Hydrogen is approaching to its end, and not because they have energized electric cars to increase their range fivefold. Actually, they have done that too, but this is just another piece of bad news for the fuel we thought was going to be the fuel of the future. They have just discovered a turquoise one that is coming to take over the mobility of the future and is obtained from clouds and metal.
New turquoise fuel to put an end to hydrogen? Is better and more efficient
Turquoise hydrogen, also known as methane pyrolysis hydrogen, is an emerging zero-carbon fuel produced through the heating of natural gas in the absence of oxygen, resulting in the extraction of pure hydrogen while solid carbon is emitted as a byproduct.
This carbon can then be captured and utilized, making turquoise hydrogen a highly sustainable fuel option. Research into hydrogen as an alternative fuel source has been ongoing for decades, with most production methods resulting in carbon emissions that detract from hydrogen’s green potential.
Turquoise hydrogen offers a solution through its carbon-neutral production process, giving it major advantages over other types of hydrogen. The pyrolysis process cracks the methane in natural gas into its core components – pure hydrogen along with solid carbon.
The extracted hydrogen can then be used as a clean fuel for transportation, power generation, and industrial applications. Meanwhile, the solid carbon byproduct has its own economic value and can be sold for commercial uses rather than being emitted as carbon dioxide.
Turquoise hydrogen production, at detail: why could be a fantastic option
Turquoise hydrogen is produced through a process called methane pyrolysis, which involves heating natural gas in the absence of oxygen to break it down into its components of hydrogen and solid carbon. The process uses renewable electricity rather than fossil fuels to provide the heat needed for the reaction.
Specialized reactors heat the natural gas to temperatures of around 700-900°C, causing the methane molecule (CH4) to split into hydrogen (H2) and solid carbon. This carbon byproduct is known as pyrolysis carbon black. The hydrogen can then be captured and used for energy applications.
Unlike gray hydrogen made from unabated natural gas, or blue hydrogen that uses carbon capture on the back end, turquoise hydrogen aims to reduce emissions on the front end. By avoiding combustion of natural gas, the process prevents carbon dioxide emissions from being released directly into the atmosphere in the first place.
The solid carbon byproduct can also be captured to prevent it from becoming an emissions source. Companies are exploring ways to commercialize this carbon for manufacturing carbon black, a material used in tires, plastics, inks and more.
Capture carbon for turquoise hydrogen in cars: a promising option
One of the key advantages of turquoise hydrogen production is that the process also captures carbon emissions, which can then be utilized. The carbon byproduct is a high purity form of carbon black or graphite.Major tire manufacturers have already partnered with turquoise hydrogen companies to make use of this captured carbon.
The graphite from turquoise hydrogen production has additional industrial uses as well. It can be employed as a strengthening additive in concrete, replacing some of the traditional cement. Graphite is also utilized in lubricants, batteries, steelmaking, and various other manufacturing processes.
As you can see, turquoise hydrogen could hold the key to truly sustainable mobility, one that does not pollute either during the manufacturing process or in the circulation of vehicles. It remains to be seen if we manage to produce it on a large scale and invest in an abundant network of refueling stations, which for the moment seems unlikely.
