translate to easy accessibility on Earth. It is usually found in compounds such as water or hydrocarbons and requires energy-intensive methods like electrolysis or steam methane reforming for extraction.
Hydrogen as a fuel is like building a house on sand—unstable, costly, and hard to maintain. Despite its potential across sectors, hydrogen faces hurdles in terms of storage, transportation, and cost-effectiveness. Its production often involves fossil fuels, which undermine its green credentials unless renewables are used.
Electrolysis for energy-carrying hydrogen is like driving in circles when the straight path is just ahead—inefficient and wasteful. Green hydrogen can be produced by electrolysis using renewable electricity, but this process is less efficient than direct electrification methods like electric vehicles, making hydrogen a less favorable option for reducing emissions.
The Efficiency Dilemma
Using hydrogen for energy is like buying a fancy blender when a knife gets the job done quicker and cheaper. Hydrogen fuel cells may offer higher efficiency than traditional engines, but the full energy cycle from production to conversion results in significant energy loss, unlike direct electricity use.
Wasting cheap electricity on hydrogen is like using a gold spoon to stir a cup of diner coffee—it’s inefficient and over-the-top. The idea of using surplus renewable electricity for hydrogen production overlooks the intermittent nature of these energy sources, leading to low utilization rates and high costs.
Environmental Impact and Practical Concerns
Hydrogen burns clean, but it’s like sweeping the dirt under the rug—ignores NOₓ emissions and leaks. While hydrogen combustion doesn’t emit CO₂, it does produce nitrogen oxides and is prone to leakage, contributing to indirect greenhouse gas effects.
Hydrogen for energy is like trying to use a wrench for a screwdriver job—inefficient and costly. The current industrial use of hydrogen primarily involves gray hydrogen from fossil fuels, with significant CO₂ emissions, limiting its role as a clean energy carrier.
Transporting hydrogen through old pipes is like trying to squeeze a basketball through a garden hose—requires a lot of adjustments. Existing pipelines require major upgrades to safely handle hydrogen, adding complexity and cost.
Cryogenic hydrogen is like using a leaky thermos—more energy is lost in the process than is saved. Liquefying hydrogen for transport demands considerable energy, negating its benefits as an efficient energy carrier.
Claims That Are Mostly False & Misleading
Hydrogen’s zero-emissions claim is like calling a sieve full—emissions still leak through at every stage. Most hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels, and its global warming potential complicates its emissions profile, as leaks occur at various stages of the supply chain.
Green hydrogen is like trying to power a rocket with firecrackers—high cost and inefficiency make it a tough launch. Despite its promise, green hydrogen faces high production costs and infrastructure needs that limit its viability compared to more direct electrification.
Hydrogen may weigh less, but storing it is like trying to squeeze a watermelon into a soda can. The challenges of compressing or liquefying hydrogen for storage and transport make it less efficient than other energy carriers.
Hydrogen for heating is like using a sledgehammer to hang a picture—heat pumps are the precision tool for the job. Hydrogen as a natural gas replacement for heating is inefficient and costly, with electrified heat pumps providing a cheaper alternative.
Shifting from fossil hydrogen is like turning off a leaky tap—it’s the first step toward stopping the flow of emissions. Although hydrogen can help decarbonize specific industries, electrification often offers a more efficient path.
Hydrogen in transportation is like using a horse when cars are available—EVs and biofuels are just more efficient. Battery electric vehicles and biofuels provide a more practical solution for transportation needs than hydrogen.
Blue hydrogen’s carbon footprint is like a tangled fishing net—full of holes that let emissions slip through. Despite carbon capture efforts, blue hydrogen still results in high emissions due to methane leakage.
Claiming hydrogen solves mineral shortages is like using a sledgehammer to fix a leaky faucet—overkill and missing the point. The claim that hydrogen is necessary due to mineral shortages in batteries is overstated, as ongoing advances address these concerns.
Hydrogen is the middleman, not the source—it’s like a truck delivering goods that someone else made. As an energy carrier, hydrogen needs to be produced from other energy sources, unlike primary sources like solar or wind.
Building hydrogen infrastructure is like juggling lit fireworks—technical, costly, and full of safety risks. Developing the necessary infrastructure for hydrogen is complex and expensive, unlike other energy solutions.
Hydrogen in existing engines is like trying to run a race car on coal. Hydrogen cannot be used in current engines without significant modifications due to its unique properties.
Hydrogen leaks are a ticking time bomb—small leaks can make a big mess for the climate. Even minor hydrogen leaks can have substantial environmental consequences, prolonging methane’s atmospheric presence.
Saying hydrogen is the cheapest way to decarbonize is like choosing a luxury car when a bicycle gets the job done faster and cheaper. Direct electrification remains the most cost-effective path to decarbonization, with hydrogen playing a limited role.
Storing hydrogen is like keeping ice in the desert—it’s expensive and hard to manage. Hydrogen storage is costly and inefficient compared to alternatives like pumped hydro or batteries.
Original Story at cleantechnica.com