Why invest in hydrogen in 2024

Green hydrogen, produced from renewable energy sources (electrolysis process), is one of the clean energy carriers of the future. But why invest in 2024 hydrogen?

Hydrogen represents a concrete option of clean energy and is considered a energy carrier promising: in the decarbonization can in fact serve as a container that stores energy from other sources (such as electricity from photovoltaics or wind power), simplifying transportation procedures where it is needed, without the need for cables and pylons.

It therefore represents the ideal solution not only to support decarbonization, but also to effectively drive the integration and use of energy from renewable sources and facilitate the energy transition.

To date, governments of the major industrialized nations have recognized the potential of green hydrogen as a key key to meeting future challenges, and are therefore investing in it to create a sustainable growth model and an efficient and durable hydrogen economy.

Europe‘s Green Deal, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality in the EU by 2050 and to be less and less dependent on fossil fuels, is encouraginginvestment in green hydrogen.

States also United (with the U.S. plan for hydrogen to fuel power plants), followed by Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand have put the focus on hydrogen as a key player in energy plans, while the China has already greatly increased its overall production of renewable hydrogen with a view to becoming one of the largest exporters of green hydrogen.

We at Baglioni are at the forefront when it comes to the hydrogen sector : for more than 20 years we have been manufacturing heat exchangers and other pressure vessels for hydrogen and its treatment in the refinery industry.
More recently, we have expanded our production to include steel containers, horizontal and vertical tanks, and customized products for hydrogen storage in other industries. In addition, we are focusing on building specific tanks for solid hydrogen storage and custom pressure vessels for gas processing, BoP (Balance of Plant) of electrolyzers and other hydrogen production facilities.

The pluses of hydrogen as an energy carrier

As we anticipated, green hydrogen represents the energy carrier of the future. To produce it requires water, which is broken down into oxygen and hydrogen through an electrolyzer and using electricity generated from renewable sources (photovoltaics and wind power), with no greenhouse gas emissions or direct air pollutants.

Hydrogen can be used in awide range of energyapplications, including the transportation sector and in the so-called hard-to-abate industry, and it can also be stored and stored for long periods.

For this reason, it is an element that provides significant benefits, including:

• emission reductions
• decarbonization
• long-term storage
• performance optimized

Let us look in detail at the individual plusses of hydrogen as an energy carrier.

Lowering emissions thanks to hydrogen

Green hydrogen, in addition to being the lightest and most abundant element in the universe, is also 100 percent sustainable: it produces no polluting emissions either during the production process (which is done by electrolysis of water, an electricity-intensive process that can come from renewable sources) or in its use. It is therefore a clean energy carrier with zero net emissions.

Achieving decarbonization with hydrogen

Green hydrogen is an effective solution to ensure energy sustainability and promote sustainable development inenergy-intensive industries that produce significant amounts of carbon emissions (hard to abate), as well as in mobility and transportation. Integrating green hydrogen into these production processes means reducing emissions, drastically decreasing consumption of valuable natural resources, and furthering the globally required decarbonization process.

Hydrogen and long-term storage

Hydrogen can be stored for long periods without losing its inherent energy, can be used in a variety of sectors, and can store energy from renewable sources, which are not constantly available. To increase energy security and reduce dependence on fossil fuels and natural gas, work is now being done around the world to develop hydrogen storage capacity with the goal of producing and storing this element and using it in a targeted and effective way.

Optimized performance thanks to hydrogen

Hydrogen is, first of all, themost abundant element in the universe (it makes up about 75 percent). Not only that, it is also an energy carrier capable of storing and delivering large amounts of energy per unit mass without generating CO2 emissions during combustion and has high conversion efficiency. It ensures clean combustion, allows direct use in the fuel cell, and can be produced from renewable energy sources. In addition, as we explained earlier, it can be stored and used later to produce electricity on demand or mixed with natural gas.

Hydrogen as an alternative energy carrier of the future

Hydrogen is not a source of energy, but an energy carrier the world is banking on to address current and future climate challenges and to effectively counter the critical human impact on the atmosphere that causes the greenhouse effect.

While work is being done to increase theuse of renewables, this raises new issues, such as intermittent availability, high cost, and poor storage.

Hence the plan to use hydrogen as an energy carrier, which:

• is a source of clean energy
• Lends itself to accumulation, even for extended periods of time
• produces no emissions
• lends itself to use as a fuel or in fuel cells

For these reasons, hydrogen is included in the plan to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

The Net Zero 2050 goal

“Net Zero 2050” refers to the United Nations goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions, including through carbon offsetting and electrification (reduction of fossil fuels with clean electricity from renewable sources), by 2050.

This is an ambitious, but strongly desired and necessary goal to combat climate change and limit the rise in global temperatures (limit global warming below 1.5°C).

Net Zero 2050, envisioned by the Paris Agreement signed by 196 countries, requires a global and coordinated effort by governments, institutions, corporations and individuals that includes some key actions:

• Energy transition to the use of renewable energy
• abandonment of fossil fuels
• Adoption of clean, low-carbon technologies
• energy efficiency
• sustainable management of natural resources

Currently, hydrogen is considered one of the most suitable energy vectors to offer a solution to this challenge and to succeed in achieving the goal on time.

Baglioni tanks proposal for the hydrogen sector.

Our solutions for the hydrogen supply chain focus primarily on the hydrogen storage .

We have extensive experience in the design, development, and production of steel (carbon or stainless) containers, horizontal and vertical tanks, and custom products for gaseous state hydrogen storage, manufactured, tested, and certified in accordance with Directive 2014/68/EU (European Pressure Equipment Directive).

In addition, we are working on the construction of specific tanks for the storage of solid hydrogen , which contain hydride powder, adsorb and release hydrogen, of which we have released some certified prototypes.

We are also specializing in the design and manufacture of pressure equipment used within the BOP–balance of plant–of the most common electrolyzers (including PEM and alkaline electrolyzers). In particular, we make:

• Shell and tube heat exchangers
• Stainless steel separators
• Dryers
• Scrubbers
• Gas purification systems

BoP of electrolyzers requires large technical challenges and a integrated approach capable of considering various aspects: project-specific requirements; available energy sources; electrolyzer components that meet performance, efficiency, and durability requirements; process optimization; integration with other system components; safe operation of the electrolyzer; etc.

Finally, still in the hydrogen field, we are among the first Italian companies to have a catalog entirely dedicated to the storage of hydrogen gas in low pressure and high volume.

Contact us for more information.