Grey, Blue, or Green Hydrogen: What are the Headlines About?

Hydrogen is making headlines again for good reason. As parts of the world race toward net-zero emissions, hydrogen is hailed as a versatile, clean energy source that could well start replacing fossil fuels across industries.

But not all hydrogen is created equal. Green hydrogen is grabbing the spotlight because of what it means for our future.

For more information, check out the in-depth article HERE by Lark Scientific researcher Denis Koshelev.

What Is Green Hydrogen?

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, but you don’t find it floating around in pure form. It must be extracted from compounds like water or methane.

• Grey hydrogen uses natural gas, releasing carbon dioxide. This powerful greenhouse gas traps heat in the atmosphere, leading to climate change and its associated effects.

• Blue hydrogen is similar but with carbon capture technology. Carbon capture technology aims to prevent CO2 from entering the atmosphere by capturing it and either storing it or using it in other processes. 

• Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water using renewable energy (like solar or wind), creating zero emissions. No fossil fuels, no carbon footprint.

  
  

Why Hydrogen Demand Is Growing

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global hydrogen demand rose 2.5% in 2023, reaching 95 million tonnes. This boom is driven by:

• Heavy industry

• Transportation

• Power generation

• Energy storage

  
  

While grey hydrogen still dominates (unfortunately), demand for low-emission hydrogen, especially green, is slowly gaining ground.

How Green Hydrogen Is Made

Green hydrogen uses electrolysis, which splits water (H₂O) into hydrogen and oxygen with electricity.

The process emits no greenhouse gases when that electricity comes from renewables, like hydro, solar, or wind.

Electrolysis 

Water in → Electricity on → Hydrogen + Oxygen out

It’s clean, simple, and potentially revolutionary.

Where Green Hydrogen Is Taking Off

Green hydrogen is gaining serious traction globally. 

• European Union

The EU is investing heavily in hydrogen to decarbonize energy, with the REPowerEU plan aiming for 10 million tonnes of domestic hydrogen production by 2030.

• China

The world’s largest hydrogen producer is ramping up green hydrogen capacity, especially for transportation.

• Canada

Canada has launched the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada to position itself as a global leader in the hydrogen economy. This ambitious plan envisions establishing domestic hydrogen production hubs, advancing technologies for hydrogen production, and integrating hydrogen into various sectors, including transportation, industry, and energy storage. Provinces like Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec are at the forefront, with numerous pilot projects and partnerships with private companies to scale up green hydrogen production and usage.

Challenges to Watch

Green hydrogen is promising, but it’s not without hurdles:

• High cost: Electrolyzers and renewable power aren’t cheap

• Infrastructure gaps: Pipelines and refuelling stations are still limited

• Energy loss: It’s less efficient than using electricity directly in some sectors

  
  

Still, as tech improves and investment grows, these barriers are starting to shrink.

What Can Green Hydrogen Power?

It’s not just about cars.

Green hydrogen can help decarbonize “hard-to-abate” sectors like:

• Steel and cement manufacturing

• Shipping and aviation

• Long-haul trucks and trains

• Grid storage for renewable energy

  
  

Basically, anywhere batteries fall short, hydrogen can fill the gap.

A Cleaner Future, One Molecule at a Time

The shift toward green hydrogen could transform global energy systems. By 2050, the IEA estimates hydrogen could meet 10% of the total final energy demand, with green hydrogen taking the lion’s share.

With the right investment, policy, and innovation, green hydrogen might just be the clean fuel that powers our low-carbon future.

Green hydrogen is clean, versatile, and critical to achieving net-zero goals. There are challenges to overcome, but momentum is growing fast, especially with global policy and investment support.

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