Hydrogen does not emit CO2 when used and is therefore considered to be one of the key energy carriers in the transition towards sustainable energy systems. Hydrogen can link different energy sectors and be used to mitigate the intermittency of energy production from renewable sources.
Hydrogen can be produced from both renewable and non-renewable energy sources. Hydrogen can be stored and transported in compressed, liquid or solid form and allows transport of useable energy from one place to another. Most importantly, hydrogen does not emit CO2 when used and is therefore considered to be one of the key energy carriers in the transition towards sustainable energy systems. Hydrogen can link different energy sectors and be used to mitigate the intermittency of energy production from renewable sources.
There is a variety of production methods for hydrogen, and the cleanest one is electrolysis using electricity from renewable energy sources. Hydrogen produced by this method is called green hydrogen. The vast majority of hydrogen today is, however, produced by hydrocarbon steam reforming. This production method emits large quantities of CO2, and produce grey hydrogen. Blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas, with carbon capture and storage (CCS). Blue hydrogen may be an important stepping-stone for upscaling of hydrogen production. The challenge is that, as of today, the CCS technology is still costly and not yet widely implemented.
Due to the large experience in offshore CO2 storage and oil production, Norway and especially the Western part of Norway is in an optimal position to utilize that knowledge also for hydrogen production. EOV partners have worked many years with research, development and testing of hydrogen fuel cell and electrolysis technologies, and research activities and projects related to hydrogen safety.
EOV partners currently have activities to help scale up technology and drive down cost. This includes
-maritime transport with hydrogen based fuels
- hydrogen energy systems onboard ships and fuels cells
- liquid H2 value chain
- large-scale offshore production of ammonia from e.g. wind power
- hydrogen production from natural gas with CCS
- photocatalytic hydrogen production
- nano materials for hydrogen production
- transport and storage of hydrogen
- hydrogen risks and safety
- legal and regulatory issues and societal perception
Photo by: Odd Melhus BKK, Pexels
