Hydrogen – the future?

I remember that already a few decades ago, the Portuguese industrial sector tried to use Hydrogen in production processes, but unfortunately without great results. For example, in the Aveiro region, where there is a large fertilizer factory, an attempt was made to use Hydrogen for the production of Ammonia, which was not profitable.

Currently, and with the great technological development that is taking place, it is possible to produce green hydrogen, which in addition to having a reduced environmental impact, has the possibility of being transported over long distances, of being stored and of proving to be the most immediate substitute for natural gas, both at the business level, but also at the residential level.

Of the various hydrogen production technologies, water electrolysis is the one I know best and has been developed the most in recent months. It is a process that converts water into hydrogen and oxygen, through the use of an electric current (namely through the use of solar modules for electricity production).

Hydrogen production and use is not new, and it is not currently a competitive solution considering the current prices of natural gas, so why do you think it will be the energy of the future?

In my opinion, the production of green hydrogen still needs a lot of technological development, so that it can be considered a valid and competitive alternative in terms of price, compared to natural gas and even compared to oil.

We must not forget that an energy revolution of this scale cannot be achieved from one moment to the next, it requires a large operational and financial investment, especially considering all the lobbies strongly implanted worldwide, by the large producers of energy based on fossil fuels.

However, and bearing in mind the above, there is no doubt that the production of Green Hydrogen presents itself as the most credible and best placed alternative for a new energy revolution worldwide.

For this to happen, the governments (and regulators) of the different countries must define rules for the existence of a hydrogen market with consistent and properly regulated price indices.

In Portugal, the hydrogen strategy, within the scope of the goals and objectives established in the national energy and climate plan for 2030, determines that it represents up to 1% of final energy consumption in Portugal in 2025, up to 2% in 2030, and up to 20% in 2050.

For this to be a reality, investors must feel confident in the price indices of green hydrogen, so that they feel motivated to bet on and develop this technology, and so that marketing prices can be competitive and generally accessible to consumers.

Is hydrogen the energy of the future?

It is, but we all need to make every possible effort, so that we can say that Hydrogen is not only the energy of the future, but it is also our current challenge for a more sustainable future.

I personally know that I have that opportunity to work and fight to realize a piece of a new future.