Hydrogen gas is the most abundant chemical element in nature and is a universal, light and highly reactive material. Green hydrogen is obtained through a chemical process known as electrolysis, a method that uses electric current to separate hydrogen from the oxygen in water.
At Stock Logistic, with international logistics services by land, sea and air, we follow with interest this growing trend, which is on its way to becoming a great alternative to the more traditional fossil fuels. This will undoubtedly have a great impact on supply chains, which are highly dependent on the energy sector.
Advantages of green hydrogen
The most important positive aspects of the use of green hydrogen in transport are:
-It is 100% sustainable as it does not emit polluting gases either during combustion or during the production process.
-It is very easy to store, allowing it to be used for other purposes and at other times than when it was produced.
–Versatility: it can be transformed into electricity or synthetic fuels and used for commercial, industrial, mobility, etc. purposes.
–Transportable, as it can be mixed with natural gas up to 20% and travel through the same channels and infrastructures as gas.
Development in Spain
In Spain, the renewable hydrogen sector is in full effervescence due to the interest of both the public and private sectors in this clean and environmentally sustainable energy source. According to some studies, the year-on-year increase in hydrogen plants between 2018 and 2019 worldwide was 20%, between 2019 and 2020 it was over 50% and between 2020 and 2021 it is expected to exceed 100%, i.e. double the number of operational stations.
The aim of the hydrogen plants is to generate and supply green hydrogen to heavy road transport fleets, intercity bus fleets and light industrial vehicles. They could also serve other sectors such as railways and the chemical industry. Recently, the Spanish government announced the National Hydrogen Strategy, which includes the allocation of more than 1,500 million euros in European funds for hydrogen-related projects.
Main challenges of green hydrogen
However, some organisations, such as Logistop, have highlighted the main challenges facing this growing industry:
- The high cost of the equipment (technology) which, for the moment, is custom-made and which affects the fact that production is not fully developed – a first basic network of hydrogen plants is lacking – and which does not allow hydrogen to be produced at a cost that is close to parity with diesel.
- The high cost of vehicles (vans, vans, lorries) which means that, despite the obvious benefits from an environmental, social and image point of view, few operators are considering purchasing them for the time being.
Decarbonisation of transport
The decarbonisation of the economy and transport, a process that cannot be postponed in the medium and long term, will hopefully give more prominence to green hydrogen. Moreover, if its production becomes 50% cheaper by 2030, as predicted by the World Hydrogen Council, we will undoubtedly be facing one of the fuels of the future. In this sense, at the end of the year, the European Commission presented the ‘Sustainable and Intelligent Mobility Strategy’, a document that includes an action plan of specific political measures, with the main milestones for the next three decades with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to all modes of transport by 90% in 2050.