The Basics of Blue Hydrogen
12 January 2025
Blue hydrogen is a type of hydrogen produced from natural gas or other fossil fuels using a process called steam methane reforming (SMR) or autothermal reforming (ATR), combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.
The term “blue” is used to distinguish it from “grey” hydrogen, which is produced from natural gas without CCS, and “green” hydrogen, which is generated from renewable energy sources through electrolysis of water.
Blue Hydrogen serves various applications:
Industrial Processes
It can serve as a clean energy source for industries requiring high-temperature heat, like steel chemical production.
Power Generation
Gas turbines can use blue hydrogen to generate electricity while producing fewer greenhouse gas emissions than natural gas.
Transportation
Vehicles like buses, trucks, and trains can run on hydrogen fuel cells powered by blue hydrogen.
Residential and Commercial Heating
It provides space and water heating for homes and businesses.
There are various benefits of Blue Hydrogen:
The production process captures and stores carbon dioxide, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to grey hydrogen.
Energy Transition
It serves as a transitional solution to decarbonize industries and sectors where electrification or green hydrogen adoption is challenging or costly.
Energy Security
Local production of hydrogen from abundant natural gas resources reduces dependence on foreign energy sources.
Scalability
The existing natural gas infrastructure can support blue hydrogen production, allowing for easier integration into the current energy landscape.
In the ever-evolving landscape of the process instrumentation, a developing industry is making its mark; hydrogen.
As we strive for sustainable and efficient solutions, hydrogen is emerging as a game-changer, offering a myriad of uses and benefits that promise to redefine the way we approach the industry with our range of process instrumentation.
For more information about the sustainable solutions available in the process instrumentation industry check out the Green Energy Hub.
