Hydrogen Creation

H2 (Molecule)

Hydrogen, specifically green hydrogen, has been called the fuel of the future and we are here to support that future. The global hydrogen market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7% between 2021 and 2028. Many governments around the globe are supporting this push for Hydrogen fuel including the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) with a specific interest in all green energies, including green hydrogen.

Element

CleanCap Technologies is excited to participate in the supply of industry leading solutions supporting the production of green hydrogen. Through our knowledge of gas processing, separation, purification, and treating we deploy a waste to hydrogen process that can be applied to many waste product feed stocks including:

  • Landfills

  • Medical waste

  • Tire recycling

  • E-Waste & batteries

  • Sludge

  • Biomass

  • Natural gas and renewable natural gas (RNG)

While Hydrogen is a colorless gas there are many colors used to describe it. These colors “industry nicknames” provide details regarding how the hydrogen is created.

  • Green hydrogen is hydrogen derived without any harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions including carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Green hydrogen is made from surplus renewable energy sources including solar, wind, and RNG. Green hydrogen is also formed when electrolyzers use an electrochemical reaction to split water into it’s chemical components; hydrogen and oxygen. Green hydrogen is a small, but quickly growing, percentage of the overall hydrogen market.

  • Blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas. Utilizing a process called steam methane reforming (SMR), which brings together natural gas and steam (heated water), hydrogen is produced from natural gas, along with CO2. The CO2 can then be implemented for carbon capture and storage (CCS) which is often referred to as carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS).

  • Grey hydrogen is the most common hydrogen produced and is produced from natural gas or methane. This process uses SMR, but does not capture the greenhouse gases created during the process.

  • Black & Brown hydrogen are very similar in nature and utilize black coal or lignite (brown coal) for production. These hydrogens are considered the most harmful to the environment.

  • Pink hydrogen is generated through electrolysis that is powered by nuclear energy. This nuclear produced hydrogen is sometimes called purple hydrogen or red hydrogen.

  • Turquoise hydrogen is the new kid on the block and has yet to be proven to scale. This hydrogen is made using methane pyrolysis and produces hydrogen and solid carbon. Depending on how the system is powered, the potential for this to be a low-emissions hydrogen does exist if coupled with carbon storage or use.

  • Yellow hydrogen is also a fairly new hydrogen and is made through electrolysis using solar power.

  • Finally, there is White hydrogen which is a naturally occurring geological hydrogen found in underground deposits. These are crated through fracking and there are currently no strategies to utilize this hydrogen.

The industry standard colors can be confusing and often misused. Whatever the color, CCT is focused on the carbon footprint of hydrogen production vs. the source. Of course, the source of the hydrogen is important, especially when you look at the impact on the environment of many of these processes, but many other people and businesses control the sources.

Found in the syngas in many types of processes, such as pyrolysis, is hydrogen which can significantly improve the economics of a project. When reviewing the feasibility of a project it is important to look at all revenue streams to ensure the most value is derived from the feedstock. With 95% of hydrogen currently sourced from fossil fuels the demand for green hydrogen is high.

A small molecule with large ideas, hydrogen is often touted for its capabilities as a fuel for electric vehicles. Beyond a zero-emissions car, hydrogen can be used for so much more including industrial, agriculture, and energy applications.

Hydrogen is used in industrial applications such as gas welding, the creation of ultraviolet (UV) lamps, chemicals, textile fibers, glass, electronics, fertilizers, and metallurgy.

In energy, hydrogen is used in many gas refining applications with two of the most important being sulfur removal to produce cleaner fuels and in hydrocracking to break long-chain hydrocarbons into shorter ones. Hydrogen is also used in nuclear reactors to create energy, cooling rotors in generators, rocket fuel, and as fuel in hydrogen fuel cell technology.

While hydrogen is the most commonly occurring element on our planet, it does not exist anywhere in a pure form, which means it must be produced from other compounds. With a focus on green hydrogen, CleanCap Technologies has the technology and expertise to do just that.