Types of Hydrogens (H2)

 

Being the most plentiful, lightest, and first element in the periodic table, hydrogen is gaining popularity as a clean energy source for a sustainable future.

 

Hydrogen is classified into different types based on the production methods.

 Green Hydrogen

 

Ø  Green hydrogen is generated by electrolyzing water utilizing clean power produced by renewable energy sources like solar or wind.

Ø  Water is broken down by an electrochemical reaction into its component elements, hydrogen and oxygen, with no carbon dioxide being produced.

Ø  Because green hydrogen makes up a relatively small portion of all hydrogen produced, its generation costs are significant.

Cost of the green hydrogen is 3.5-5.5USD/Kg H2

2.      Blue Hydrogen

Ø  Using a process named steam reforming, which involves mixing natural gas with heated water to create steam, blue hydrogen is created from natural gas.

Ø   Although hydrogen is formed as a result, carbon dioxide is also created as a byproduct.

Ø  Thus, to gather and store this carbon, the carbon capture and storage method is employed.

Ø  Because there is very little creation of greenhouse gases, blue hydrogen is also known as "low-carbon hydrogen."

 

3.      Grey Hydrogen

Ø  Grey hydrogen is produced through the process of steam methane reformation, which uses natural gas or methane.

Ø   It is not environmentally favorable because it emits greenhouse gases, yet it is the most common technique of creating hydrogen.

Ø  This technique of producing hydrogen does not include carbon capture and storage.

 

4.      Brown/Black Hydrogen

Ø  This method is more environmentally hazardous than grey hydrogen production since it uses black coal or lignite.

Ø  Furthermore, the carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide produced during the process are not collected.

Ø  A cost comparison of several types of hydrogen finds that environmentally friendly hydrogen is more expensive. Hence the cost of Brown/Black Hydrogen is 0.9-1.5 USD per Kg.

 

5.      Turquoise Hydrogen

Ø  This is a novel form of hydrogen that has not yet begun commercial production; it was created in the laboratory.

Ø  It is created by the pyrolysis of methane, which yields solid carbon and hydrogen as its final components.

Ø  Because the heating process is powered by renewable energy and the carbon is either permanently stored or utilized, it is a low-emission hydrogen.

Pink Hydrogen

Ø  Pink hydrogen, often known as purple or crimson hydrogen, is created using an electrolysis method that uses nuclear power.

Ø  Nuclear reactions generate high temperatures, which can be utilized to generate steam for improved electrolysis or steam methane reformation.

 

7.      Yellow Hydrogen

Ø  One kind of hydrogen generated by solar-powered electrolysis is called yellow hydrogen. It can also refer to electrolyzed hydrogen that is created by combining the power of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources.

 

8.      White Hydrogen

Ø  White hydrogen, also known as geologic or natural hydrogen, is a naturally occurring hydrogen type that can be found in subterranean deposits; it is not generated.

Ø  By drilling a well, these deposits are easily accessible.

Ø  Several nations, including Australia, Brazil, and Mali, are actively extracting white hydrogen.

Ø  White hydrogen is formed by natural processes that include interactions with water and minerals, reactions with rocks, and degassing from the Earth's crust and mantle.