Category: Hydrogen

Hydrogen continues to be a promising player in the energy transition. Our latest Energy Superhero is hydrogen-champion James Kast, Director of Hydrogen Business Development at Iwatani. Founded over 100 years ago in Japan, Iwatani has an extensive background in the industrial gas industry. They are at the forefront of the hydrogen economy, laying foundational work in developing fuel cell stacks for vehicles.

In this episode, James sheds light on his company’s hydrogen production work and their venture into the U.S. market:

• Iwatani’s vision is clear – they see hydrogen fuels as a pivotal tool for decarbonization, particularly in mobility. The company is committed to promoting the vast potential hydrogen offers to revamp the energy sector.
• The roots of many decarbonization technologies, particularly fuel cell stack development for vehicles, can be traced back to Japan. With automotive giants like Toyota and Honda spearheading fuel cell technology for almost three decades, it’s propelled momentum globally. 
• Future prospects for hydrogen vehicles are promising. Beyond early adopters, there’s a growing market of customers drawn by vehicle aesthetics or attractive deals, in addition to climate benefits. California is already home to hydrogen refueling stations, signaling the rising demand for hydrogen vehicles in the States.
• Transitioning to a hydrogen economy isn’t without its roadblocks. Scaling up production, ramping up R&D investments, and establishing robust infrastructure are just some of the challenges. James emphasizes the important role of collaboration, insisting that a concerted effort from various sectors is essential to realize the hydrogen economy’s full potential.

Have you ever heard of green hydrogen made from biomass? We hadn’t either until we hosted Christopher Headrick on the podcast. As the founder and chairman of H2 Energy Group, Christopher is working on a new method of green hydrogen production that uses cuttings and fallen biomass from trees. Not only does this prevent decomposing biomass from emitting GHGs into the atmosphere, but it also has the added benefit of eliminating fire hazards by cleaning up forests. The resulting green hydrogen can be used to power trucks, planes, and more without emitting CO2. A win-win situation for all!   

On this episode of Energy Superheroes, Chris talks about the science behind H2’s biomass-made hydrogen and how it’s a great example of circularity: 

• In order to produce green hydrogen, H2 Energy takes woody biomass and superheats it in the absence of oxygen, avoiding combustion. The process is called high-yield fast pyrolysis, which creates hydrogen-rich syngas (about 86% hydrogen by volume). The gas stream is then cleaned up to create a clean, pure hydrogen product. 
• According to Chris, if something is not economically sustainable, it can’t be considered sustainable at all. That’s why Chris is so focused on his green hydrogen product making economic sense. The good news is that operating costs for hydrogen fuel cell trucks are actually cheaper than diesel alternatives using H2 Energy’s hydrogen. 
• When it comes to heavy transport, hydrogen is the way to go. Based on rare metal mining and charging infrastructure alone, it doesn’t make sense to electrify heavy duty transportation. Chris says hydrogen is the best option for this category. 
• H2 Energy is also paving the way when it comes to the circular economy. Their hydrogen production process creates biochar as a waste product, a great soil additive for agriculture that reduces fertilizer and water usage. This biochar can be used to grow more plant matter for hydrogen production, starting the cycle all over again.

Chris Cannata, Director of Hydrogen at EDF Renewables North America, is helping to drive green hydrogen development across the continent. As one of the world’s largest low carbon utilities, EDF Renewables has been focused on green hydrogen since 2018. This clean alternative is produced through the electrolysis of water using renewable energy sources and has significantly lower carbon emissions than grey hydrogen, which is typically manufactured via steam reforming of natural gas. Based in Wichita, Kansas, Chris provides overall leadership for green hydrogen projects in North America, including budgeting, management activities, and creating high-level business strategies for this budding industry.

In this episode, Chris talks about EDF Renewables’ role in the promotion of green hydrogen and the clean fuel’s potential to reduce global emissions:

• According to Chris, green hydrogen has gained significant momentum across North America in the last year. Although it has not yet reached cost parity with grey hydrogen, he expects this price difference to drop by the end of the decade as electrolyzers become more efficient and hydrogen is produced at scale. Currently, Chris is focused on finding customers to absorb this initial premium to help drive the market forward. He compares the current state of green hydrogen to the solar industry of the early 2000s, when production and investment were rapidly ramping up as key technologies became more affordable.
• Early adopters of green hydrogen are largely based on the West Coast, driven by low carbon fuel standards. While there is currently a large focus on the mobility sector and light duty vehicles, Chris sees longer-term adoption fronted by power grids. As grids undergo decarbonization, green hydrogen will take the place of natural gas in electrification, as well as replacing batteries as an alternative power storage medium.
• Chris stresses the importance of subsidies and government regulations to help initiate widespread adoption of green hydrogen technologies. He is hopeful that a standalone climate change bill fronted by the federal government could help push the industry forward, while simultaneously reaping huge benefits for the environment.