Renewables In The Spotlight: Romania’s €149m Green Hydrogen Project
August saw a few major projects approved by the European Commission, including a €149 million Romanian scheme that supports the production of renewable hydrogen. Is renewable hydrogen important and what does hydrogen actually do? Let’s find out!
What is hydrogen?
Hydrogen is number one — well, that’s its spot on the periodic table, at least. It also takes a leading spot in the fight against climate change, as green hydrogen does not emit polluting or greenhouse gases. It is also storable and energy efficient.
The World Nuclear Association explains that hydrogen is a key component of future energy systems — especially if it can be made without carbon dioxide emissions. “[The] energy demand for hydrogen production could exceed that for electricity production today,” the association adds. With an estimated annual hydrogen demand of 200 million tonnes by 2030, and a whopping 530 million tonnes by 2050, hydrogen isn’t going anywhere. Note, however, the emphasis on green and renewable hydrogen. While this energy source might seem like the answer to all our climate change woes, there is a yin to every yan. A research report by EarthJustice emphasises that less than 1% of hydrogen today is actually produced using ‘renewable energy’. The organisation, who are “reclaiming hydrogen for a renewable future” aim to clarify the difference between green hydrogen and hydrogen produced from polluting sources like fossil fuels or gases.
So, what is green hydrogen?
According to EarthJustice's research, green hydrogen is made using 100% renewable electricity to split hydrogen from water molecules. This, the organisation states, is the only established way to produce hydrogen without emitting climate or air pollution. Grey hydrogen, on the other hand, is harvested from fossil gas through steam methane reformation. Next on the hierarchy list is blue hydrogen. This grey hydrogen paired with carbon capture to reduce CO2 emissions.
The European Commission’s latest hydrogen project
In a statement made by the European Commission Vice-President Margrethe Verstager, Verstager states that the “€149 million scheme enables Romania to step up its renewable hydrogen production capacities, while limiting possible distortions of competition.”
But is it green hydrogen? In a press release by the Commission, they state that the project aims to “reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fast-forward the green transition.” The Commission also states that the project is in line with the objectives of the EU Hydrogen Strategy and the EU Green Deal. A closer look at the Hydrogen Strategy shows a focus on obtaining hydrogen via electrolysis renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
“Not only will the measure adopted today contribute to the achievement of the EU Hydrogen Strategy and the EU Green Deal ambitions. It will also help Romania in replacing natural gas, coal and oil in hard-to-decarbonise industries and transport sectors, and in reducing its dependence on imported fossil fuels, in line with the REPowerEU Plan,” Verstage concludes. While all so-called green initiatives may not be a 100%, as EarthJustice points out, it’s certainly a step in the right direction. Perhaps we should take every green announcement we see with a grain of salt — at least until we’ve done a bit of our own research!
