Many countries around the world have set the goal of achieving complete decarbonization by 2050. On the road to net-zero emissions, green hydrogen energy is gradually demonstrating its irreplaceable importance. As a green hydrogen production and comprehensive application service provider, Fullcryo offers application system solutions.
Green hydrogen is obtained by using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. It is generated from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, and does not emit carbon dioxide during production, which is why it is called “green”.
At present, there are mainly three ways to produce hydrogen. The production process of green hydrogen energy is one of them, and the other two are grey hydrogen energy and blue hydrogen energy.
Grey hydrogen energy accounts for the largest share in the current hydrogen market. It is obtained through the thermal conversion of natural gas, a process that still generates a large amount of carbon dioxide.
Blue hydrogen energy is based on grey hydrogen energy. The carbon produced is collected and stored properly, thus reducing the greenhouse gases emitted into the environment and causing less pollution than grey hydrogen.
It is produced using renewable energy and is a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional hydrogen production methods.
It has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in multiple fields such as transportation and industry.
It has a wide range of application scenarios. It can be used as a transportation fuel, as well as for energy storage and industrial production processes.
Meanwhile, green hydrogen helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels and enhance energy security.
Electrolysis: This process uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, requiring an electrolytic cell. Generally, proton exchange membranes or alkaline technology are employed. If the electricity used for electrolysis comes from renewable energy sources, the entire process will not produce carbon emissions.
Biomass gasification method: By using agricultural waste or specialized energy crops as biomass, it is gasified into syngas. Then, by processing the syngas, hydrogen can be produced. Meanwhile, the carbon dioxide generated is collected, stored or utilized.
Carbon capture and utilization method: Collecting the carbon dioxide emitted during industrial production and using it as raw material to produce hydrogen can reduce overall carbon emissions.
Photovoltaic hydrogen production method: First, solar energy is converted into electricity through a photovoltaic power generation system, and then the electricity is transformed into chemical energy (that is, hydrogen) through an electrolyzer. This technology can achieve zero carbon emissions. However, it still needs to address some issues, such as how to match the unstable output of photovoltaic power generation with the efficiency of electrolysis, and how to optimize the entire system better. But this remains an important way to produce green hydrogen energy.
Previously, Fullcryo’s photovoltaic hydrogen production new energy project in Xinjiang Province, China, was successfully put into operation. The green electricity electrolytic water hydrogen production device (1000Nm3/h) not only uses the hydrogen produced in the argon recovery device but also provides it for application in the surrounding hydrogen refueling stations, jointly building a green hydrogen energy industry in Karamay with the local government.
Relevant data indicates that ammonia production is expected to increase by 40% over the next three decades, and hydrogen will play a key role in this growth process. At present, the ammonia industry accounts for 1.8% of global carbon dioxide emissions. By adopting clean hydrogen energy in industrial production processes (utilizing carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies and renewable energy production), this industry has huge potential for emission reduction, which can also promote the sustainable development of the entire petrochemical industry.
In addition, ammonia, as a medium for hydrogen energy storage, also holds great promise. Compared with liquid or gaseous hydrogen, ammonia is easier to transport, which has led to increasing attention and financial support for clean ammonia projects.
In terms of hydrogen energy transportation, Fullcryo adopts vacuum super insulation technology, super insulation support technology and low-temperature pipeline flexible compensation technology with independent intellectual property rights to produce and manufacture the core equipment of large horizontal cold boxes for 5-ton/day hydrogen liquefaction, which is designed by the Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The leakage rate is better than 10-8 pa.m3 /s. The external dimensions are 14.7m in length, 6m in width and 5.4m in height. It plays an extremely crucial role in the production, storage and transportation of liquid hydrogen.
In methanol production, the reaction between hydrogen and carbon monoxide can generate methanol, a chemical raw material. The use of clean hydrogen in production can reduce emissions, and scientists are also studying the potential of methanol production in reducing atmospheric emissions. In addition to being used in the chemical field, methanol can also serve as an alternative fuel for vehicles and machinery, offering higher efficiency and lower emissions.
Oil is of great significance to the world economy. It is expected that the demand for oil will reach its peak around 2040. So, when refining oil, finding ways to reduce carbon emissions is a rather important opportunity.
Specifically, there are two ways to use clean hydrogen energy for assistance: one is to produce clean hydrogen energy on-site at oil refineries through electrolysis; Another approach is to first produce clean hydrogen energy, then process it using carbon capture, utilization and storage technology, and transport it to refineries for use
Green hydrogen is crucial in reducing carbon emissions in heavy industry and is mainly applied in industries such as steelmaking, glass manufacturing, concrete production, as well as the manufacturing of semiconductors and other electronic products.
Heavy industry now accounts for about 25% of global carbon emissions. In the steel industry, green hydrogen energy is mainly used in hydrogen metallurgy. It can replace carbon as a reducing agent in processes such as hydrogen-rich blast furnace smelting, hydrogen-based direct reduction ironmaking, and hydrogen-based molten reduction ironmaking.
Direct reduced iron produced by green hydrogen metallurgy has a particularly low content of harmful elements and is an excellent raw material for electric arc furnace steelmaking. It can also help improve the purity of special steel. The hydrogen-rich coke oven gas produced by the steel industry itself also provides resources for the application of green hydrogen energy.
For green hydrogen to be widely used, the cost of infrastructure needs to be taken into account, which involves several aspects. Many enterprises are now paying close attention to hydrogen carriers because they have the potential to become renewable energy sources. Moreover, hydrogen carriers store more concentrated energy than pure hydrogen and can transport more hydrogen at one time.
Specifically, the costs include the following aspects:
1. Building production facilities requires a considerable amount of money, such as electrolytic cells, renewable energy equipment, and related supporting facilities, all of which cost money.
2. Alarge amount of investment is also required for storage facilities, such as building storage tanks or using underground caves to store hydrogen, to ensure that the storage is both safe and efficient.
3. In terms of transportation and distribution, pipelines, storage stations and hydrogen refueling stations need to be built to form a complete network, which will also increase the cost of infrastructure.
The green hydrogen project in which Fullcryo participates in the cooperative construction plans to add electrolytic water hydrogen production equipment and oxygen liquefaction units to further expand the production capacity scale: the electrolytic water hydrogen production unit will achieve 7 × 1000Nm3/h. The by-product oxygen is processed through the corresponding oxygen liquefaction equipment, achieving a green liquid oxygen output of 137TPD.
4.Power Grid integration
Integrating green hydrogen production facilities with the existing power grid requires upgrading investment in the grid infrastructure to meet the increasing demand and ensure a reliable energy supply.
5.Safety Measures
The implementation of safety measures, such as safety training programs, emergency response systems and regulatory compliance, will increase infrastructure costs to ensure the safe handling and storage of hydrogen.
Taking all these factors into account, the infrastructure cost of green hydrogen energy is a key issue that needs to be considered in its application. Significant investment is still needed in production facilities, storage infrastructure, transportation and distribution networks, power grid integration, and safety measures.
Fullcryo possesses internationally leading capabilities in the design and manufacture of hydrogen liquefaction units, and can provide customers with a complete set of liquid hydrogen storage and transportation solutions that directly reach end users. Fullcryo uses liquid hydrogen as a means and green hydrogen as a goal to promote the large-scale application of hydrogen energy. By leveraging hydrogen liquefaction, liquid hydrogen storage and transportation technologies, and the coupling of renewable energy hydrogen and electricity, we aim to achieve continuous supply of green hydrogen and become a provider of green hydrogen production and comprehensive application services.
