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Hydrogen as a Clean and Sustainable Energy Vector for Global Transition from Fossil-Based to Zero-Carbon

Author

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  • Damien Guilbert

    (Group of Research in Electrical Engineering of Nancy (GREEN), Université de Lorraine, GREEN, F-54000 Nancy, France)

  • Gianpaolo Vitale

    (ICAR, Institute for High Performance Computing and Networking, Italian National Research Council of Italy, 90146 Palermo, Italy)

Abstract

Hydrogen is recognized as a promising and attractive energy carrier to decarbonize the sectors responsible for global warming, such as electricity production, industry, and transportation. However, although hydrogen releases only water as a result of its reaction with oxygen through a fuel cell, the hydrogen production pathway is currently a challenging issue since hydrogen is produced mainly from thermochemical processes (natural gas reforming, coal gasification). On the other hand, hydrogen production through water electrolysis has attracted a lot of attention as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using low-carbon sources such as renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro) and nuclear energy. In this context, by providing an environmentally-friendly fuel instead of the currently-used fuels (unleaded petrol, gasoline, kerosene), hydrogen can be used in various applications such as transportation (aircraft, boat, vehicle, and train), energy storage, industry, medicine, and power-to-gas. This article aims to provide an overview of the main hydrogen applications (including present and future) while examining funding and barriers to building a prosperous future for the nation by addressing all the critical challenges met in all energy sectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Damien Guilbert & Gianpaolo Vitale, 2021. "Hydrogen as a Clean and Sustainable Energy Vector for Global Transition from Fossil-Based to Zero-Carbon," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 3(4), pages 1-29, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jcltec:v:3:y:2021:i:4:p:51-909:d:706639
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    2. Rabeea M. Ghazal & Abdulrazzak Akroot & Hasanain A. Abdul Wahhab & Abdulrahman E. J. Alhamd & Ameer Hasan Hamzah & Mothana Bdaiwi, 2024. "The Influence of Gas Fuel Enrichment with Hydrogen on the Combustion Characteristics of Combustors: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-32, October.
    3. Ahmad Alzahrani & Senthil Kumar Ramu & Gunapriya Devarajan & Indragandhi Vairavasundaram & Subramaniyaswamy Vairavasundaram, 2022. "A Review on Hydrogen-Based Hybrid Microgrid System: Topologies for Hydrogen Energy Storage, Integration, and Energy Management with Solar and Wind Energy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-32, October.
    4. María Villarreal Vives, Ana & Wang, Ruiqi & Roy, Sumit & Smallbone, Andrew, 2023. "Techno-economic analysis of large-scale green hydrogen production and storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 346(C).
    5. Jime Braga & Thauan Santos & Milad Shadman & Corbiniano Silva & Luiz Filipe Assis Tavares & Segen Estefen, 2022. "Converting Offshore Oil and Gas Infrastructures into Renewable Energy Generation Plants: An Economic and Technical Analysis of the Decommissioning Delay in the Brazilian Case," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-22, October.
    6. Henrik Zsiborács & András Vincze & Gábor Pintér & Nóra Hegedűsné Baranyai, 2023. "A Comparative Examination of the Electricity Saving Potentials of Direct Residential PV Energy Use in European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-19, April.

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