Debunking The Myth: Green Hydrogen Is Essential To Displace …

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Shifting from fossil hydrogen is akin to turning off a leaky tap—a necessary first step toward stemming the tide of industrial emissions. Despite being promoted extensively as a universal replacement fuel for heavy industry, hydrogen’s role in decarbonization is frequently misunderstood or exaggerated. The perception that hydrogen can broadly replace fossil fuels across industrial sectors suffers from a classic case of overgeneralization. While hydrogen indeed holds promise in specific niches, particularly in steelmaking through hydrogen direct reduction and certain chemical production processes, it is not the all-encompassing solution that many proponents suggest (Gielen, Saygin, & Wagner, 2022).

This is a companion article to the Cranky Stepdad vs Hydrogen for Energy material. In a similar manner to John Cook’s Skeptical Science, the intent is a rapid and catchy debunk, a second level of detail in the Companion to Cranky Stepdad vs Hydrogen for Energy, and then a fuller article as the third level of detail.

Shifting from fossil hydrogen is like turning off a leaky tap—it’s the first step toward stopping the flow of emissions.

Currently, global hydrogen use amounts to approximately 100 million tons per year, the vast majority being gray or black hydrogen derived from natural gas or coal (International Energy Agency [IEA], 2022). These production methods are highly carbon-intensive, significantly contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions. Simply replacing this fossil-derived hydrogen with low-carbon alternatives like green hydrogen—produced via electrolysis powered by renewable energy—is an essential step toward industrial decarbonization. Yet, the focus must remain on addressing existing hydrogen demand rather than creating new demand for hydrogen-based energy in industries where electrification could serve as a superior solution (Bloomberg New Energy Finance [BNEF], 2023).

Electrification is frequently the more efficient and economical path for industrial decarbonization, particularly when leveraging renewable energy sources. For example, in sectors such as aluminum and cement production, electrification not only lowers operational complexity but also reduces total energy consumption compared to hydrogen-based alternatives (U.S. Department of Energy [DOE], 2023). Similarly, European Commission (2023) findings underscore that scrap-based electric arc furnaces for steelmaking significantly outperform hydrogen-based methods in both efficiency and cost, especially when abundant renewable electricity is available.

Misrepresentations often emerge from oversimplified messaging that portrays hydrogen as an easy or universal answer to industrial decarbonization challenges. Hydrogen as a general industrial fuel is economically inefficient and technologically complicated compared to direct electrification, primarily due to the energy-intensive nature of hydrogen production, storage, and transportation (Temple, 2023). Hydrogen’s true potential resides in decarbonizing existing feedstocks—such as those for ammonia and petrochemical production—rather than broadly substituting fossil energy across the industrial spectrum (IEA, 2022).

The academic consensus clearly advocates for prioritizing electrification wherever feasible. According to Bataille (2020), direct electrification represents the most viable pathway for achieving net-zero emissions in heavy industry. Hydrogen, in this analysis, should be restricted to specialized scenarios where electrification proves technically impractical, not broadly adopted as a default energy carrier. Consequently, policies should emphasize electrification solutions and carefully delineate where hydrogen provides genuine value rather than allowing hydrogen advocacy to drive misleading narratives about universal applicability (BNEF, 2023).

The sober reality is that shifting away from fossil-based hydrogen is merely an initial move toward comprehensive decarbonization. Rather than being dazzled by hydrogen’s potential, policymakers and industries must maintain clear-eyed focus on genuinely efficient solutions, predominantly electrification. The critical task ahead involves systematically eliminating fossil hydrogen from existing industrial processes rather than promoting unnecessary expansion into new industrial applications. Recognizing and confronting this nuance is key to achieving meaningful reductions in industrial emissions.

References:

• Bataille, C. G. (2020). Physical and policy pathways to net-zero emissions industry. Energy & Climate Change, 2, 100035.
• Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). (2023). Hydrogen in industry: Why electrification wins in most cases. BloombergNEF.
• European Commission. (2023). Electrification vs. hydrogen in industry: Finding the optimal path. Brussels: EU.
• Gielen, D., Saygin, D., & Wagner, N. (2022). The role of hydrogen in decarbonizing industry: Myths and realities. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 155, 111931.
• International Energy Agency (IEA). (2022). The role of hydrogen in industry: Prioritizing feedstock over energy use. Paris: IEA.
• Temple, J. (2023, March 1). Why hydrogen isn’t the best solution for most industrial decarbonization. MIT Technology Review.
• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). (2023). Industrial decarbonization roadmap: The role of hydrogen vs. electrification. Washington, DC: DOE.