The production of hydrogen with renewable or low-carbon sources (that is, with nuclear energy) is still far from achieving the objectives set by the international community to combat global warming. Specifically, the production of green sources should be multiplied by more than 100 before 2030 to achieve what is proposed.
This projection has been included in the report published this Thursday by the International Energy Agency (IEA), in which OECD countries and agents from six of the sectors that emit the most greenhouse gases analyze some forecasts and objectives for The beginning of the next decade.
In total, the production of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen was 0.7 million tons during the year 2022. By 2030, however, total production should be between 70 and 125 million tons, according to the objectives of the international organization.
They demand institutional commitment
In parallel, the emissions intensity of hydrogen production (kilos of carbon dioxide per ton of H2) would have to decrease by about 50% by the beginning of the next decade.
This would translate into a global cut of 10% of CO2 emissions with a clear preponderance of renewable or low-carbon hydrogen, when currently more than 90% of production is made from fossil fuels.
The authors of the study, who acknowledge that in the last year there has been “some progress” in the convergence of standards and in emissions and safety certification, as well as in technical assistance for developing countries,” insist that There are several outstanding points for the large-scale push of hydrogen.
In particular, collective signals for demand for renewable and low-carbon hydrogen must be strengthened, both from public and private buyers, and that means moving from commitments to contracts and policies.
Today’s is the second edition of a report prepared by the IEA, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and a UN body for climate change, which includes two new sectors (buildings and cement) to which Five that were already covered in the first (electricity, road transport, steel and agriculture).
In these seven sectors, which cover 60% of greenhouse gas emissions, the authors of the study regret that in the last year there has been “only modest progress in strengthening international collaboration” to facilitate the energy transition. .
“Current efforts fall far short of fully exploiting the potential of international collaboration to accelerate transitions,” they emphasize.
One of the positive developments they point out is the growth in sales of electric passenger vehicles, which now account for 14% of the total in the world, a percentage that has been doubling every 1.2 years.
Another is the deployment of renewable energies, which last year accounted for 83% of new electricity generation capacities.
However, electricity accounts for 23% of total greenhouse gas emissions and have increased around 10% since 2010. According to the IEA, they should decrease by 50% by 2030 to be in line with the goal of the net zero emissions by 2050 to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
