[Science World] The Role of Hydrogen Energy in the Eco-Friendly Era

The status of ‘hydrogen’ is no longer what it used to be. The all-encompassing theory that ‘everything is solved with hydrogen’ has begun to disappear. Hydrogen is, after all, a ‘secondary energy’ that must be produced using other forms of energy. In other words, it is not far from being interpreted as a ‘carrier substance’ that transports energy produced somewhere else to another place. Because of this, hydrogen has various names. Hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources such as solar power or wind power is called ‘green hydrogen,’ and there is also ‘blue hydrogen,’ which captures carbon dioxide generated during the hydrogen production process. Most of the hydrogen currently produced is ‘gray hydrogen,’ which is produced using fossil fuels. It is not strictly classified as environmentally friendly energy. Some people even say that ‘the idea that hydrogen is clean energy is just an illusion.’

It does not mean hydrogen is becoming unnecessary. The moment any hydrogen is used, it is a ‘fuel with no environmental pollution.’ This means that one of hydrogen’s great advantages is the ability to comprehensively manage environmental pollutants. Hydrogen also holds great value in the transportation sector. It is especially suitable for large transport vehicles such as trucks. Because there is no need to carry large batteries, it is relatively lighter compared to electric vehicles. There is also much research aimed at applying hydrogen to automobiles, as well as ships and long-distance aircraft.

Hydrogen can also be used as energy for urban areas. In a townhouse complex in Dongtan, Gyeonggi-do, all 90 households use hydrogen fuel cells for hot water and electricity. Last year, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced a plan to blend 20% hydrogen into city gas by 2026, attracting attention. Heating and cooking with hydrogen are expected to become everyday life.

The era of fossil fuels is coming to an end. Hydrogen is now an unavoidable choice. The problem is how we prepare for this new era. This is an even more urgent issue given the domestic reality of scarce resources and limited land.

Jeon Seung-min, Science and Technology Writer