Hydrogen: Hype or a Glide Path to Decarbonizing Natural Gas – Part 1

Existing technologies that produce blue hydrogen with carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS) could be a bridge to widespread production of green H2, which is produced with renewable energy without carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. By incentivizing and encouraging higher production of blue H2, which primarily uses natural gas, and green H2, the transportation sector could be decarbonized to combat the adverse effects of climate change.

Such a program would require tax incentives for blue H2 production and help decarbonize natural gas by blending it with H2 for use in the heating and power sectors. Tax incentives on green H2 production would also encourage more companies to use and improve alkaline and proton exchange membrane electrolyzers. One of the advantages of such an approach is that residential and industrial consumers in various countries could be given a choice in selecting an electric vehicle (EV) with H2-powered fuel cells or battery-powered EVs. See the article in the Natural Gas & Electricity Journal