Welcome back to my solar blog, where I bring you the latest insights from the solar companies that are lighting up our green future. Today, I’m sharing some news about the exciting intersection of solar power with another clean energy technology: hydrogen.
As many of you know, there has been a push to investigate ‘clean dispatchable’ generation, the most common example of which is hydrogen-capable gas combustion units. Although still under debate, several utilities have started proposing such projects in their resource plans.
To put into perspective, recent predictions reveal that U.S. utilities are expected to add a whopping 92 GW of solar power, alongside 50 GW of wind and 42 GW of methane gas units. For solar company advocates such as myself, this raises a highlighted point of curiosity: where does solar stand in relation to other renewable energy sources?
Simultaneously, there is an ambitious timeline to make 100% hydrogen power a reality. By 2025, it’s anticipated that there will be a gas mixture of 30% hydrogen and 70% methane – with an ambitious goal to reach 100% hydrogen by 2045.
However, this ambitious timeline faces its own sets of challenges. For starters, it takes an immense volume of hydrogen to cut carbon dioxide emissions due to its lower energy density as compared to methane. This means that hydrogen would need to take up a significant concentration before it can effectively reduce emissions, which raises practical and cost-related questions.
Furthermore, the costs associated with transitioning to ‘hydrogen-capable’ gas projects remain unknown. This uncertainty highlights a critical need to evaluate solar versus hydrogen cost benefits.
The arrival of hydrogen as a clean energy contender has coincided with a number of hurdles. These include an inadequate hydrogen supply, lack of pipeline infrastructure to transport hydrogen, and insufficient capacity to safely store hydrogen.
Nevertheless, these hurdles are not insurmountable. For instance, a pioneering project in Utah has tackled these challenges by combining green hydrogen production, hydrogen storage in salt domes, and gas combustion turbines.
It is worth noting, however, that blending high amounts of green hydrogen with methane could potentially divert vast amounts of renewable energy. This, in turn, could be better used directly to replace existing fossil fuel generation.
Therefore, while hydrogen certainly holds potential as a clean energy source, it seems clear that solar panels for your home or solar array for home use remains to be a more reliable and cost-effective option for renewable energy.
In conclusion, solar power’s importance remains undefeatable in the green energy sector. As we continue to explore alternative forms of clean energy, such as hydrogen, it is crucial that we don’t sideline the assured benefits of solar power.
Remember, every solar panel installed is a stride towards a greener, brighter future. Until next time, keep your sights set on the sun – our most reliable source of clean, renewable energy.
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/08/22/utilities-plan-hydrogen-power-projects-that-crowd-out-renewables/
