Hello solar enthusiasts! I know solar power has been garnering a lot of interest and attention these days. Many of us have been contemplating this transition, trying to evaluate solar companies, and think about setting up a solar array for our homes. The buzz around ‘going solar’ isn’t surprising, given the strides the solar industry has taken.
Recently, I’ve been following discussions and debates around the use of hydrogen as an energy source. Some of you may be curious as to how this relates to the solar scenario. That’s what this blog post intends to clear up.
There’s significant talk about hydrogen hubs, which are facilities designed to pair large-scale clean hydrogen production with different end-use applications. This arrangement would theoretically enable us to harness the power of hydrogen efficiently. However, something that needs immediate addressing is the ‘kind’ of hydrogen we plan on using.
Predominantly, hydrogen can be classified into two types: blue and green. Blue hydrogen is obtained through fossil fuel combustion, and it’s not the clean or low-carbon source we’re hunting for. Frankly speaking, the production of blue hydrogen doesn’t gel well with our sustainability goals.
Green hydrogen, on the other hand, is a different story altogether. It is obtained from the electrolysis of water, where the power is sourced from renewables like our favorite topic: solar! Green hydrogen aligns well with our vision of solar power and implementing solar panels for your home.
Why? Because it provides a solution for multi-day or seasonal storage of renewable energy, enabling us to use solar power even when the sun isn’t shining. Currently, large parts of the U.S have the potential to turn the production of green hydrogen profitable, bolstering the case for solar power.
But the situation here gets slightly complicated. Many of these hydrogen hubs, despite being under the radar of the U.S. Department of Energy for federal support, are leaning towards blue hydrogen production. It raises valid concerns about emissions, the safety risks of transporting hydrogen, lack of transparency from these hubs towards community engagement, and an immense fiscal strain due to wasted funds.
Truthfully, the hydrogen debate feels like a double-edged sword. However, it sheds light on the value and significance of using green energy sources like solar power. It reiterates the importance of truly understanding the energy sources we plan to depend upon and how integrating a solar array for home use stands as a leading option in the current renewable energy landscape.
I hope this insight brings a useful perspective to your research on solar power and the industry in general. It’s a fascinating time to be a part of this movement, and I’m glad to be here sharing it with you. So let’s keep digging, researching, and asking the right questions in our goal for a brighter, sun-fuelled future!
Original Article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/01/22/concerns-over-77-billion-in-doe-funds-for-mostly-blue-hydrogen/
