Green Hydrogen
Green hydrogen is produced by using renewable electricity-powered electrolysis to separate water into its component hydrogen and oxygen molecules.
Green hydrogen is viewed as a promising decarbonization solutions for many use cases, including transportation, energy storage and industrial processes. In the industrial sector, with its high heating value and high flame temperature during combustion, it is particularly promising to provide high temperature industrial process heat.
Today, the green hydrogen production technology is ready for commercial scale. However, the production scale is still very small in the global market. With proper policy and infrastructure support, new market developments, and continuous technological innovations, green hydrogen will be produced at a competitive cost and used at a larger scale.
What is the RTC doing?
The RTC launched the Green Hydrogen Working Group in January 2022. The working group is composed of RTC Members and Solutions Providers – including utilities, large energy buyers, green hydrogen providers – as well as thought leaders and technical experts. We are hosting monthly calls to build a deeper understanding of the technical and economic potential for scaling green hydrogen for industrial process heat. The working group will also collectively identify concrete joint actions, including policy engagement, market development, and pilot projects to scale green hydrogen.
Selected materials and webinars
Green Hydrogen Technology Assessment
On April 25, 2023, the Renewable Thermal Collaborative (RTC) launched the Green Hydrogen Technology Assessment, co-authored by Deloitte and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The Assessment evaluates the technical and economic potential of green hydrogen, outlines the major barriers in the nascent U.S. hydrogen market, and scopes out pathways for scaling the technology. Finally, the report provides insights and recommendations for large corporate energy buyers and other key market and policy stakeholders looking to scale green hydrogen for industrial heat applications.
The RTC hosted a webinar launching the report, featuring presentations from WWF’s Cihang Yuan and Deloitte’s Shari Boyd and Nick Richards, outlining their key findings.
Green Hydrogen Primer
Large industrial energy users have set ambitious, science-based GHG emission reduction targets and are looking for solutions to decarbonize their process heat footprints. Many are interested in better understanding the potential of green hydrogen as part of their mid- and long-term climate strategies.
To help energy users and policymakers better understand this rapidly evolving technology, this primer focuses on the application of green hydrogen for industrial process heat and provides a high-level analysis of both the potential and challenges of this technology. It is intended to enhance the knowledge of energy buyers, policymakers, and other key stakeholders and inspire deeper multistakeholder discussion and collaboration to ensure that green hydrogen plays an appropriate role.
Industrial Electrification in U.S. States
Created by Global Efficiency Intelligence and David Gardiner & Associates, this report to the RTC analyzes a handful of industries and the impact direct and indirect (using hydrogen) electrification would have on their energy use, emissions, and energy costs. Because industrial facilities, policy, and renewable energy resources vary across geographies, this study takes a state-by-state approach, describing the impacts and benefits of electrification in 20 different jurisdictions. The report makes six recommendations for policymakers looking to electrify their state’s industrial heat use: supporting emerging technologies, using financial incentives, increasing renewable electricity generation, enhancing the grid, engaging communities, and growing the workforce.
