Pink hydrogen and nuclear energy: a transition to clean energy.

 

Have you ever wondered what pink hydrogen is and why it matters for the future of clean energy? If so, you might want to check out this article that explains the concept and the potential benefits of this novel form of hydrogen production.

Hydrogen is a versatile and abundant element that can be used as a fuel or a feedstock for various industrial processes. However, not all hydrogen is created equal. Depending on the source and the method of production, hydrogen can have different colors and environmental impacts. It seems that one day, we might have flavors as well! 😄

Most of the hydrogen we use today is grey hydrogen, which is produced from natural gas or coal through a process called steam reforming. This process emits a lot of carbon dioxide, making grey hydrogen a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

Blue hydrogen is like grey hydrogen but with one key difference: the carbon dioxide emissions are captured and stored underground (CSS) or used for other purposes. This makes blue hydrogen less harmful to the climate but still dependent on fossil fuels.

Green hydrogen is the most environmentally friendly option, as it is produced from water using renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power. The only byproduct of this process is oxygen, making green hydrogen a zero-emission fuel. However, green hydrogen is also the most expensive and challenging to produce at scale due to the high cost and variability of renewable energy. It is my thought that green hydrogen is unachievable in our lifetime. However, if we ever commit ourselves to reaching zero carbon emissions by 2050, it is a must!

                  Figure: The three famous hydrogen colors [2].

This is where pink hydrogen comes in, which is achievable in the near future. Pink hydrogen is essentially green hydrogen with a twist: it uses nuclear power instead of renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Nuclear power is a low-carbon and reliable source of electricity that can provide the necessary heat and electricity for water electrolysis. By using nuclear power, pink hydrogen can overcome some of the limitations of green hydrogen, such as high cost, low efficiency, and intermittency (it means that it is variable, there is no solar power when the sun is not shining… etc.).

According to Energy Intelligence [2], pink hydrogen has several advantages over other forms of hydrogen production. First, it can leverage the existing nuclear infrastructure and expertise, which are already well-established in many countries. Second, it can offer a stable and continuous supply of hydrogen, regardless of weather conditions or time of day. Third, it can reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and lower the carbon footprint of hydrogen production. Last, due to pink hydrogen, nuclear can reach the two industries that it never could, aviation and freight shipping!

Of course, pink hydrogen also faces some challenges and uncertainties. For instance, nuclear power is controversial in some regions due to safety and waste management concerns. Moreover, pink hydrogen still requires a lot of water and land resources, which could pose environmental and social issues. Finally, pink hydrogen needs to compete with other low-carbon alternatives, such as green hydrogen or battery electric vehicles.

         Figure 2: The many colors of hydrogen [3].

Furthermore, pink hydrogen is not a silver bullet but rather a promising option that deserves more attention and research. Pink hydrogen could play a significant role in the transition to a clean energy system, especially in sectors that are hard to decarbonize with other solutions.

If you are interested in learning more about pink hydrogen and its potential applications, I highly recommend reading this article [2]. It is informative. You can find the link to the article below.

 

References:

1- The colors of hydrogen | HYdrogen Properties for Energy Research (HYPER) Laboratory | Washington State University (wsu.edu)

2- Technology: Can Pink Hydrogen Help Decarbonize Transport? | Energy Intelligence

3- The Colors of Hydrogen, Explained | FASTECH (fastechus.com)