About a role of hydrogen in transition to clean energy and economy decarbonisation

Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting (HEM) 2018 in Japan declared  that "hydrogen can be a key contributor to the energy transitions underway to a clean energy future and an important component of a broad based, secure, sustainable and efficient energy portfolio". The meeting brought together over 300 stakeholders, including ministerial officials, top executives from related companies and representatives from 21 countries, regions and organizations from around the world.

Key economic sectors, including transportation, industrial manufacturing, heat and power generation, can use hydrogen. Fuel cell technologies are can efficiently generate electricity and heat from hydrogen. And, what is very important, hydrogen stands out for its versatility and storage capability. 

Hydrogen can be produced from various sources, including renewable energy, nuclear and fossil fuels, using carbon dioxide capture, utilization and storage. Sourcing options can be categorised as “grey” (fossil fuel-based), “blue” (fossil fuel-based production with carbon capture, utilisation and storage) and “green” (renewables-based) hydrogen when considering associated CO2 emissions. Green hydrogen produced through renewable-powered electrolysis is projected to grow rapidly in the coming years, and this could create opportunities for decarbonisation of a number of economic sectors where it is difficult to essentially reduce CO2 emissions. 

Projected Earth power mix in 2050 - 100% clean energy

Researches from Stanford University developed  Green New Deal roadmaps for each of 143 countries, representing 99.7% of global human-produced CO2 emissions. Approach is based on transitioning each country’s all-purpose energy (electricity, transportation, building heating and cooling, industry, etc.) to 100% clean, renewable electricity and heat that is provided by wind, water, and solar (WWS) power after accounting for energy efficiency.

Investments in clean energy by developing countries declined in 2018

Developing nations are moving toward cleaner power but not nearly fast enough to limit global CO2 emissions. Due to economic slowdown, investment in new wind, solar, and other non-large hydro renewables projects in China fell to $86 billion in 2018 from $122 billion in 2017. 

Financing of clean energy projects in India and Brazil also slipped $2.4 billion and $2.7 billion, respectively from the year prior.

Clean Energy Economy: how to get there

The new report, From Risk to Return: Investing in a Clean Energy Economy by the Risky Business Project, demonstrates that not only is managing the risks implied by climate change both economically and technically viable, but it also would create significant new business opportunities. The transition to a cleaner energy economy rests on three pillars: moving from fossil fuels to electricity wherever possible, generating electricity with low or zero carbon emissions, and using energy much more efficiently.

CEM7 launched new campaigns on energy efficiency and renewable energy to help meet Paris commitments

The seventh Clean Energy Ministerial meeting (CEM7) with participation of 23 countries and the European Union announced new commitments to expand clean energy deployment and cut global carbon emissions while driving economic growth.

Fuel cell demo buses are almost twice more fuel efficient than conventional buses

Recent NREL's report provides a summary of results from evaluations of the fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) demonstration projects in California. The results for these buses account for more than 1,045,000 miles traveled and 83,000 hours of fuel cell power system operation.

British Columbia’s clean power industry has attracted more than $8.6 billion in investment

This number was presented in the report "BC Clean Energy Projects: Investment, Job Creation and Community Contributions", recently published by the Clean Energy Association of British Columbia (Canada). The money is spent in local economies, including the province’s north and interior regions, what allows to support over 20 000 direct, full-time equivalent person years of construction employment in every region of the province in the works on current and forthcoming projects.

Iron-phosphate EV batteries power London double-decker buses

A fleet of five new double-decker electric buses please commuters and tourists with a quiet zero-emission ride. The buses are equipped with BYD-designed and built iron-phosphate batteries, delivering 345 kWh of power that can power the bus for over 24 hours and up to 190 miles with a single daily recharging requiring only four hours.

Scientific breakthrough: carbon dioxide and water can be converted into liquid hydrocarbon fuels

Researches from University of Texas have proven that concentrated light, heat and high pressures can be used to drive this type of reaction.The process is simple, inexpensive and environmentally clean - a byproduct of the reaction is oxygen.

China dominates global clean energy market

Solar capacity in China has expanded almost five times since 2012, and about 17 percent of the world’s solar capacity now is in the country. China was the biggest renewables market in the world with 433 gigawatts of generating capacity at the end of 2014, more than double the U.S. in second place with 182 gigawatts.