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Green Hydrogen
In the last few years there has been an increasing conversation around green hydrogen, and its potential to change the
current world's energy matrix. Until recently my knowledge in the subject was limited, and that led me into inaccurate ideas
about the capabilities and the maturity of the technology.

I do recognize now, its true potential as I have now learned about multiple new applications and the many advantages of
Green Hydrogen, and believe than in a near future, it will become a key role player in the world energy matrix, maybe not
exactly as I originally thought.

I believe that similar to my case, there is a great number of people that has a limited understanding of the technology or its
applications, I also believe that the widespread and understanding of any new technology is a key enabler for its own
deployment.

The purpose of this paper is to explain to an extensive and multidisciplinary audience, how the technology functions and
what are its capabilities, emphasizing the functionality of the technology over how the technology actually works.
Substituting technical explanations for illustrative information, gives the audience the advantage of a fast comprehension
rather than a deep understanding.

Ideally, the reader will then have a comprehensive knowledge over the main functions of the technology in our current
economy, as well as what is needed for its widespread deployment, and what can be achieved by implementing it. The
readers that desire to obtain more knowledge about the technology should be inspired to investigate and learn further into
the technology.

H2 H2 H2 H2

O2 O2

Designed and created by César Sierra

[email protected]

First Published in 29/05/2021

Version 1.0
Last updated in 10/06/2021
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Hydrogen as an energy carrier www.simplerenewables.com

Hydrogen is the simplest and most abundant element on earth, consisting of only one proton and one electron. Hydrogen is
an energy carrier, not a source of energy, meaning that it can be stored and later used to deliver energy. Hydrogen in
nature is mostly combined with other elements, so rst it must be separated from compounds that contain it.

H H H H H H H H
H O H
H
H H H H H H H H
H C C C C C C C C H H C C H
H C H H H
H C C C C C C C C H
H C C C C C C C C N H H
H O
H H H H H H H H
H C C C C C C C C H

H H H H H H H S

Coal Hydrocarbons Methane Biomass Water

Industrialized
methods
Gasication Steam Reforming Electrolysis

Any method can have different emissions

depending on the process or sources, its
possible that their resulting H2 doesn't fully
t in a certain category.

Commonly H2 is branded by color depending

on its emissions, or carbon neutrality.

Green hydrogen
Carbon neutral produced
form renewable energy
Photoelectrochemical
Turquoise hydrogen splitting
Most carbon is sequestrated Methane pyrolysis
and stored in the process.

Blue hydrogen
Experimental
CCS is implemented eliminating
around 85% of emissions
methods Thermochemical
splitting

Grey hydrogen
Multiple gases are emitted
during the production process

Microbial conversion
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Energy density www.simplerenewables.com

Energy density can be measured by volume or weight, the energy density of different fuels or storage systems, help
determine their functionality for mobile applications. Hydrogen is densely packed in terms of weight but not in terms of
volume, it is necessary to compress it or even liquify it in other to make it useful for most applications, any of these process
consume energy, diminishing the overall efciency of hydrogen as an energy carrier.

Liqueed High compression

Energy / Liter

Energy / kg

Pure hydrogen Hydrogen is the lightest energy carrier,

but it requires a large amount of volume,
its low weight makes it a great rocket fuel
Synfuels where volume is not as a big constrain as weight.

e.g. Liquid ammonia

E-fuels
e.g. Butanol
Smaller vehicles like planes and helicopters, require
to store energy as densely as possible in a tight volume,
Bio-fuels e-fuels can be a carbon neutral option in a near future.
e.g. Ethanol
H2
Fossil fuels
Bituminous coal

Fuel gas
e.g. Methane O2
(Natural gas)

Liquid fuel
e.g. Diesel
Pure hydrogen combustion with oxygen will result only in
water vapor, making it one of the cleanest fuels, H2O H2O
NOx H2O

Batteries however, due to high combustion temperatures NOx

H2O
atmospheric nitrogen also reacts emitting nitrogen oxides. H2O NOx
e.g. Lithium Ion H2O
NOx
H2O
H2O
H2O
NOx NOx NOx
www.simplerenewables.com H2O
 Green Hydrogen life cycle Simple Renewables
www.simplerenewables.com
Being such a versatile element, hydrogen can be produced from multiple sources and used in a vast range of applications, multiple industries rely on hydrogen as a feedstock chemical, as
multiple compounds created by it, such as synfuels, and the energy it carries can be applied in several industries. The transportation industry also benets directly from hydrogen as a clean fuel
alternative, the range of applications for hydrogen is creating an expanding circular economy around the production, storage, transportation, and consumption of hydrogen and its related
compounds.
Electricity that comes from a
renewable clean energy source High energy density for storage Synfuels for aviation
and transportation H2
LH2

Cryo-compressed liquid hydrogen Liquid H2 truck Public transportation

[300 bar] [-235°C]

LH2 Road vehicles

LH2 LH2
LH2 LH2

High pressure or liquid H2 pipeline

Shipping industry

Electricity is transmitted Production Storage Transportation Application

to the production site

Power production
High pressure [700 bar]
gaseous storage
H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2

H2 H2
O2 O2

H2
High pressure or liquid H2 shipping
H2 H2 H2

Chemical industry
O2
Power to X

Electrolysis H2 H2

H2 H2
H2
H2
H2
H2
H2

High pressure truck

C N2 Industrial machines
and vehicles

CH4 NH3
C C
H2 H2
Synfuels H2 H2

CH4 NH3
Cement & Steel industry
CH4 NH3
CH4 NH3 N2

Carbon capture Carbon + Hydrogen e.g. Methane e.g. Liquid Nitrogen + Hydrogen
synthesis ammonia synthesis
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Hydrogen today www.simplerenewables.com

Currently most hydrogen production is done using steam reforming of natural gas, coal is also widely used for the
production H2 through gasication, since only near 0.7% of this production uses carbon capture, around 97% of all
produced hydrogen is considered grey hydrogen. Currently only about 0.4% total H2 production is Green Hydrogen,
meaning it was produced via electrolysis using only renewable energy sources.

Steam reforming & Gasication

without carbon capture

Steam reforming & Gasication

with carbon capture

Electrolysis using non-renewable

sources & other methods

Electrolysis using100%
renewable sources

For a long time, multiple industries have relied on hydrogen as a feedstock material, mostly to produce ammonia, a common
fertilizer, but also for the production of many other chemicals. Oil industry widely uses hydrogen for different fuel
processing methods, more than three quarters of Hydrogen production are used by these two industries. Many other
industries could benet more from Hydrogen if the prices reduce even more, in addition, as a method of reducing overall
production emissions.
Electricity Propellant fuel

Coolant Transportation

Heating

Steel Industry
Ammonia

Synfuels

Hydro-reforming

Polymers

Hydrocracking Resins

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Electrolysis www.simplerenewables.com

In Green hydrogen production, electrolysis is the method of using a direct energy current as a way of splitting a water
molecule through a simple chemical reaction. The electrolyzer is the system that produces the Hydrogen from water, its main
component is the electrolyzing cell, where the chemical reactions occur simultaneously, as long as the cell is fueled by water
and a DC current. An electrolyzer has multiple cells stacked next to each other, to increase conductivity and efciency the
cells are as thin as possible.

Cell Conducting Diffusion Electrolyte Catalysts Conducting

plate layer plate

Stack housing
Pressure bolts
Stack housing
Seals
Pressure bolts
Gas collector
channels

Conducting plate

Cell
Stacks vary in size according to the technology

Water diffusion
channel

The collected gases are still mixed with water,

therefore they have to be treated rst before use

Some modern electolyzer systems

are able to t in a single container

H2 H2 H2 H2

O2 O2

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 Simple Renewables
Electolyzer technologies www.simplerenewables.com

The most common or promising technologies are Alkaline, PEM (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane) and SOEC (Solid Oxide
Electrolysis Cell). The Alkaline is the most widely used and most proven technology, PEM electrolyzers are increasingly
popular even after their elevated costs, although their production is limited by the availability of scarce materials used as
catalysts. SOFC are a promising technology, but with plenty of challenges to overcome before it can be fully scalable and
commercially deployed.

Anode (+)
O2 H2
Cathode (-)
Alkaline
Cost* 270 USD / kWelec.
Efciency* 50% - 70% kWh/kgH2
Durability* 60,000 hr
Technology Mature
Availability Commercial

Op. temperature 70-90 °C

Op. pressure 30 bar

Size Large
The entire cell is submerged Non-conductive diaphragm
in an electrolyte solution allows the OH ions to pass

O2 H2 PEM
Anode (+) Cathode (-)
Cost* 400 USD / kWelec.

Efciency* 50% - 83% kWh/kgH2

Durability* 50,000 -70,000 hr

Technology Developing
Availability Scarce components

Op. temperature 50-80 °C

Op. pressure 70 bar

Size Compact
Catalysts speed Non-conductive membrane reduces the space
up the reaction between the plates improving conductivity

Anode (+) O2 H2 Cathode (-) Solid Oxide

Cost* +2000 USD / kWelec.
Efciency* 45% - 55% kWh/kgH2

Durability* 20,000 hr

Technology Experimental
Availability Under development

Op. temperature 700-850 °C

Op. pressure 1 bar

High temperatures augment

Gas diffusion layers increase the reaction efciency
the reaction area
*Costs are capital costs estimates for only stacks > 1 MW [USD/kW]
*Cost, efciency and Durability are based on the IRENA analysis on Key performance indicators for four electrolyser technologies today and in
2050. IRENA (2020), Green Hydrogen Cost Reduction.
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Balance of plant www.simplerenewables.com

Electrolyzers alone are not enough to produce industrial amounts of pure hydrogen, a group of complementary systems aid
in the creation of the pure hydrogen, free of any contaminants, as well as supporting the electroylzer functionalities. The
(BoP) Balance of Plant often varies depending on the electrolyzer technology and characteristics, still multiple elements are
common in most systems, where the end product is pure and compressed gaseous hydrogen.

Electrolyzer Valves Gas and water Water pumps Storage tanks

separator

H2 H2 H2 H2

O2 O2

Rectier Water solution Condenser Deoxidizer Dryer Compressor

processing tank

H2 H2 H2 H2

O2 O2

Power supply Control system Solution tank Buffer tank Cooling system Housing

H2 H2 H2 H2

O2 O2

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 Simple Renewables
Production & Distribution www.simplerenewables.com

The nal efciency of hydrogen is heavily dependent on the implemented production and distribution method, a balance
between improving efciency by scaling up production meets the inefciencies of complex distributions systems. As the
technology matures larger production facilities are proposed, nevertheless this doesn't mean that small scale and
distributed facilities are inefcient, its most likely that technology will adapt to different niches in the sector.

Automatized systems require

On-site minimum supervision
Ideally the facility produces only when a surplus of
renewable energy in the grid drives down prices Locating the production near the
end user drives down costs
Limited new infrastructure is needed
to install a deployable system

H2 O2 O2
H2 H2 H2 H2

Regional
The facility can hold a PPA's with renewable energy producers,
assuring the production of pure green hydrogen Hydrogen does not need to be liquied
since the end users are nearby

Hydrogen is distributed to end

users within tens of kilometers

HH22 H2

Upscaling the production offsets the

additional costs and inefciencies Centralized Complex systems require constant
of long distance transportation
professional supervision

Multiple transportation systems, allow

distribution within hundreds of kilometers
High voltage infrastructure is needed
to yield the energy requirements
Hydrogen is liquied to
reduce storage space

LH2
LH2 LH2 LH2 LH2

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 Macro production of Green Hydrogen Simple Renewables
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There are plenty of regions around the globe with a high potential for renewable energy and without consuming demand nearby, these regions are ideal for mega hydrogen
production facilities, where the sole intention is to produce and distribute H2, at the lowest possible costs and as far as possible. These regions even can be isolated or offshore
where land prices and social impact is low, connected by high volume transportation infrastructure that allows the facility to reach international markets.

Multiple generation sources can

Transnational
assure a continuous production

Utility scale renewable production projects can be Large scale facility can produce multiple
located within the production facility premises, byproducts of hydrogen such as synfuels
reducing transmission loses

Pipelines can transport hydrogen inland within the hundreds of kilometers

A distribution network allows to reach a diversity

of users both domestic and international
LH2
LH2 LH2
Nearby shipping infrastructure is ideal to transport
hydrogen overseas within thousands of kilometers

Liquied gas transport trucks can transport

hydrogen inland within the tens of kilometers

LH2

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The fuel Cell www.simplerenewables.com

The fuel cell is the main component that carries the chemical reaction of Hydrogen and Oxygen, generating an electric
current from it and emitting water as a byproduct of the reaction, a fuel cell works in the opposite way of an electolyzer,
therefore the components and design of both stacks are quite similar. Fuel cells can generate electricity out of a variety of
fuels as well as hydrogen, the components as much as their efciency depends on the specic fuel they are fed. Likewise
pure or mixed hydrogen can be burnt in different types of engines, many gas turbines can run on hydrogen with some
modications on their fuel injection systems.

H2 O2 Most fuel cell technologies such as Alkaline, PEM, or Solid oxide

Anode (+) Cathode (-) are symmetrically opposed to their electolyzer counterparts

Electrolyzer
H2O
H2
O2 Fuel cell
H2O
H2
O2
Some electrolyzers require
additional heat energy
to improve reactiveness Oxygen can be fed purely
or mixed in atmospheric air

Control valves Humidier Fuel cell stack Condenser

Gas escape

Storage tanks H2
Water tank
Air lter

Cooling system Water pumps

Current commercial fuel cell stack systems

have between 40% to 65% efciency Fuel cells or Hydrogen combustion?

Multiple manufacturers are developing pure hydrogen

and fuel exible turbines that are expected to produce
electricity with a 60% thermal efciency in combined cycle

Hydrogen combustion can be tailored to have Hydrogen is highly reactive and has
minimal emissions and a high burn rate a high temperature burn rate

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 Simple Renewables
Competing technologies www.simplerenewables.com

Who is going to win the race?

Each technology will nd their own segments, markets, and regions, where each specic technology will have more
economical sense than the others. With this in mind, its important to state that any energy conversion process will always
have inefciencies, the more conversions needed for the nal end use, the more energy will be lost due to inefciencies.

For transportation it is quite complex, since each different method has different power, weight and volume requirements, in
addition to multiple economical, geographical and market drivers, it is most likely than in a near future vehicles will adapt
to the energy sources that better t their characteristics.
Space exploration Commercial aviation

General aviation
Mass transportation

Personal Short range Long range utility Long range Heavy duty utility Long range ships
transportation transportation

Electrication Hydrogen Synfuels

Manufacture Heating Chemical

For general Industry direct electrication is already taking over, as it is the most efcient way to power most machines.
However multiple industries can't rely only on electrication, and will have to depend on products such as Hydrogen or
synfuels if necessary, this will require more energy and thus, a higher price on their energy source, but their nal emissions
can still be substantially reduced by switching to greener energy sources.

Why electric are vehicles winning over?

Battery power vehicles require less energy
The short range personal green vehicle market is leaning conversions and/or fuel transportation,
towards electric vehicles over hydrogen, mainly because of reducing the nal price of the driven kilometer
the energy source, price, and the availability of both the
product and the necessary infrastructure. But why is the
price for driving with Hydrogen higher than the one for Battery Inverter Engine
battery power? DC-AC

H2 H2 H2 H2

O2 O2

PV Cell DC Transformer High Transformer Low Electrolyzer Compression H2 Fuel Cell

Voltage AC Voltage AC DC-H2 H2-DC Engine
Inverter DC-AC Transmission High Rectier AC-DC Transportation H2 Inverter
Voltage AC DC-AC

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 Simple Renewables
The hydrogen economy enablers www.simplerenewables.com

Policy making
A hydrogen economy is only worth it, if a low emissions hydrogen is used, policy must be
implemented in order to achieve this, otherwise emissions could double if the current
production status is maintained in order to satisfy the increasing demand for hydrogen.

Infrastructure
A considerable investment is needed to prepare our existing infrastructure, otherwise
Hydrogen won't be as efcient as competing technologies, even more dependent on LH2
infrastructure are the users, that won't adopt Hydrogen if associated inconveniences are LH2 LH2
too many.

Research & Development

Hydrogen related technologies are still “GREEN” and still have a long way to be fully
matured, this however presents a huge range of improvement, development still has to
tackle the complications related to the scale up of the technology, which is quite
dependent on the available demand and available infrastructure

If Costs keep dropping it is most likely that a chain reaction will start
once a certain tipping point is reached, the massication of
the technology depends heavily on the associated costs

Cost

Research & Demand

Development
Hydrogen
economy

Policy making Infrastructure

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 Simple Renewables
Abbreviations www.simplerenewables.com

H2 - Pure hydrogen

O2 – Pure Oxygen

PEC – Photoelectrochemical

CH4 – methane

NG – Natural Gas

LNG – Liquied Natural Gas

LH2 -Liquied Hydrogen

CCS – Carbon Capture and sequestration

PPA – Power Purchase Agreement

Synfuels – Synthetic fuels

e-fuels – (Electronic fuels), Fuels that are synthesized using an electric current

bio-fuels – Fuels that produced from organic matter

DC – Direct current

FC – Fuel Cell

EC – Electrolyzer Cell

PEM – Polymer Electrolyte Membrane

SO – Solid Oxide

BoP – Balance of plant

Op. – Operational

e.g. – Example

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 Simple Renewables
References www.simplerenewables.com

Hydrogen Insights Report 2021, Hydrogen Council, McKinsey & Company, 2021.

IRENA (2020), Green Hydrogen Cost Reduction: Scaling up Electrolysers to Meet the 1.5 C Climate Goal,
International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi

IRENA (2020), Green Hydrogen: A guide to policy making, International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi

IRENA (2019), Hydrogen: A renewable energy perspective, International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi

IRENA (2018), Hydrogen from renewable power: Technology outlook for the energy transition, International
Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi.

Twenty hydrogen myths #e03-05 Amory B. Lovins, CEO, rocky mountain institute, 20 June 2003, corrected and
updated 17 February 2005; White paper published at www.rmi.org and summarized at
www.rmi.org/sitepages/art7516.php

Blue Hydrogen; Global CCS Institute, April 2021, Brussels, Belgium; europeof[email protected]
Hydrogen gas turbines, the path towards a zero-carbon gas turbine ETN Global; January 2020; Brussels;
www.etn.globa

Power to gas: hydrogen for power generation, Fuel Flexible Gas Turbines as Enablers for a Low or Reduced Carbon
Energy Ecosystem; Dr. Jeffrey Goldmeer, February 2019; General Electric Company.

Hydrogen: A Clean, Flexible Energy Carrier; SUNITA SATYAPAL, Director of EERE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell
Technologies Ofce ; https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/hydrogen-clean-exible-energy-carrier

The Future of the Hydrogen Economy: Bright or Bleak? (Original of 15 April 2003, Chapter 4.1 "Electrolysis"
revised 26 February 2005); Ulf Bossel, Baldur Eliasson, Gordon Taylo; United Kingdom; www.efcf.com/reports

Simple Renewables
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The sole author of this paper is César Andrés Sierra Sequelis, under its personal brand Simple Renewables

Unless otherwise stated, material in this publication may be freely used, shared, copied, reproduced, printed
and/or stored, provided that appropriate acknowledgement is given to the author as the source and copyright
holder. All the material in this publication that is attributed to third parties, is properly citated, in addition to this, all
information sources used for this paper are currently accessible for free access and distribution.

All the texts and graphics were completely designed and edited by the author, and any modication, adjustments,
tampering or reedition should not occur without the previous acknowledgment of the author.

[email protected]

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