Cheap renewables could make green hydrogen a practical replacement for fossil fuels

Between comparable amounts, hydrogen has about 3 times the energy of diesel or gasoline. A growing percentage of manufactured hydrogen is being made using electricity to split water molecules into its constituent parts. If the source of this electricity is renewable, such as solar or wind, this is called “green” hydrogen and it produces very minimal harmful emissions. Hydrogen is also very versatile and can be burned as a clean substitute for fossil fuels, combined with oxygen in fuel cells, or combined with carbon to make liquid hydrocarbon fuels. However it is processed, it can then power vehicles, provide electricity, generate heat for manufacturing plants, store energy, and more. In order for green hydrogen to be profitable however, policy changes are needed to allow for existing natural-gas pipelines to carry hydrogen (“blending”) as well as regulations on the amount of carbon emissions allowed in heavy industries.