Is Hydrogen A Climate Silver Bullet, Or Fossil Fuel Industry Spin?

Is Hydrogen A Climate Silver Bullet, Or Fossil Fuel Industry Spin?

New research claims the gas industry is using the promise of so-called "blue'' hydrogen to delay a ... [+] shift away from fossil fuels. When it comes to cutting carbon emissions, where does hydrogen belong? The gas, which releases no greenhouse gases when burned for energy, has been touted as a promising route by which countries can achieve their climate goals. But a new report claims that oil and gas companies are using the promise of "low-carbon" hydrogen as a tactic to delay the transition away from fossil fuels. According to U. S. environmental non-profit Earthjustice, claims from fossil fuel firms that so-called "blue" hydrogen—derived from fossil gas using high-temperature steam, with the carbon emissions captured by special equipment—can offer a quick and effective way to decarbonize the world's energy systems do not stand up to scrutiny. But the viability of large-scale, cost-effective removal of carbon dioxide from the process has not been proven, the report contends, and pressure from the oil and gas lobby to support hydrogen production could cause governments to de-emphasize the cheapest and most effective route to decarbonizing the energy sector: electrification. "Hydrogen isn't the silver bullet it's marketed to be," said Sasan Saadat, a senior