These are all the kinds of hydrogen that exist to power a car

For a long time we have been talking a lot about hydrogen and the importance it may have in the future in the automotive industry. In this article, we want to show you all the kinds of hydrogen that exist to power a car.

There is a clear objective that the reduction of CO2 emissions in the coming years. Specifically, the European Union wants to reduce polluting gases by 55% in 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality in 2050. This was established in its ‘Fit for 55’ plan.

And in achieving this goal, hydrogen can play a key role in transportation, through fuel cell technology. This solution will make it possible in the future to diversify the energy supply and reduce dependence on oil.

Hydrogen is considered a very attractive energy for the future, because its combustion does not release polluting emissions. When combined with oxygen in the air, it releases chemical energy, generating only water vapor as a result of combustion.

Therefore, it can be key to reducing CO2 emissions. Hydrogen storage can be done using pressurized gas and as a liquid or distributed through gas pipelines, which is why it is considered that it can replace natural gas in the medium or long term.

These are all the kinds of hydrogen that exist to power a car

As with electricity, hydrogen is an excellent carrier of energy, since it can be obtained from different precursors, such as natural gas, coal, water, and renewable energy.

As we have told you on previous occasions, hydrogen is present in 75% of matter, but it is attached to other elements, such as carbon, forming methane gas or other compounds, and oxygen, giving rise to water.

But hydrogen is not a primary energy source, but an energy vector, which means that a chemical process is necessary to produce it. That is to say, the hydrogen must be produced, it is not extracted directly, and the method used for this determines the type of hydrogen, that is, if it is more sustainable or less.

There are mainly three ways to produce hydrogen. From the method used, a classification of hydrogen classes is established by applying a color. Thus, we speak of gray hydrogen, blue hydrogen, brown hydrogen, green hydrogen…

Hydrogen classes according to polluting emissions

The European Union establishes three types of hydrogen, depending on the polluting emissions:

• High emission hydrogen: hydrogen of fossil origin that is obtained without any type of control of polluting emissions.

• Low-emission hydrogen: it is hydrogen of fossil origin, but, in this case, around 90% of the CO2 emissions are captured during the production process, which can later be applied to other industrial uses.

• Renewable or zero emission hydrogen: it is hydrogen that is produced using renewable energy.

Hydrogen classes according to polluting emissions

Let’s see the classes of hydrogen according to polluting emissions:

black hydrogen

Any hydrogen produced from hydrocarbons is known as black hydrogen. Within this category, the so-called gray and brown hydrogen can also be included, although we detail them separately.

gray hydrogen

It is obtained by reforming fossil fuels and the most common is natural gas. It is currently the cheapest hydrogen to produce and the most widely used. During the process, a large amount of CO2 emissions are released into the atmosphere.

brown hydrogen

It is generated from the gasification of coal and this technique is used less and less.

blue hydrogen

It is also obtained from fossil fuels, but using techniques that can capture and store the CO2 emissions that are produced during the process. It is less polluting than gray hydrogen, but it only reduces emissions during the production process, not eliminates them.

green hydrogen

Also called renewable hydrogen, it is one that is obtained by electrolysis of water, as we have mentioned before. This process is powered entirely by renewable energy, which is why it does not generate any type of polluting particle into the atmosphere and is the cleanest and most sustainable hydrogen.

turquoise hydrogen

It is a more recent name and refers to the hydrogen that is obtained by pyrolysis of methane, which is separated into solid carbon and hydrogen in a reactor. This process does not produce gaseous CO2 as a by-product and, if the reactor is powered by renewable energy, it is considered CO2 neutral.