Hydrogen: resurgence of national plans
The first factory must start its production of green hydrogen in Bouin in Vendée.
Lhyfe.co.uk
Text by: Pauline Gleize Follow
5 mins
The Hyvolution forum opens this February 1 in Paris.
For two days, the actors of the hydrogen sector meet.
The opportunity to promote this sector less than three years after the presentation of France's strategy plan for the deployment of hydrogen.
France is far from being the only one to have adopted a program to develop the production and use of this energy vector.
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Hydrogen strategy plans have multiplied in recent years.
From three in 2019, Anna Creti, director of the Climate Economics Chair at Paris-Dauphine, now has "
about forty in the world
" with differences between regions.
“
Europe has a leadership position in the deployment of electrolyser capacity, with today 40% of installed capacity globally, according to the International Energy Agency.
It is a fairly well consolidated leadership that could probably continue to be confirmed in the future.
Afterwards, there are countries which are also well placed, such as Australia.
We will also look at emerging countries.
»
All countries do not point to the same aspects, “
emerging specializations
” with regard to the end use of hydrogen: “
transport, industry or electricity production
”, lists Anna Creti.
With regard to hydrogen production, with 28% of registrations, Europe dominated the filing of patent applications over the period 2011-2020, according to a study by the European Patent Office and the International Agency Energy.
And research is shifting towards carbon-free technologies.
Japan, very present in the automotive sector, is hot on the heels of the old continent.
As for the United States, with 20% of patent applications, it is the only major innovation center to have lost ground, particularly during Donald Trump's mandate.
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To read also: Hydrogen production without CO2 emissions
“Warning signal” or “source of inspiration”.
But, the United States may not have said its last word.
Carbon-free hydrogen is included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a law that fiscally promotes the establishment of green industries on American soil.
A plan variously appreciated on the European side.
"
The Inflation Reduction Act was a warning signal that is taken very seriously
," said Olivier Appert, advisor to the energy center at Ifri.
We should all the same be less naive in Europe than we have been able to be for too many years.
»
However, François Kalaydjian, hydrogen coordinator at IFP new energy, welcomes Washington's approach: "
It is a source of motivation because the Inflation Reduction Act takes note of the fact that it is necessary initially to help
”, to push the competitiveness of hydrogen.
“
The United States has put this in place and it is a source of inspiration for Europe
”, he hopes.
►
To read also: The H2Med hydrogen pipeline project between Barcelona and Marseille officially launched
Brussels is also preparing the response.
The European Commission is presenting its plan on February 1 to enable the European Union to compete with the United States in the field of green technologies while reducing its dependence on Beijing.
Because France and Europe will not only face American competition.
“
We must not forget the Chinese competition either,
recalls Olivier Appert.
China is the world's largest producer of hydrogen, it is about a third of world production.
This country became interested in hydrogen late in the day.
But the year 2020 is a decisive turning point with the development of a national strategy aimed at using hydrogen to support its transition, but also to promote new industries.
If China is lagging behind other nations, it is doing everything to catch up.
»
Strong potential in Africa
Not all countries rely on the same source of hydrogen.
For now, almost all hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels
.
In the context of the energy transition, some are counting on the “steam reforming” of methane with CO2 capture
,
others on electrolysis, that is to say the fracture of water molecules using an electric current.
In this area, Africa has an important card to play: "
The potential for producing green hydrogen in North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa is practically double that which can be had in North America. North, in Latin America combined
”, explains Anna Creti.
"
It is a potential
", nuances the economist,
but a few countries, especially in East Africa, such as Tanzania are beginning to receive international investment for the production of green hydrogen.
There is the green corridor project in East Africa with also the use of hydrogen for the production of fertilizers.
»
But if there are "
advanced initiatives ", "
international investments
" are lacking
.
However, according to a study by the European Investment Bank which confirms the continent's potential in terms of green hydrogen, it will take "
1,000 billion euros of financing
" to "
provide the equivalent of more than a third of Africa's current energy consumption
”
.
The fact remains that despite the enthusiasm of recent years, the challenges for the hydrogen sector are still numerous, recalls Olivier Appert: “
challenge on competitiveness, challenge on safety
”.
“
The potentially less positive impact on climate change than previously thought is also a challenge
,” he points out.
Apart from the carbon balance in production and transport, hydrogen if it leaks into the atmosphere - and although it is not a direct greenhouse gas - disturbs the behavior of greenhouse gases and has therefore an indirect impact. A CNRS study, however, estimates that green hydrogen, even in the event of a leak, would remain an ally of the transition.
This indirect impact "
will not call into question
", the turn towards hydrogen, estimates François Kalaydjian of IFPEN, one of the three main institutes in the world for fundamental research in patents on hydrogen according to the 'EPO.
“
It is a subject that must be dealt with and to which solutions must be found
”, but “
it is not out of reach
.
»
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Also to listen: Hydrogen, an energy of the future?
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