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Environmental Assessment of Hydrogen Utilization in Various Applications and Alternative Renewable Sources for Hydrogen Production: A Review

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  • Muhammad Amin

    (Interdisciplinary Research Center for Hydrogen and Energy Storage (Tier II)—Research and Innovation, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
    Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea)

  • Hamad Hussain Shah

    (Department of Engineering, University of Sannio, Piazza Roma 21, 82100 Benevento, Italy)

  • Bilal Bashir

    (US-Pak Center for Advance Studies in Water (USPCASW), Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro 76080, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Azhar Iqbal

    (Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Institute of Space Technology (IST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Umer Hameed Shah

    (Artificial Intelligence Research Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Information Technology, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates)

  • Muhammad Umair Ali

    (Department of Intelligent Mechatronics Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

Rapid industrialization is consuming too much energy, and non-renewable energy resources are currently supplying the world’s majority of energy requirements. As a result, the global energy mix is being pushed towards renewable and sustainable energy sources by the world’s future energy plan and climate change. Thus, hydrogen has been suggested as a potential energy source for sustainable development. Currently, the production of hydrogen from fossil fuels is dominant in the world and its utilization is increasing daily. As discussed in the paper, a large amount of hydrogen is used in rocket engines, oil refining, ammonia production, and many other processes. This paper also analyzes the environmental impacts of hydrogen utilization in various applications such as iron and steel production, rocket engines, ammonia production, and hydrogenation. It is predicted that all of our fossil fuels will run out soon if we continue to consume them at our current pace of consumption. Hydrogen is only ecologically friendly when it is produced from renewable energy. Therefore, a transition towards hydrogen production from renewable energy resources such as solar, geothermal, and wind is necessary. However, many things need to be achieved before we can transition from a fossil-fuel-driven economy to one based on renewable energy.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Amin & Hamad Hussain Shah & Bilal Bashir & Muhammad Azhar Iqbal & Umer Hameed Shah & Muhammad Umair Ali, 2023. "Environmental Assessment of Hydrogen Utilization in Various Applications and Alternative Renewable Sources for Hydrogen Production: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-25, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:11:p:4348-:d:1156507
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    References listed on IDEAS

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