Global Growth of Green Hydrogen
A partir de 2020, el mercado mundial del hidrógeno estaba valorado en $150 mil millones de dólares y se esperaba que alcanzara los $ 600 mil millones en 2050. Según los analistas de Fitch Solutions, el mercado mundial del hidrógeno podría saltar al 10 % para 2030.[25] El número de inversiones en hidrógeno verde ha aumentado de casi ninguna en 2020 a 121 gigavatios en 136 proyectos en fases de planificación y desarrollo por un total de más de mil millones en 2021. Empresas de todos los países han formado alianzas para aumentar la producción de combustible en cincuenta veces en los próximos seis años.[26].
Australia
In Australia, green hydrogen has cost twice as much as conventional hydrogen and blue hydrogen, but a 2020 Australian National University report estimated that Australia could produce it much cheaper even today, and could match the price of conventional hydrogen and blue hydrogen (around A$2 per kilogram) by 2030, which would be cost-competitive with fossil fuels. An energy market analyst suggested in early 2021 that the price of green hydrogen would fall by 70% over the next 10 years in countries with cheap renewable energy.[27] In 2020, the government fast-tracked approval of the world's largest planned renewable energy export facility in the Pilbara region. The following year, energy companies announced plans to build a $2 billion "hydrogen valley" in New South Wales that would replace the region's coal industry.[28].
Asia
China is the global hydrogen market leader with production of 20 million tons, representing ⅓ of global production. Sinopec aims to generate 500,000 tons of green hydrogen by 2025.[29] Researchers from China's Harvard Project have indicated that hydrogen generated from wind power could provide a cost-effective alternative for coal-dependent regions such as Inner Mongolia.[30].
To become carbon neutral, the Japanese government intends to transform the nation into a "hydrogen society."[31] Energy demand in Japan would require the government to import 36 million tons of liquefied hydrogen. The nation's commercial imports are projected to be 100 times less than this amount by 2030, when use of the fuel is expected to begin, posing a serious challenge. Japan has published a draft roadmap that called for hydrogen and related fuels to supply 10% of the energy for electricity generation, as well as a significant portion of the energy for other uses such as shipping and steelmaking by 2050.[32].
The country has created a hydrogen highway that&action=edit&redlink=1 "Hydrogen Highway (Japan) (not yet drafted)") consists of 135 subsidized hydrogen fueling stations and plans to build 1,000 more by the end of the decade.[33][34].
A consortium of companies has announced a $30 billion project in Oman that would become one of the world's largest hydrogen facilities. Construction will begin in 2028 and by 2038 the project will have 25 GW of wind and solar energy.[35].
In 2021, in collaboration with Expo 2020 Dubai, a pilot project was launched which is the first "industrial-scale" solar-powered green hydrogen installation in the Middle East and North Africa.[36].
In October 2020, the South Korean government announced its plan to introduce Clean Hydrogen Power Works Standards (CHPS) that emphasizes the use of clean hydrogen. During the introduction of the Hydrogen Power Works Standard (HPS), it was voted on by the 2nd Hydrogen Economy Committee. Furthermore, in March 2021, the 3rd Hydrogen Economy Committee was held to approve a plan to introduce a clean hydrogen certification system based on incentives and obligations for clean hydrogen.[37].
In June 2021, Hyundai Engineering signed a mutual business agreement with POSCO, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Uljin-gun, Pohang University, Pohang Institute of Industrial Sciences and Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. It plans to ensure the competitiveness of MMR technology and revitalize the hydrogen economy through cooperation, such as the development of hot hydrogen production technology, the development of hot water electrolytic technology, and the commercialization of nuclear energy.[38].
European Union
In July 2020, the European Union unveiled the Hydrogen Strategy for a Climate Neutral Europe with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by incorporating hydrogen into EU plans. A motion supporting this strategy was passed by the European Parliament the following year.[39] Goldman Sachs estimates that hydrogen will make up 15% of the EU's energy mix by 2050.[40] Six European Union Member States – Germany, Austria, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg – have called for hydrogen financing to be backed by legislation.[41] Germany has already invested €9 billion to build 5 GW of hydrogen capacity by 2030.[42] Several member countries have created plans to import hydrogen from other nations, especially North Africa.[43] These plans would increase hydrogen production, however, they have also been accused of trying to export the necessary changes within Europe.[44] The European Union has required that from 2021 all new gas turbines manufactured in the bloc be equipped and ready to burn a mixture of hydrogen and gas natural.[24].
In February 2021, around thirty companies announced a pioneering project to supply hydrogen based in Spain. The project is intended to begin in 2022, creating 93 GW of solar power and 67 GW of electrolysis capacity by the end of the decade.[45] However, European environmental organizations expressed opposition to the project, considering it "unnecessary infrastructure that will aggravate the energy crisis."[46] In April 2021, Portugal announced plans to build the first solar power plant to produce hydrogen by 2023.[47] Lisbon-based energy company Galp Energia has also announced plans to build an electrolyzer to power its refinery by 2025.[48].
Latin America
According to data from the consulting firm Mckinsey & Company, Latin America has 35% of the global hydrogen production potential due to the region's wide availability of renewable energy, which makes it a relevant actor for the energy transition based on the use of this fuel.[49]This has led countries such as Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Costa Rica, Argentina and Mexico to develop actions to promote the sector both from private initiatives and with associations of public companies.[50].
Experts from the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean have pointed out that among the main benefits of the exploitation of Green Hydrogen in Latin America is the development of focused energy demand, economic growth, energy security, climate change mitigation and the generation of regional development poles.[50]
However, important challenges have also been identified, such as:[50].
On the other hand, academics and environmental groups have raised the alarm about the risks of hasty development of a Green Hydrogen industry in a region with high levels of inequality and energy poverty,[51]demanding that it be done under a just transition perspective.[52][53][54][55].
In November 2021, Argentina agreed to an investment of $8.4 billion with the Australian firm Fortescue Future for the megaproject to install a green hydrogen plant in the province of Río Negro.[56].
The Costa Rican government is one of the few with a National Decarbonization Plan. President Carlos Alvarado Quesada signed a decree in December 2021 to promote “the development of a green hydrogen economy.” «Large economies do not generate much electricity from renewable energy. They are years away from that. On the other hand, our electrical matrix is 99.8% clean and renewable, so we are one step ahead. In addition, we have the capacity to produce more,” said the president at that time.
Through a 2021 market study, carried out with 2020 data, the sustainable energy consulting firm Hinicio concluded that Costa Rica could produce almost six million tons of green hydrogen annually, equivalent to 8.5% of global demand.[57].
Chile was the pioneer in Latin America. Already in November 2020, the then president of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, presented the "National Strategy for Green Hydrogen", stating that he wanted Chile to become "the most efficient producer of green hydrogen in the world by 2030".[58] The plan includes HyEx, a project to produce hydrogen based on solar energy for use in the mining industry.[59].
The plan aims to make Chile a world leader in the production and export of green hydrogen. It is estimated that for the country it will involve the creation of some 100,000 jobs and US$200 billion in investment during the first 20 years.[60].
Chile has two development poles: the Atacama Desert, where high solar radiation and the absence of cloudy days allow the production of electricity from solar panels; and the Magallanes Region, the strong and permanent winds allow wind energy projects.[61].
United Kingdom
In 2021, the British government published its policy document, a "Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution", which included investing to create 5 GW of low-carbon hydrogen by 2030. of oil and gas into a "green hydrogen hub" that would supply fuel to local distilleries.[66] In June 2021, Equinor announced plans to triple UK hydrogen production.[67].
USA
During his 2003 State of the Union Address, George W. Bush unveiled a $1.2 billion plan to develop hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, calling it the "fuel of freedom." This funding was reduced in 2009 by Barack Obama.[68][69].
In June 2021, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm announced plans in line with the Biden administration's commitment to lower the cost of green hydrogen production. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was planning the first demonstration of a hydrogen grid in Texas. The Department had previously attempted a hydrogen project known as Hydrogen Energy California. the country, as the state is the largest national producer of hydrogen and already has a network of hydrogen pipelines.[72] In 2020, SGH2 Energy Global announced plans to use plastic and paper using plasma gasification to produce green hydrogen near Los Angeles.[73] In 2021, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced $290 million in investment to build a green hydrogen fuel production plant.[74] State officials have also backed the plans. to develop fuel cells for use in trucks and research into hydrogen mixing in the gas network.[75].