What is hydrogen?
- Hydrogen is the lightest chemical element in the periodic table and the most abundant element in the universe.
- At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic, highly combustible gas, with the highest specific energy content of all conventional fuels.
- Like electricity, hydrogen is an energy carrier – not a source of energy. It must therefore be produced. Yet hydrogen offers several key benefits that increase its potential to replace fossil fuels. Stored hydrogen, for example, can be used directly as a fuel or to generate electricity.
- Hydrogen has a strategic importance in the pursuit of a low-emission, environmentally-benign, cleaner and more sustainable energy system.
- The combustion product of hydrogen is clean, consisting of water and small amounts of nitrogen oxides.
- The electrolysis of water (H2O) is a simple method of producing hydrogen.
- Hydrogen is often produced using natural gas, which involves the removal of hydrogen from hydrocarbons at very high temperatures.
- Hydrogen will be a key contribution to sustainable development, because in the future it may be produced in virtually unlimited quantities using renewable energy sources.
In addition, you may also hear the terms blue hydrogen and green hydrogen being used:
What is blue hydrogen?
Blue hydrogen is hydrogen produced using natural gas and refinery fuel gas, and where the CO2 that is released during production is captured and stored.
What is green hydrogen?
Green hydrogen is defined as hydrogen produced via electrolysis using power sourced from renewable sources such as offshore wind farms or solar power.