Study warns green hydrogen may miss climate goals without clean power shift
In India, Bioenergy Times reported that a new study led by the University of Sheffield has cautioned that the global shift towards green hydrogen may not deliver the expected climate benefits unless major changes are made in how hydrogen is produced and transported.
Published in the journal Nature Communications Sustainability, the research said the environmental impact of hydrogen varies widely depending on the energy sources used across its supply chain. Although green hydrogen is being promoted as a solution to cut emissions in sectors such as steel, chemicals and heavy transport, the study warns that its climate advantage can be reduced if production depends on electricity generated from fossil fuels.
The researchers examined 20 possible hydrogen production and transport scenarios across 14 countries between 2023 and 2050. The countries studied include the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and China. Five different production methods were assessed, including electrolysis and biomass-based processes, along with the effect of transport systems on overall emissions.
The findings show that hydrogen produced through electrolysis currently has among the highest global warming impacts because much of the electricity used in the process comes from carbon-intensive power grids, according to the report.
Category: Research
