Apart from being the most abundant chemical element in the universe, hydrogen is an odorless and colorless gas. For decades, it has been the focus of study by scientists in the sustainable energy sector. In fact, this element may be the key to the decarbonization of our planet. Moreover, it could be indispensable for making Spain the world’s leading power in renewable hydrogen.
The main reason is the combination of the latest technological advances with the sun and the wind. Together, they will make it possible to transform this chemical element into a fuel that does not produce emissions.
Today, the most widely used process for generating renewable hydrogen is electrolysis. Nonetheless, the problem is that producing hydrogen is expensive and CO2 emissions are released. So, this means the electricity used does not come from a renewable origin.
How the renewable hydrogen is generated
Therefore, the new more sustainable version of hydrogen, also known as renewable hydrogen, is generated through large-scale renewable sources. Sources in which Spain leads the European ranking. It is because the renewable energy to carry out electrolysis comes from the wind or the sun.
Besides, the project that has developed the photo-electrocatalysis process has been carried out by several of the most prestigious hydrogen centers in the country. To be precise, the team is led by Ana Isabel Martínez and María Dolores Hernández (Repsol Technology Lab scientists), together with Mónica Sánchez (Hydrogen coordinator at Enagás).
Technological advances allow renewable hydrogen to be produced directly from exposure to solar energy. As María Dolores Hernández explains “the device receives solar radiation and, with a photoactive material, the electrical charges that cause this separation, are generated.” With a single device, “energy from the sun is directly converted into chemical energy, in this case, hydrogen.”
According to Ana Isabel Martínez, Engineer specialist in hydrogen technologies “Spain has the opportunity to export energy to other European markets due to its strategic location and its potential in solar energy” And we can achieve this through renewable hydrogen.
At the moment, the European Union foresees that 176 electrolysis projects and 230 hydrogen energy projects will start by 2030. Of these, more than half will be developed in our country.
Sources
Pressreader.com. 2021. PressReader.com – Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions. [online] Available at: <https://www.pressreader.com/spain/tu-economia-be/20211031/282235193877584> [Accessed 3 November 2021].
Native.elmundo.es. 2021. Tecnología ‘made in Spain’ para impulsar el hidrógeno renovable. [online] Available at: <https://native.elmundo.es/2021/09/20/index.html> [Accessed 3 November 2021].
Días, E., 2021. España hará hidrógeno renovable con rayos de sol y viento. [online] Cinco Días. Available at: <https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2021/05/26/extras/1622019979_917413.html> [Accessed 3 November 2021].