As we grapple with the urgent need to transition to clean energy, hydrogen has been heralded as a beacon of hope. Proponents argue it can power everything from cars to industrial processes without emitting greenhouse gases. After all, when hydrogen is burned, the 'waste' product is just water. But beneath the enthusiasm lies a more complex reality. Is hydrogen truly the answer to sustainable energy? Evidence to date shows there’s more hype than hope for hydrogen, particularly for powering cars, utes, motorbikes, trains and trucks.
The Hydrogen Promise
Hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe, presents a potentially tantalising solution to the world's dirty energy woes. When used in fuel cells, hydrogen combines with oxygen to produce electricity, emitting water vapour as a byproduct. This clean process stands in stark contrast to the carbon-intensive process of burning fossil fuels.
Green hydrogen, produced by electrolysis of water using renewable energy sources like wind or solar, is appealing. And Australia is well-positioned to be a global leader on it thanks to our vast renewable energy resources. But grey and blue hydrogen are made from fossil fuels. Production of grey hydrogen directly emits greenhouse gasses and blue hydrogen relies on flawed Carbon Capture and Storage technology. Researchers at Cornell University in the US have shown that the carbon footprint of blue hydrogen is actually 20% higher than just burning the fossil fuels directly. That's because as Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said, “CCS technology is a con and scam.”
Green Hydrogen Hurdles
A journey to a hydrogen-powered future for our motor vehicles would be expensive and fraught with challenges. Despite technological advancements, green hydrogen production is very expensive. The International Energy Agency reports that green hydrogen can cost up to $7.50 per kilogram. This high cost is primarily due to the significant amounts of energy and electrolysers needed to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. On the basis of costs per kilometre, green hydrogen powered cars are ten times more expensive to run than EVs.
Hydrogen's physical properties also complicate its storage and transportation. Hydrogen molecules are incredibly small and can easily escape through tiny leaks, making containment challenging. To store hydrogen efficiently, it must be either highly compressed or liquefied at extremely low temperatures, both of which are energy-intensive.
Infrastructure is another critical barrier. While EVs can be charged anywhere with an electrical outlet, hydrogen vehicles require entirely new and specialised refueling infrastructure. Building this is costly and logistically complex. In California, where hydrogen adoption has been trialled, there have been notable setbacks. Shell recently closed several hydrogen refuelling stations there, highlighting the ongoing infrastructure challenges. In Australia, Andrew Forrest is scaling back his hydrogen investments. too
Batteries are the Answer
While green hydrogen faces hurdles, battery technologies continue to advance. The cost of lithium-ion batteries has plummeted by over 80% in the last decade, and further declines are inevitable. Even companies like Toyota which have previously pinned their hopes on hydrogen, are now switching to solid-state batteries that promise greater efficiency, faster charging times, and longer ranges. Toyota’s upcoming solid-state battery is expected to offer a range of over 1,000km with a 10-minute charge.
The efficiency of batteries also far surpasses that of hydrogen fuel cells. While hydrogen fuel cells are about 50% efficient, EVs powered by lithium-ion batteries boast efficiencies of around 90%. This means that for the same amount of renewable energy, batteries can deliver almost twice the distance. And at a lower cost!
The Road Ahead
Hydrogen certainly has its place in the clean energy landscape. Its potential for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors like steel production, aviation, and long-haul shipping is significant. But for passenger vehicles and most other forms of transportation, renewable energy and batteries offer the fastest, most efficient and cost-effective solutions.
Australia should continue to invest in green hydrogen for industrial applications where batteries may not be suitable. But it is crucial to recognise the limitations and challenges of hydrogen and to be alert to greenwashing and distraction from the fossil fuel industry. Grey and blue hydrogen are just excuses from the fossil fuel industry to keep drilling for gas and digging up coal.
Despite the hype on hydrogen, its hurdles mean batteries are already winning the race to power our cars, utes, motorbikes, trains and trucks.
The only place for Hydrogen in our energy future is nuclear fusion - imagine there are some ways to go yet on that.