What is green hydrogen?

Green hydrogen matters because it can help to decarbonise sectors that are hard to electrify, such as steel and cement production, long haul freight, shipping and aviation. These sectors heavily contribute to global carbon emissions and face difficulties in transitioning to renewable energy sources. Green hydrogen can also provide long-term energy storage and flexibility for the power grid by balancing the variable supply and demand of renewable electricity.

Green hydrogen is a promising energy carrier with the potential to support the global shift to low-carbon and renewable energy systems. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), green hydrogen energy could make up to 12% of the world’s energy needs by 2050 and cut down our CO2 emissions by six gigatons every year.

GHD is a global professional services company that provides engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services to various sectors, including energy and resources. We are committed to supporting the development and deployment of green hydrogen projects around the world by providing technical expertise, strategic advice and innovative solutions.

We have played a crucial role in notable green hydrogen projects, such as:

• Collaborating with bp Australia on a feasibility study for a large-scale renewable hydrogen plant in Geraldton, Australia: The study revealed that hydrogen production from renewable energy sources is technically possible at an industrial scale in Australia. This finding will help bp develop plans for integrated green hydrogen projects in Western Australia, thus fostering green hydrogen investment.
  
  
• Providing engineering design support for a ground-breaking hydrogen project led by the HyNet consortium: The project aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of using hydrogen as a fuel for industrial process heat, as part of the UK government’s Industrial Fuel Switching Competition and the wider HyNet initiative. As the engineering design partner, GHD worked alongside Progressive Energy and other project participants to design the plant and equipment required to convert a boiler system from natural gas to carbon-free hydrogen. The project showcased the potential of hydrogen as a viable alternative to natural gas in industrial applications. The HyNet initiative seeks to establish the UK’s first net-zero hydrogen cluster, a significant step towards a hydrogen economy.

Our active engagement in these projects represents a significant green hydrogen investment and is a testament to our belief in the value of green hydrogen energy as a cornerstone of the future hydrogen economy. 

Articles referenced

^{IEA 2019, The future of hydrogen: Seizing today’s opportunities, retrieved May 10, 2023, from https://www.iea.org/reports/the-future-of-hydrogen}

^{International Renewable Energy Agency 2019, Hydrogen: A renewable energy perspective, retrieved May 10, 2023, from https://www.irena.org/publications/2019/Sep/Hydrogen-A-renewable-energy-perspective}