Opinion | Hydrogen without CO2: the time has come

The target of carbon neutrality by 2050, now shared by many States and, not too long ago, by the European Union, supposes many and profound adjustments in our life, in our approach of manufacturing and consuming.

Confronted with these transformations, the EDF groups are actually exploring applied sciences and new low-carbon vitality options that can allow the preservation of the planet and the well-being of our clients to be reconciled. In its report offered over the past G20 in Japan, the Worldwide Vitality Company (IEA) confirmed the necessary function that hydrogen ought to play within the world vitality transition.

“Inexperienced” hydrogen

At this time primarily utilized by the chemical trade, and the therapy of metals and glass, hydrogen might meet 20% of world vitality demand in 2050, in accordance with a research by McKinsey. If these very long-term forecasts are at all times a troublesome artwork, it’s plain that, confronted with the air high quality challenges dealing with metropolises, “inexperienced” hydrogen might impose itself as one of many options to the decarbonization of the trade but in addition
transport, and in particular “heavy” transport

, by changing the propulsion of trains, vehicles and boats to hydrogen.

It’s nonetheless obligatory that this new gasoline is obtained in a clear approach, which remains to be removed from being the case as we speak since 95% of the hydrogen produced on this planet comes from fossil energies. In France, hydrogen manufacturing accounts for three% of whole CO2 emissions. Therefore the nationwide goal of attaining decarbonization of 10% of commercial hydrogen manufacturing by 2023 and between 20 and 40% by 2028.

Launched about ten years in the past, the analysis work that the groups from our Eifer laboratory, in partnership with the Karlsruhe Institute of Expertise, carried out on electrolysis applied sciences reinforce our conviction: the manufacturing of decarbonated hydrogen by electrolysis, because of electrical energy from renewable and / or nuclear sources, is likely one of the options on the way in which to carbon neutrality in 2050.

Worldwide race

On an industrial stage, it is usually an ideal alternative to construct a European hydrogen sector, creating jobs and financial progress, because the Hydrogen Council summit in Paris reveals in the meanwhile, a treasured physique which I want to salute the work.

However make no mistake: globally, the competitors is already effectively underway. China intends to base the event of those applied sciences on the speedy enlargement of the usage of clear hydrogen in its cities. South Korea and Japan are equally growing formidable and large-scale tasks.

Greater than ever, sturdy motion by France and Europe is important to weigh within the worldwide race that’s opening up. The primary pointers issued by the brand new European Fee and its “inexperienced deal” are encouraging. The event of a carbon-free hydrogen should be primarily based on a large-scale deployment in Europe to achieve the important threshold of lots of of megawatts collected and thus rise to the extent of different main areas of the world. This requires specifically resolute monetary help from the French and European public authorities. That is why hydrogen ought to discover its place within the French 2025 Productive Pact.

Mobility in CO2

With regard to EDF, the French and European authorities can rely on our contribution to the event of a carbon-free hydrogen sector. We’ve got simply taken a strategic step by creating in 2019 a selected subsidiary, Hynamics, which produces and markets low carbon hydrogen so as to assist producers scale back their carbon footprint. Likewise, Hynamics helps private and non-private actors of their CO2-free mobility mission, by the event of fleets of buses, utility automobiles, dumpsters for family waste, vehicles, river shuttles, all equipped with carbon-free hydrogen by hydrogen service stations which make it doable to pool makes use of throughout a territory.

To combat world warming, options can be found and worthwhile. It’s as much as us to implement them.

Jean-Bernard Lévy is CEO of EDF.