Turquoise Hydrogen: Unleashing the Potential of Methane Pyrolysis
The world's transition towards a greener and more sustainable future demands innovative solutions for clean energy production. Turquoise hydrogen, derived from methane pyrolysis, emerges as a promising avenue that holds significant potential. Through this process, we can pave the way for a low-carbon hydrogen economy while simultaneously addressing climate change concerns.
A major barrier for transitioning from grey hydrogen (fossil fuel-based) to renewable hydrogen is the production cost. While it only costs $1/kg H2 to produce grey or black hydrogen, green hydrogen, produced with renewable electricity, can cost about $5-$7/kg H2.1 This cost disparity poses a significant challenge for the practical adoption of green hydrogen.
Blue and turquoise hydrogen exhibit higher energy efficiency compared to green hydrogen, requiring significantly less energy per kilogram of hydrogen produced. Turquoise hydrogen, relying on abundant and affordable natural gas as a feedstock, offers cost advantages and scalability over green hydrogen. The methane pyrolysis process for turquoise hydrogen is approximately seven times less energy-intensive per mole of H2 produced than water electrolysis, improving its thermodynamic efficiency.2 Additionally, if renewable natural gas is utilized as the source, the carbon intensity (grams of CO2 released per kWh of electricity produced) can even be negative.3
With its carbon-neutral (and potentially carbon-negative) process, cost advantages, and scalability, methane pyrolysis presents an appealing alternative to conventional hydrogen production methods.
References:
2. Methane Pyrolysis: Unlocking the Potential of Turquoise Hydrogen | IDTechEx Research Article
3. Why turquoise hydrogen will Be a game changer for the energy transition - ScienceDirect