White Hydrogen: Fuel of Future
Amid supply complications, Shell permanently closes all of its hydrogen refuelling stations for cars in California. At the same time, a new word enters into the market "white hydrogen".
Latest Development:
Amid concerns and costs associated with the production of Green and Green hydrogen, Companies are searching worldwide for deposits of geologic hydrogen that could be used as clean fuel. In their search to find a natural hydrogen deposit, A team of geologists affiliated with several institutions in France, working with a pair of colleagues from Albania, has measured the largest natural flow of hydrogen ever recorded in an Albanian chromium mine. See Video
Video Credits: Science X: Phys.org, Medical Xpress, Tech Xplore Youtube channel
What is White Hydrogen?
White Hydrogen is the hydrogen that is sourced naturally from the earth. It forms through the interaction of groundwater with iron-rich minerals like olivine, splitting water into oxygen (which binds with iron) and hydrogen.
There has been significant research to find the natural reserves of hydrogen and recently there has been a success. In the Albanian mine, it is anticipated that the deposit could contain up to 46 million tonnes of white hydrogen, surpassing half of the world’s current annual production of grey hydrogen. The hydrogen concentration in this deposit is estimated to be 14% at a depth of 1100 meters.
How is it different from Grey OR Green Hydrogen?
| Parameter | White Hydrogen | Grey Hydrogen | Green Hydrogen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition | Naturally occurring hydrogen found underground or generated artificially | Produced from natural gas (methane) via “steam reforming” | Produced through electrolysis using renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydel power) |
| Benefits | Abundant and natural | Widely available but carbon-intensive | Climate-neutral and clean |
| Production Cost | Varies based on the extraction method | Relatively low cost | Higher cost due to renewable energy input |
| Availability | Limited natural occurrence | Widely available | Depends on renewable energy availability |
| Others | Extraction challenges | Carbon emissions | Electrolysis process |
Key Players in Green, Grey, and White Hydrogen
Grey Hydrogen:
- Air Liquide: A global leader in industrial gases, Air Liquide produces grey hydrogen for various industries, including refining, chemicals, and metallurgy.
- Linde: Linde is another major player, providing grey hydrogen for industrial applications, transportation, and energy storage.
Use Cases: Refining processes, Ammonia production, Methanol synthesis
Green Hydrogen:
- Siemens Energy: Siemens Energy focuses on green hydrogen solutions, including large-scale electrolyzers and integrated. projects.
- NEL ASA: A Norwegian company, NEL ASA, specializes in hydrogen production, including green hydrogen.
Use Cases: Fuel cells for transportation, Energy storage, and Decarbonizing industrial processes.
White Hydrogen:
- Indian Oil Corporation (IOC): IOC is exploring white hydrogen production from renewable sources.
- NTPC Limited: NTPC is actively researching white hydrogen and its applications.
Use Cases: Blending with natural gas, Fuel for fuel cells, Industrial processes
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