{"id":30374,"date":"2023-05-09T16:16:16","date_gmt":"2023-05-09T21:16:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/und-today\/?p=30374"},"modified":"2023-06-28T12:39:28","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T17:39:28","slug":"und-in-the-conversation-the-future-of-hydrogen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/und-today\/2023\/05\/und-in-the-conversation-the-future-of-hydrogen\/","title":{"rendered":"How hydrogen can help fuel greener future"},"content":{"rendered":"

Expect the element to play a key role in meeting carbon-free energy goals, UND researcher writes in The Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A worker refuels a YT203-H2, a tractor powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, during a 2020 test of the vehicle in the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The tractor was developed by Terberg Benschop and zepp.solutions. Photo credit: zepp.solutions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Johannes van der Watt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Editor\u2019s note:<\/strong> On May 9, The Conversation<\/a> published an article by Johannes van der Watt<\/a>, research assistant professor at UND’s Institute for Energy Studies<\/a>. The article is below and can be read in its original form on The Conversation\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Since its publication, the article has been read more than 11,000 times. <\/em><\/p>\n

UND faculty members and graduate students who\u2019d like more information on writing for The Conversation are invited to read Introducing The Conversation,<\/a> a story that appeared in UND Today in September.<\/em><\/p>\n

* * * *<\/p>\n

By Johannes van der Watt<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hydrogen, or H\u2082, is getting a lot of attention lately as governments in the U.S., Canada and Europe\u00a0push to cut<\/a>\u00a0their greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n

But what exactly is H\u2082, and is it really a clean power source?<\/p>\n

I specialize in\u00a0researching and developing H\u2082 production techniques<\/a>. Here are some key facts about this versatile chemical that could play a much larger role in our lives in the future.<\/p>\n

So, what is hydrogen?<\/h2>\n

Hydrogen<\/a>\u00a0is the\u00a0most abundant element in the universe<\/a>, but because it\u2019s so reactive, it isn\u2019t found on its own in nature. Instead, it is typically bound to other atoms and molecules in water, natural gas, coal and even biological matter like plants and human bodies.<\/p>\n

Hydrogen can be isolated, however. And on its own, the H\u2082 molecule packs a heavy punch as a highly effective energy carrier.<\/p>\n

It is already\u00a0used in industry<\/a>\u00a0to manufacture\u00a0ammonia<\/a>,\u00a0methanol<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0steel<\/a>\u00a0and in\u00a0refining<\/a>\u00a0crude oil. As a fuel, it can store energy and reduce emissions from vehicles, including buses and\u00a0cargo ships<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Hydrogen can also be used to generate electricity with lower greenhouse gas emissions than coal or natural gas power plants. That potential is getting more attention as the\u00a0U.S. government prepares new rules<\/a>\u00a0that would require existing power plants to cut their carbon dioxide emissions.<\/p>\n

Because it can be stored, H\u2082 could help overcome intermittency issues associated with renewable power sources like wind and solar. It can also be blended with natural gas in existing power plants to reduce the plant\u2019s emissions.<\/p>\n

Using hydrogen in power plants can reduce carbon dioxide emissions when either blended or alone in\u00a0specialized turbines<\/a>, or in\u00a0fuel cells<\/a>, which consume H\u2082 and oxygen, or O\u2082, to produce electricity, heat and water. But it\u2019s typically not entirely CO\u2082-free. That\u2019s in part because isolating H\u2082 from water or natural gas takes a lot of energy.<\/p>\n

How is hydrogen produced?<\/h2>\n

There are a few common ways to produce H\u2082:<\/p>\n