Hydrogen: Risks & Realities
Hydrogen
As an alternative to fossil fuels in the fight against climate change, hydrogen is a promising clean fuel source: it is carbon neutral, and its combustion produces only water vapour. As a result, governments and businesses worldwide have rapidly accelerated efforts to promote “green” hydrogen production and use. Made with renewable energy (massive industrial turbines), running water is split into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis. This is an energy-intensive and expensive process. Though hyped as the solution to climate change, hydrogen can negatively impact the environment. Scientists around the world have urged caution in its rapid deployment.
Sierra Club (source) Hydrogen: Future of Clean Energy or a False Solution? (January 4, 2022), read more.
Download the Hydrogen: Risks & Realities Information Sheet (PDF).
In their bid to guide NS towards a cleaner, healthier future the Government of Nova Scotia’s Environmental Goals and Climate Reduction Act commits the province (in legislation) to greenhouse gas reduction targets by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050 by moving away from coal and oil to renewable energy (wind/solar) and to the production of “green” hydrogen.
Climate Change Nova Scotia (source) Read more.
1. Leaks & Emmissions
A small molecule that is very difficult to contain, hydrogen leaks easily into the atmosphere from infrastructure. The presence of hydrogen increases greenhouse gases such as methane, ozone and water vapour. Currently, there is little data to show the total amount of emissions from leakage, venting, purging, electrolysis, transport and storage. It is known that leaking hydrogen can threaten public safety and climate objectives.
Environmental Defense Fund For Hydrogen to be a climate solution, leaks must be Tackled? (2023), read more.
Related sources…
Green hydrogen fuel of future has big potential but a worrying blind spot
Euronews For Hydrogen to be a climate solution, leaks must be Tackled? (December 29, 2022), read more.
Conducting a three-year study (concludes June 2024) on the environmental impacts of hydrogen emissions.
European Geoscience Union Read more.
Climate consequences of hydrogen emissions
European Geoscience Union Climate consequences of Hydrogen Emissions (July 20, 2022), read more.
2. Transport Safety
Hydrogen is a volatile and highly flammable element that can be difficult to store and transport. Existing infrastructure (i.e., natural gas pipelines) is not suitable, as hydrogen causes embrittlement and premature cracking in unprotected metals, including steel, aluminum, and titanium. Repurposing existing pipelines would require significant retrofitting and cost. Aging pipelines must be replaced at or near the end of their functional lifecycle.
Pipeline Safety Trust Can we safely move hydrogen through gas Pipelines? (January 19, 2023), read more.
3. Energy Inefficiencies
Hydrogen is an inefficient heating fuel. It takes five times more renewable energy (ie: energy from wind turbines) to produce hydrogen than it does to use that same energy to directly to power heat pumps. Studies show that electric heat pumps are consumers’ cheapest and cleanest heating option. Though hydrogen may play a role in trucking, electric vehicle solutions are more efficient (they use less energy than that needed to power a hydrogen fuel cell).
Production of green hydrogen requires large amounts of renewable energy. This results in the construction of massive wind farms that will negatively impact the environment and biodiversity of this province. Hydrogen seems a poor resource choice—between 50% and 80% of the energy value of clean electricity is lost in the hydrogen-making process. It has been proven that renewable energy would be better utilized to electrify the grid.
Environmental Defense Fund Rule #1 deploying hydrogen: Electricity first (January 30, 2023), read more.
Related sources…
Electricity versus Hydrogen
Charge Point Electricity versus hydrogen: 4 reasons electrification is the right choice for fleets (July 9, 2023), read more.
Wake up to the hype around green hydrogen for heating
Recharge ‘Wrong side of history’ | Wake up to the hype around green hydrogen for heating (August 25, 2022), read more.
Hydrogen for heating? Considering the storage solution
Hydrogen Science Coalition Climate consequences of Hydrogen Emissions (December 22, 2023), read more.
Green Nova Scotia First
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Green Nova Scotia First !
The Canadian and Nova Scotia governments are actively engaging in establishing and promoting a green hydrogen economy. Our government offers startup companies large amounts of financing and substantial tax incentives for green hydrogen development. The large-scale wind turbine farms and offshore wind required to sustain this questionable answer to climate change (green hydrogen production) can’t help but have long-lasting detrimental effects on the environment, biodiversity, and marine life.
While climate change demands an emergency response, proceeding too fast without evidence-based decisions could undermine efforts to decarbonize.
Green Nova Scotia First 15 May 2024
