Blue hydrogen is a type of hydrogen produced from natural gas or other fossil fuels using a process called steam methane reforming (SMR), which involves reacting natural gas with steam to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2). Blue hydrogen is called "blue" because the CO2 produced during the SMR process is captured and stored underground using carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. The captured CO2 is then permanently stored in geological formations, such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs, saline aquifers, or deep geological formations, instead of being released into the atmosphere.
The use of CCS technology to capture and store the CO2 produced during the production of blue hydrogen has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional methods of producing hydrogen from natural gas, which release CO2 into the atmosphere. Blue hydrogen can be used as a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels in a range of applications, such as transportation, power generation, and industrial processes.
While blue hydrogen has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it is not a completely carbon-free energy source, as it still relies on fossil fuels as a feedstock. In addition, the production of blue hydrogen requires significant energy inputs, which can impact the overall environmental footprint of the technology. Nonetheless, blue hydrogen is seen as a promising transitional energy source as the world moves towards a low-carbon economy.
The ESG space is changing day by day, creating more uncertainty for decision makers
