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The world is rapidly transitioning towards renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. Green hydrogen is among the most promising technologies in this regard, which has the potential to revolutionise the energy sector, global analysts say.
Tow domestic hydrogen energy experts – Md Abdus Salam of Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Aman Uddin of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology – say green hydrogen has high potential to meet the future needs of energy-starved Bangladesh.
Talking to The Business Post, Salam said one kg of hydrogen could be generated from nine litres of water.
He said around 33.33 kWh of energy comes from one kg of hydrogen fuel while petrol and concentrated natural gas provide 12 kWh and 14.7 kWh respectively. A car can run 100 kilometres using one kg of hydrogen fuel whereas a traditional vehicle runs 16 km using one litre of petrol, he also said.
“Besides, production, delivery, and distribution costs are taken into consideration to determine the price of hydrogen fuel for usability, with the current unit price ranging between $1.6 and $10,” Salam added.
Green hydrogen produced from water, waste, and other renewable energy sources does not emit carbon. That is why it will be possible to generate clean electricity from hydrogen, according to experts.
Aman, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at BUET, said hydrogen fuel systems do not require extensive infrastructure development and investment like traditional fuel systems.
“Besides, hydrogen production is very promising in Bangladesh due to the abundance of water and biomass. In addition, hydrogen fuel will boost energy security, energy reserves, and the national economy.”
Drastic and unexpected weather conditions are a proven concern for the use of grid power even in hydrogen production since hydrogen can be produced from all primary energy sources, he added.
What is green hydrogen?
Green hydrogen is a type of hydrogen that is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity.
This process, known as electrolysis, uses an electric current to separate the water molecules into two components. The resulting hydrogen can then be used for various applications, such as fuel cells and transportation.
ScienceDirect says the benefits of green hydrogen are numerous. It has zero emissions, meaning it does not contribute to global warming or air pollution.
Additionally, it is a renewable energy source that can be used to power homes and businesses without relying on fossil fuels. Finally, green hydrogen can be stored for long periods, making it an ideal energy source when other sources may not be available.
Uses of green hydrogen
Heavy industries like steel manufacturing, cement production, and chemical processing are difficult to decarbonise due to their high reliance on fossil fuels.
However, green hydrogen can replace these fossil fuels as an alternative feedstock for these industries without compromising their productivity.
For example, using green hydrogen instead of coal in steel manufacturing significantly reduces carbon emissions while maintaining the same quality as steel products.
Transportation accounts for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions due to its reliance on fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel. Green hydrogen-powered vehicles offer a cleaner alternative with zero tailpipe emissions.
Moreover, unlike electric vehicles, which require long charging times and have limited range due to battery constraints, green hydrogen-powered vehicles can refuel quickly and have longer driving ranges similar to traditional gasoline-powered cars.
Green hydrogen production does not rely on imported oil or natural gas resources from other countries, making it an attractive option for countries seeking greater energy independence while reducing their carbon footprints at the same time.
Both Salam and Aman said hydrogen energy technology contributes to decarbonising the environment, mitigating the dependence on huge import burden, and also enabling the utilisation of low-cost feedstock to manage economic affordability.
Bangladesh has made an ambitious 60,000 MW power generation target by 2041, and the capacity is dependent on imported fossil fuels. But the trend in primary fuel depletion and the climate change situation would change the target as Bangladesh is going through a tough time in terms of managing the current demand, both the experts said.
They also said the incorporation of hydrogen energy into the country’s energy mix can help regain control over its power sector and meet the growing demand.
Moreover, they said due to the unforeseen present situation, the government is making capacity payments yearly. At present, the daily supply is 1,035 MMcf/d of gas to the power plants whereas the total demand in the country is 2,252 MMcf/d.
Due to the global inflation caused by the Russia-Ukraine war and the rise in crude oil prices, many types of diesel and gas-powered power plants are currently closed in Bangladesh while the coal reserve is also alarming, they noted.
A long energy plan, including renewable and hydrogen energy, is being emphasised to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. The incorporation and integration of hydrogen energy into the energy mix of Bangladesh have not been attempted and studied yet by the General Economics Division. Now is the right time to build a green hydrogen-based power generation plant to make the country sustainable and for green energy transition but no initiative has been taken in this regard.
Recently, Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, the prime minister’s adviser on power, energy, and mineral resources affairs, said, “Europe and America are investing billions in this sector. However, there is a lack of sufficient research on hydrogen in our country. The government has the will to meet energy needs by using all renewable sources.”
