Renewable hydrogen as a clean energy source is expected to play a key role in the transformation of the industrial sector. Its use will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions from individual industries but will also ensure energy efficiency and sustainable development of enterprises.
Hydrogen has been talked about for a long time as a key decarbonization tool and the fuel of the future. However, it should be noted that hydrogen is not only a chance for the future. It has been widely used in industry for years, including chemical and petrochemical, metallurgy, and food production. Currently, however, it is hydrogen from fossil fuels, which contributes to the increase in GHG emissions. The goal is to replace gray hydrogen and fossil fuels in industrial processes with renewable hydrogen.
Hydrogen in industry: Chemical Sector
In the chemical sector, hydrogen is used as a feedstock for the production of many chemicals, including ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen peroxide. According to data, up to about 96% of ammonia production and 45% of methanol production globally can be based on processes that use hydrogen [1]. Hydrogen is also used to produce oxo alcohols, which are utilized as raw materials for paints, solvents, detergents, and plastic packaging.
Hydrogen in the Petrochemical Sector
In the petrochemical sector, hydrogen is used, among other things, in processes to remove sulfur, nitrogen, and other impurities from crude oil and natural gas. It is also a feedstock in the hydrocracking process, where it is used to convert heavier fractions of crude oil into lighter products such as gasoline and diesel. The Global Hydrogen Council indicates that the global use of renewable hydrogen in the petrochemical sector could lead to at least a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 [2].
Hydrogen in industrial applications: Metallurgy
Hydrogen is also well-known in metallurgy, especially in steel production. The process of iron ore enrichment using hydrogen reduction is a potential alternative to traditional methods that can reduce CO2 emissions by 70-90% compared to conventional steelmaking processes [3].
Hydrogen in the Food Sector
In the food industry, hydrogen is used in food production processes and as a packaging gas. Mainly in the production of margarine and frying fats. This allows products to have the desired consistency and a longer shelf life. Hydrogen is also often used as a protective gas in food packaging to protect products from oxidation. In addition, it prolongs the freshness of some products, such as meat and seafood, by inhibiting bacterial growth.
Hydrogen in industry – production of heat and process steam
Hydrogen can also be used for heating and process steam production. To this end, SES Hydrogen Energy is developing an emission-free hydrogen boiler for industrial applications. It is a pioneering device based on the combustion of hydrogen with pure oxygen in a closed loop, thus eliminating COx, NOx, SOx, and dust emissions. The device is being developed for use in power-to-gas installations, increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the structure of thermal power generation.
Hydrogen in industry – role in the transformation of the sector
Achieving a full industrial transformation requires switching to the use of renewable hydrogen, often also referred to as green hydrogen. Green hydrogen, produced from renewable energy sources such as solar or wind energy, is fully CO2-neutral and independent of fossil fuels.
According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the use of hydrogen in the industry can reduce CO2 emissions by over 830 million tons by 2030 [4], achieve sustainability goals, and increase energy efficiency.
Therefore, investments in infrastructure and the development of technologies related to the use of hydrogen in industry are becoming necessary. The implementation of innovative solutions in hydrogen production, storage, and distribution opens the way to a more sustainable future for the sector.
1. International Energy Agency (IEA), “The Future of Hydrogen”, 2019.
2. Global Hydrogen Council, “Hydrogen Scaling Up”, 2017.
3. European Commission, “A Clean Planet for All: A European Strategic Long-Term Vision for a Prosperous, Modern, Competitive, and Climate Neutral Economy”, 2018.
4. IEA, “The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions”, 2020.
