Can the US Create a Viable Hydrogen Economy?

The world is constantly searching for new and renewable sources of energy – and With the ever-growing population, it is becoming increasingly important to find ways to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

One potential solution that has been gaining traction in recent years is the hydrogen economy.

This would involve replacing traditional fuels and adopting hydrogen to create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future now that the US rejoined the Paris climate agreement.

A hydrogen economy is a credible alternative to fossil fuels

The term “hydrogen economy” refers to a future in which hydrogen will be a primary energy source partially replacing our dependence on fossil fuels.

There are many potential advantages to using hydrogen as an energy source, including its abundance and renewability. Hydrogen can also generate electricity, making it an ideal choice for powering transportation or heating. The advantage of a hydrogen economy is that hydrogen is a clean fuel source that doesn’t produce greenhouse gases.

However, this technology also brings some disadvantages. The main flaw is that it requires a huge infrastructure.

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For instance, hydrogen must be stored, transported, and dispensed in a different way than gas… And its containers must be significantly larger because hydrogen has less pressure. Similarly, a hydrogen economy also requires more investment in research and development to make it a viable option and defy the current energy system. 

Despite these challenges, many countries are investing in the development of a hydrogen economy.

The United States is one of these countries. The US has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions for the next few years and reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

To achieve this goal, the United States is investing in the development of renewable energy sources and new technologies for storing and using hydrogen.

Today, the US accounts for up to 12,67% of global greenhouse emissions. 

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According to PwC, from 2030 onwards, hydrogen demand will grow at a steady pace in sectors such as energy and transportation – and its costs will decrease by up to 50%.

In any case, big companies such as General Motors and Microsoft are already testing the capabilities of hydrogen as a feasible energy source for the long term.

The electrolyzer is the key component of a hydrogen economy

The electrolyzer is a key component in the production of green hydrogen. In simple terms, an electrolyzer is a machine that uses electricity to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.

While the technology is not new (it was first developed in the early 19th century) it has only recently been used on a large scale to produce hydrogen gas.

By using renewable energy to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, electrolyzers provide a way to store green energy in the form of hydrogen. This is important because renewable energy sources like solar and wind are intermittent, meaning they only produce power when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. 

That’s why the hydrogen economy could play an essential role in cutting emissions, saving energy, and connecting systems with clean energy. This would have a huge impact on the environment and could help to slow down climate change.

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The hydrogen economy is still in its early stages, but it can potentially be a major force for good in the fight against climate change. It is still much more expensive to produce than other sources of energy — and a transition would be costly and time-consuming because of the size of the investment.

However, it depends on the technological advances currently in progress by corporations from all over the world. 

… But, prices for renewables are falling and it could be a viable alternative to the US in the future.

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Featured image credit: Photo by Markus Spiske