Hydrogen from renewables
Green hydrogen, produced from renewable energies, allows the storage of energy in a sustainable manner. It does not emit CO2 or polluting gases, so it is emerging as a key factor in the decarbonisation of the economy within the context of climate neutrality, that a large part of the international community -and particularly the European Union- has set as a target for 2050.
Renewable hydrogen (or green hydrogen) is produced from electricity generated in a renewable plant -such as a solar plant or a wind farm- using water as raw material and an electrolyser. This device dissociates a water (H2O) molecule into its two components: hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2).
The main advantage of hydrogen is that it can be stored as a gas under pressure or in liquid state, can be transported in vehicles or piping systems and can be used on demand. In other words, it is a manageable resource. This is why hydrogen is not commonly considered a source of energy, but an energy vector. Hydrogen means that surplus renewable energy generated when there are lower levels of electricity consumption can be used later, either directly or by turning it into electricity again through a fuel cell.
The prospects for the development of green hydrogen are excellent, given its potential for playing a crucial role in a number of applications that are essential for the decarbonisation of the energy mix, such as providing flexibility to the electric power system or reaching sectors where electrification is more complicated, such as industrial processes, heavy-duty transport or the residential sector. These prospects are improved by the major and progressive cost reductions that this technology is experiencing.
ACCIONA has joined the Renewable Hydrogen CoalitionRenewable Hydrogen Coalition, a network of companies, investors and organizations that share the aim of driving the development of green hydrogen as a key element in achieving the long-term European decarbonisation objectives.
