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Low-cost solar and wind resources start to achieve fossil parity within the next ve years
H from fossil fuels with CCS Best case Wind
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Figure 2 Hydrogen production costs from solar and wind energy based electrolysis vs fossil fuels with CCS (IRENA, 2019)
Japan’s hydrogen strategy First launched in 2017, the Japanese government updated its hydrogen strategy in June 2023, placing more emphasis on the transition to low carbon intensity hydrogen, based on renewable energy sources (Akimoto, 2023). The main cities in Japan have a network of hydrogen refuelling stations, and several Japanese auto manufacturers have hydrogen-powered vehicles in their range. Japanese technology companies are developing more efficient and cost-effective electrolysers, aiming to reduce the costs of hydrogen from 100 ¥/m 3 (72 cents) to 20 ¥ (14 cents) by 2050 (Moore, 2023). Panasonic Holdings is developing a more efficient catalyst for alkaline electrolysers by reducing the size of nickel and iron particles to nanometer scales, which would also reduce production costs. Other companies are focused on electrolyser membranes to improve the efficiency of green hydrogen production. Toshiba has developed Proton Exchange Membranes (PEMs) with reduced levels of iridium while maintaining the same output and durability. Toray is developing a more efficient and durable electrolyte membrane for PEM electrolysers that replaces fluoride with hydrocarbons. Denso is developing solid oxide electrolysers, using elevated temperatures (600-800°C) to simplify the water splitting process, resulting in electrolysers that are 10-20% more efficient than other types (Moore, 2023).
Zero carbon emission hydrogen from aluminium recycling In Canada, GH Power has developed a unique renewable energy technology to produce hydrogen with zero carbon emissions using recycled scrap aluminium and water as the key inputs. The main product is valuable alumina, with hydrogen and heat (as the reaction is exothermic) as co-products (OilPrice. com, 2023). GH Power estimates the cost of hydrogen produced is already 60% cheaper than hydrogen from electrolysis, and it is a net producer of electricity to the grid. It also claims that the zero-emissions alumina co-product costs are more than 85% lower than established alumina production processes that rely on hydrochloric acid leaching and hydrolysis. This could be a game changer in the decarbonisation of alumina production as well as a source of hydrogen. Global hydrogen outlook to 2050 Figure 1 shows the global hydrogen production outlook from 2019 to 2050. In the next decade, blue hydrogen will take over from grey, with green hydrogen not far behind. By 2050, grey hydrogen will account for only 15%, while blue and green hydrogen will each represent approximately just over 40% (NITI Aayog, 2022). Figure 2 compares the present and the projected cost of hydrogen produced from electrolysis using electricity from renewable
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