PTQ Q2 2024 Issue

Methane (natural gas, biogas, renewable natural gas

Coal

Biomass

Novel processes

Biomass processes

Sorption-enhanced SMR (SE-SMR) Electried SMR (eSMR) Microwave-assisted SMR Membrane-assisted reforming Dry methane reforming (DMR) Catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) Advanced autothermal gasication (AATG)

Conventional processes Steam methane reforming (SMR)

Biomass gasication

Conventional process

Biomass pyrolysis

Partial oxidation (POX)

Dark fermentation

Coal gasication (CG)

Autothermal reforming (ATR)

Microbial electrolysis

Other novel thermochemical processes

Emerging processes

Chemical looping combustion (CLC) reforming

Methane pyrolysis

Turquo i se hydrogen

Blue hydrogen

Figure 1 Technologies identified and covered by IDTechEx for blue hydrogen production

Source: IDTechEx 2

Notable plans for hydrogen projects include Air Product’s announced plans for Europe’s largest blue hydrogen pro- duction plant, and RAG Austria says it has commissioned “the world’s first 100% hydrogen storage facility in a porous underground reservoir”. The global blue hydrogen market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.0% by 2033. Further discussions relate to different ways to produce blue hydrogen using different technological paths, taking into consideration major innovations and challenges, with brief appraisal of blue hydrogen market dynamics, end-use insights, and concluding remarks (including future outlook). Blue hydrogen technologies Producing hydrogen in a carbon-neutral manner is chal- lenging (and potentially expensive), but the many colourful means of producing hydrogen provide exciting opportuni- ties. Once available, it can be used in almost every vertical in the energy space. This includes power generation, energy storage, e-fuels production for aviation and heavy road and rail transport, as well as cement and steel manufacturing, along with applications in other carbon-intensive industries. Blue hydrogen, produced from fossil fuels with CO 2 capture, is currently viewed as the bridge between the high-emissions grey hydrogen and the limited-scale zero-emission green hydrogen. Two recent reports on blue hydrogen production technologies highlight different commercially deployed and emerging hydrogen production processes from fossil fuels and biofuels, along with recent advancements in hydrogen storage and transport. Progressive Energy 1 for the Bacton Energy Hub (BEH) Hydrogen Supply Special Interest Group (SIG) documents technologies for blue hydrogen production from natural gas with CCS, along with the auxiliary process stages required. As many as 13 technologies have been listed, along with their

readiness level. SMR and autothermal and POX processes are the mature processes, followed by one modified version of SMR and two modified versions of ATR. The remaining seven technologies are still at a low level of readiness. The Hafenstorm report includes a comparison of the six main blue hydrogen production technologies, its 10-year market forecasts for 2023-2033, and supply chains, along with seven application areas, major innovations and pro- jects. The report also examines applicable carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) technologies and discusses the prospects and challenges of producing blue hydrogen. Blue hydrogen is going to grow due to global decarbonisa- tion efforts in hard-to-abate sectors, such as oil refining and ammonia production. IDTechEx 2 forecasts that the global blue hydrogen mar- ket will grow to reach $34 billion by 2033. Overviewing the production methods indicates SMR is the most developed and widespread hydrogen production technology (grey hydrogen) used throughout the world. Coal gasification (CG) is another popular technology used to produce hydrogen (black/brown hydrogen), especially in China. Other processes include partial oxidation (POX), which is useful in converting waste oil/refining products to hydrogen, as well as the more recently developed ATR of methane. This self-heating steam reforming process that is more cost-effective than SMR for producing blue hydrogen. Air Liquide and Topsoe are the major players in this field. The IDTechEx report further provides coverage of meth- ane pyrolysis, which produces hydrogen and solid carbon products, the latter being carbon black in most cases. This technological path is mostly occupied by start-ups and small- er-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), some of which are quickly commercialising their technologies termed ‘promising tech- nologies’. Other processes fall under the categories of novel

PTQ Q2 2024