Clean Energy‐Based Production of Hydrogen: An Energy Carrier

Abstract

In the context of a global energy market with rising demand along with an increasing aversion to greenhouse gas ( GHG ) emissions, the demand for clean energy production and, in particular, environmentally benign energy carriers and storage media are considerable. In this article, the production of hydrogen as a clean energy storage medium is addressed from a techno‐economic perspective. Furthermore, emphasis is placed upon hydrogen production channels that can facilitate large‐scale production and significant GHG mitigation at a relatively moderate cost. A number of hydrogen pathways are considered, which include wind‐powered electrolytic hydrogen production, biohydrogen production via gasification and pyrolysis, steam methane reforming ( SMR ) with and without carbon capture and sequestration ( CCS ), and underground coal gasification ( UCG ) with and without CCS . This article presents a holistic discussion of the salient techno‐economic trade‐offs and implications, challenges, and competitive advantages, as well as the environmental footprint pertaining to each hydrogen pathway.

Photoreforming of Waste Polymers for Sustainable Hydrogen Fuel and Chemicals Feedstock: Waste to Energy

“…Moreover, meeting the world’s increasing energy needs to maintain the pace of development is one of the critical and pressing issues, fulfilling the future global energy needs without compromising environmental sustainability. Hydrogen (H 2 ) fuel is one of the main vectors for clean energy sources due to the high content of stored energy with the least impact on the environment, i.e., it is an emission-free fuel. − Currently, NASA’s space program uses hydrogen as the primary propellant in its satellites, space shuttles, and rockets for its various space campaigns . The potential applications of H 2 fuel are also found in petrochemical manufacturing, gasoline desulfurization and reformulation in refineries, glass cleaning, steel processing, or metallurgical processes in heat treatment applications to remove oxygen as an O 2 scavenger.…”