
Several hydrogen production methods are in development: Microbial Biomass Conversion: Biomass is converted into sugar-rich feedstocks that can be fermented to produce hydrogen. Power-to-hydrogen projects are taking off, using excess renewable electricity, when available, to make hydrogen through electrolysis.īiomass-Derived Liquid Reforming: Renewable liquid fuels, such as ethanol, are reacted with high-temperature steam to produce hydrogen near the point of end use. If the electricity is produced by renewable sources, such as solar or wind, the resulting hydrogen will be considered renewable as well, and has numerous emissions benefits. The resulting synthesis gas contains hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which is reacted with steam to separate the hydrogen.Įlectrolysis: An electric current splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. This converts the coal or biomass into gaseous components-a process called gasification. Incorporating carbon capture and storage in the process can produce hydrogen with lower carbon dioxide emissions.Ī synthesis gas can also be created by reacting coal or biomass with high-temperature steam and oxygen in a pressurized gasifier.

Natural gas reforming using steam accounts for the majority of hydrogen produced in the United States annually. This method is the cheapest, most efficient, and most common. The carbon monoxide is reacted with water to produce additional hydrogen. Natural Gas Reforming/Gasification: Synthesis gas-a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and a small amount of carbon dioxide-is created by reacting natural gas with high-temperature steam. There are several pathways to produce hydrogen: Several projects are underway to decrease costs associated with hydrogen production. The environmental impact and energy efficiency of hydrogen depends on how it is produced. Hydrogen can be produced from diverse, domestic resources, including fossil fuels, biomass, and water electrolysis with electricity. Hydrogen fuel combines with oxygen from the air through a fuel cell, creating electricity and water through an electrochemical process. The Gigafactory is set to mass-produce hydrogen fuel cells for vehicles and power generation, alongside electrolysis equipment, aiming to cater to various domestic and Asian markets.Although abundant on earth as an element, hydrogen is almost always found as part of another compound, such as water (H 2O) or methane (CH 4), and it must be separated into pure hydrogen (H 2) for use in fuel cell electric vehicles.

The two CEOs reaffirmed their dedication to the progression of the joint venture's hydrogen technology R&D center and Gigafactory. The Incheon facility, poised to be the world's largest of its kind with an annual capacity of 30,000 tons, is nearing completion and is slated to become fully operational within the year. Marsh utilized his visit to inspect the construction of the Incheon liquefied hydrogen plant, enabling him to evaluate firsthand SK E&S's advancements in preparing for liquefied hydrogen operations. The company intends to commence operations of liquefied hydrogen charging stations by the year's end, aligning with the commercial launch of SK E&S's liquefied hydrogen facility in Incheon. The respective CEOs of SK E&S and Plug Power, Choo Hyung-Wook and Andy Marsh, convened on July 19 to discuss ongoing collaborations in their hydrogen businesses.ĭuring his visit to South Korea from July 17 to 19, Marsh assessed the progress of the joint venture SK Plug Hyverse, which the two companies inaugurated the previous year.Įarlier in May, the partners declared plans to inject 1 trillion won ($786 million) into the South Korean hydrogen industry through their shared enterprise, SK Plug Hyverse.

and Plug Power, a global hydrogen solutions provider, have reinforced their commitment to accelerating the development of a domestic hydrogen ecosystem. CEO of SK E&S Choo Hyung-Wook (left) and CEO of Plug Power Andy Marsh
