Home Rethinking chemical production with “green” hydrogen
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Rethinking chemical production with “green” hydrogen

  • Gabriele Centi EMAIL logo and Siglinda Perathoner
Published/Copyright: November 3, 2023
Pure and Applied Chemistry
From the journal Pure and Applied Chemistry Volume 96 Issue 4

Abstract

This contribution critically addresses the “green” H2 production issue. After introducing the topic and the limits of the production of H2 from electrolysis, some examples of alternative methods are discussed, highlighting the possibility of reducing costs, carbon footprint and intensity of use of renewable energy compared to electrolysis.

Keywords: Avogadro Colloquia 2022; Green H2 ; H2 production alternatives; H2 from waste; H2 from methane decomposition; SMR electrification
Corresponding author: Gabriele Centi, Department ChiBioFarAM of the University of Messina, Messina, Italy; and European Research Institute of Catalysis, Brussels, Belgium, e-mail:
Article note: Invited commentary article based on the lecture “From 1st to 2nd generation technologies to make chemicals via green hydrogen” presented at AVOGADRO COLLOQUIA 2022 – From Water to Chemicals: Vision and Opportunities of a Sustainable Hydrogen Society Rome, 15th – 16th Dec. 2022.

  1. Research funding: This work was financially supported by the European Commission (EU project EreTech – Electrified Reactor Technology, ID 101058608) and MITE (Italian Ministery for Ecological Transition), project MECCA (Green H2 from biomethane cracking through an innovative technology based on non-thermal plasma and nanocarbon catalysis – ID RSH2A_000002).

References

[1] E. Cetinkaya, A. Klei, A. Seitz, G. Winkler. in Securing the Competitiveness of the European Chemical Industry, McKinsey & Company, New York, US (2023), https://www.mckinsey.com/∼/media/mckinsey/industries/chemicals/our%20insights/securing%20the%20competitiveness%20of%20the%20european%20chemical%20industry/securing-the-competitiveness-of-the-european-chemical-industry.pdf.Search in Google Scholar

[2] J. Schot, L. Kanger. Res. Policy 47, 1045 (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2018.03.009.Search in Google Scholar

[3] P. G. Levi, J. M. Cullen. Environ. Sci. Technol. 52, 1725 (2018), https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b04573.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

[4] G. Centi, S. Perathoner. Green Chem. 24, 7305 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1039/d2gc01572b.Search in Google Scholar

[5] M. Patrascu. Chem. Eng. Proc. – Process Intensif. 184, 109291 (2023), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2023.109291.Search in Google Scholar

[6] L. Kanger, J. Schot. Environ. Innov. Soc. Trans. 32, 7 (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2018.07.006.Search in Google Scholar

[7] G. Centi, G. Iaquaniello, S. Perathoner. BMC Chem. Eng. 1, 5 (2019), https://doi.org/10.1186/s42480-019-0006-8.Search in Google Scholar

[8] N. Ishii, M. Stuchtey. Planet Positive Chemicals. Pathways for the Chemical Industry to Enable A Sustainable Global Economy, Center for Global Commons, Tokyo (Japan) (2022), https://cgc.ifi.u-tokyo.ac.jp/research/chemistry-industry/planet-positive-chemicals.pdf.Search in Google Scholar

[9] G. Centi, S. Perathoner. Catal. Today 423, 113935 (2023), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2022.1010.1017.Search in Google Scholar

[10] IEA. in Net Zero by 2050. A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector, International Energy Agency (IEA), Paris, France (2021), https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/deebef5d-0c34-4539-9d0c-10b13d840027/NetZeroby2050-ARoadmapfortheGlobalEnergySector_CORR.pdf.Search in Google Scholar

[11] G. Centi, S. Perathoner. Catal. Today 342, 4 (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2019.04.003.Search in Google Scholar

[12] M. Grahn, E. Malmgren, A. D. Korberg, M. Taljegard, J. E. Anderson, S. Brynolf, J. Hansson, I. R. Skov, T. J. Wallington. Prog. Energy 4, 032010 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1088/2516-1083/ac7937.Search in Google Scholar

[13] H. Singh, C. Li, P. Cheng, X. Wang, Q. Liu. Energy Adv. 1, 580 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1039/d2ya00173j.Search in Google Scholar

[14] G. Papanikolaou, G. Centi, S. Perathoner, P. LanzafameChi. J. Catal. 43, 1194 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/s1872-2067(21)64016-0.Search in Google Scholar

[15] S. Perathoner, K. M. Van Geem, G. B. Marin, G. Centi. Chem. Commun. 57, 10967 (2021), https://doi.org/10.1039/d1cc03154f.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

[16] S. G. Nnabuife, J. Ugbeh-Johnson, N. E. Okeke, C. Ogbonnaya. Carbon Capture Sci. Technol. 3, 100042 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccst.2022.100042.Search in Google Scholar

[17] IEA. in Global Hydrogen Review 2022, International Energy Agency (IEA), Paris, France (2022), https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/c5bc75b1-9e4d-460d-9056-6e8e626a11c4/GlobalHydrogenReview2022.pdf.Search in Google Scholar

[18] E. B. Agyekum, C. Nutakor, A. M. Agwa, S. Kamel. Membranes 12, 173 (2022), https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12020173.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[19] D. Tarvydas. The role of hydrogen in energy decarbonisation scenarios. Views on 2030 and 2050. In JRC Technical Report, European Union, Luxembourg, Vol. 2, (2022).Search in Google Scholar

[20] J. A. Riera, R. M. Lima, O. M. Knio. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 48, 13731 (2023), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.12.242.Search in Google Scholar

[21] R. W. Howarth, M. Z. Jacobson. Energy Sci. Eng. 9, 1676 (2021), https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.956.Search in Google Scholar

[22] A. I. Stankiewicz, H. Nigar. Reaction Chem. Eng. 5, 1005 (2020), https://doi.org/10.1039/d0re00116c.Search in Google Scholar

[23] N. Tenhumberg, K. Büker. Chem. Ing. Tech. 92, 1586 (2020), https://doi.org/10.1002/cite.202000090.Search in Google Scholar

[24] M. Wanner. Eur. Phys. J. Plus 136, 593 (2021), https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-01585-8.Search in Google Scholar

[25] C. Ampelli, D. Giusi, M. Miceli, T. Merdzhanova, V. Smirnov, U. Chime, O. Astakhov, A. J. Martín, F. L. P. Veenstra, F. A. G. Pineda, J. González-Cobos, M. García-Tecedor, S. Giménez, W. Jaegermann, G. Centi, J. Pérez-Ramírez, J. R. Galán-Mascarós, S. Perathoner. Energy Environ. Sci. 16, 1644 (2023), https://doi.org/10.1039/d2ee03215e.Search in Google Scholar

[26] G. Centi, S. Perathoner, C. Genovese, R. Arrigo. Chem. Commun. 59, 3005 (2023), https://doi.org/10.1039/d2cc05132j.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[27] M. Ji, J. Wang. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 46, 38612 (2021), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.09.142.Search in Google Scholar

[28] S. C. Wijayasekera, K. Hewage, O. Siddiqui, P. Hettiaratchi, R. Sadiq. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 47, 5842 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.11.226.Search in Google Scholar

[29] L. Cao, I. K. M. Yu, X. Xiong, D. C. W. Tsang, S. Zhang, J. H. Clark, C. Hu, Y. H. Ng, J. Shang, Y. S. Ok. Environ. Res. 186, 109547 (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109547.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

[30] A. Borgogna, G. Centi, G. Iaquaniello, S. Perathoner, G. Papanikolaou, A. Salladini. Sci. Total Environ. 827, 154393 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154393.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

[31] H. Ishaq, I. Dincer, C. Crawford. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 47, 26238 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.11.149.Search in Google Scholar

[32] H. Zhang, Z. Sun, Y. H. Hu. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 149, 111330 (2021), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111330.Search in Google Scholar

[33] L. Zheng, M. Ambrosetti, D. Marangoni, A. Beretta, G. Groppi, E. Tronconi. AIChE J. 69, e17620 (2023), https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.17620.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[34] S. Renda, M. Cortese, G. Iervolino, M. Martino, E. Meloni, V. Palma. Catal. Today 383, 31 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2020.11.020.Search in Google Scholar

[35] M. Rieks, R. Bellinghausen, N. Kockmann, L. Mleczko. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 40, 15940 (2015), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.09.113.Search in Google Scholar

[36] S. T. Wismann, J. S. Engbæk, S. B. Vendelbo, F. B. Bendixen, W. L. Eriksen, K. Aasberg-Petersen, C. Frandsen, I. Chorkendorff, P. M. Mortensen. Science 364, 756 (2019), https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaw8775.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

[37] Y. R. Lu, P. A. Nikrityuk. Chem. Eng. Sci. 251, 117446 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2022.117446.Search in Google Scholar

[38] J. X. Qian, T. W. Chen, L. R. Enakonda, D. B. Liu, G. Mignani, J.-M. Basset, L. Zhou. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 45, 7981 (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.01.052.Search in Google Scholar

[39] C. Q. Pham, T. J. Siang, P. S. Kumar, Z. Ahmad, L. Xiao, M. B. Bahari, A. N. T. Cao, N. Rajamohan, A. S. Qazaq, A. Kumar, P. L. Show, D.-V. N. Vo. Environ. Chem. Lett. 20, 2339 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-022-01449-2.Search in Google Scholar

[40] N. Sánchez-Bastardo, R. Schlögl, H. Ruland. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 60, 11855 (2021), https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.1c01679.Search in Google Scholar

[41] T. I. Korányi, M. Németh, A. Beck, A. Horváth. Energies 15, 6342 (2022), https://doi.org/10.3390/en15176342.Search in Google Scholar
Published Online: 2023-11-03
Published in Print: 2024-04-25

© 2023 IUPAC & De Gruyter

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. In this issue
  3. Preface
  4. Avogadro Colloquia in Rome on “Vision and Opportunities of a Sustainable Hydrogen Society”
  5. Conference papers
  6. H2 in the energy transition
  7. Watching atoms at work during reactions
  8. Hydrogen production and conversion to chemicals: a zero-carbon puzzle?
  9. Rethinking chemical production with “green” hydrogen
  10. Hydrogen as an energy carrier: constraints and opportunities
  11. Shaping the future of green hydrogen: De Nora’s electrochemical technologies for fueling the energy transition
  12. In-situ and operando Grazing Incidence XAS: a novel set-up and its application to model Pd electrodes for alcohols oxidation
  13. Hydrogen storage and handling with hydrides
  14. Advanced polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis for power to gas applications
  15. Inkjet printed acrylate-urethane modified poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) flexible conductive films
  16. Cu(II) complexes using acylhydrazones or cyclen for biocidal antifouling coatings
  17. Randomly cross-linked amphiphilic copolymer networks of n-butyl acrylate and N,N-dimethylacrylamide: synthesis and characterization
  18. Roles of electrostatics and intermolecular electronic motions in the structural and spectroscopic features of hydrogen- and halogen-bonded systems
  19. The accurate assessment of the chemical speciation of complex systems through multi-technique approaches
https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2023-0804
Keywords for this article
Avogadro Colloquia 2022; Green H2; H2 production alternatives; H2 from waste; H2 from methane decomposition; SMR electrification

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. In this issue
  3. Preface
  4. Avogadro Colloquia in Rome on “Vision and Opportunities of a Sustainable Hydrogen Society”
  5. Conference papers
  6. H2 in the energy transition
  7. Watching atoms at work during reactions
  8. Hydrogen production and conversion to chemicals: a zero-carbon puzzle?
  9. Rethinking chemical production with “green” hydrogen
  10. Hydrogen as an energy carrier: constraints and opportunities
  11. Shaping the future of green hydrogen: De Nora’s electrochemical technologies for fueling the energy transition
  12. In-situ and operando Grazing Incidence XAS: a novel set-up and its application to model Pd electrodes for alcohols oxidation
  13. Hydrogen storage and handling with hydrides
  14. Advanced polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis for power to gas applications
  15. Inkjet printed acrylate-urethane modified poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) flexible conductive films
  16. Cu(II) complexes using acylhydrazones or cyclen for biocidal antifouling coatings
  17. Randomly cross-linked amphiphilic copolymer networks of n-butyl acrylate and N,N-dimethylacrylamide: synthesis and characterization
  18. Roles of electrostatics and intermolecular electronic motions in the structural and spectroscopic features of hydrogen- and halogen-bonded systems
  19. The accurate assessment of the chemical speciation of complex systems through multi-technique approaches
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 7.9.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/pac-2023-0804/html
Scroll to top button