Decarbonising complex, hard to abate sectors
Hydrogen will help decarbonise sectors where alternatives, such as electrification, may be unfeasible or uneconomical. These include:
- Industry
- Heating
- Heavy duty transport, such as Heavy Goods Vehicles HGV’s, (trains, aviation, and shipping)
Supporting wider system integration
The traditional method to produce hydrogen splits natural gas into carbon dioxide and hydrogen. This process releases large quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
Electrolysis provides an alternative solution to producing hydrogen, by using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
When carried out during periods of abundant renewable electricity, such as wind and solar, hydrogen can support the electricity sector by providing vital long-term and large-scale storage. Through this process, hydrogen contributes to our energy systems flexibility by balancing out supply and demand – helping smooth out when there’s either too much or not enough power being generated.