hydrogen Hydrogen
Hydrogen, a key alternative energy source to realize carbon neutrality
With the global response to climate change emerging as the center of future business, the top priority is to switch to sustainable and clean energy. Among various energy sources that can replace fossil fuels, the most noteworthy energy source is hydrogen (H2). This is because hydrogen is a representative clean energy source that generates only a small amount of water and a very small amount of nitrogen oxides even when burned. In addition, the calorific value per gram is three times higher than that of petroleum, so it is expected that it will be able to solve the insecure part of renewable energy.
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Source: McKinsey, Hydrogen Council
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Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
The ultimate green energy, hydrogen also has color!
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Gray Hydrogen: It accounts for 96% of currently produced hydrogen, and it is said that 10 kg of carbon dioxide is emitted per kg of hydrogen. Compared to green hydrogen, the production cost is only 20-30%, and the production cost of by-product hydrogen is close to 0%, so it is still being produced, but the value of ‘green’ is fading.
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Blue hydrogen: It is obtained by subtracting carbon dioxide from existing gray hydrogen, and it is in the transition stage from gray hydrogen to green hydrogen. This is because this can be produced at a reasonable cost for hydrogen economy infrastructure while reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
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‘Green Hydrogen’, the ultimate eco-friendly energy source: Since hydrogen is produced by electrolyzing water with surplus electricity generated from renewable energy, it generates the least amount of carbon. Although it does not generate any pollutants in the production process and use of electricity required for production, the price of platinum used to resolve water is high, and it is difficult to secure renewable energy, which is a power source for green hydrogen production. To solve these problems, various production methods are being explored worldwide.
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- Gray Hydrogen
- Reforming fossil fuel such as natural gas CO2 generation by hydrogen production
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- Blue hydrogen
- Capture and store the generated CO2
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- Green Hydrogen
- No CO2 emission based on renewable energy
Intensifying competition for hydrogen
The 2021 ranking
Companies all around the world are aiming for the transition to the hydrogen economy, and are fiercely competing to take the lead in the hydrogen energy market. The same goes for Korea. With the goal of ‘building a nation leading the hydrogen economy’, Korea is promoting projects in five major areas: hydrogen mobility, fuel cells, liquid hydrogen, hydrogen charging stations, and water electrolysis to foster 1,000 hydrogen-specialized companies by 2040. Korea Zinc is strengthening its efforts to reduce carbon emissions in accordance with these national core projects. In particular, by joining RE100 for the first time in the industry, it was recognized as the world's most green and competitive company.
Korea Zinc will actively promote the wind power generation business through Australian subsidiary, Ark Energy, and lead the production of green hydrogen and create demand through the development of hydrogen infrastructure based on renewable energy.
