Hydrogen based fuels are used in sectors like aviation and industrial processes that can't be electrified. Producing these fuels is costly, they are rarely available, and they replace fossil fuels. Relying on this type of fuel threatens to lock in fossil fuel dependency and greenhouse gas emissions. Even though hydrogen based fuels are great they also have high costs and many risks. Fuels based on hydrogen  as a universal solution would be a false promise. They should not be expected to replace fossil fuels. Fuels like this can be very scarce and not competitive for at least the next decade. This thought process could lead to an endangered future. If we cling to the idea of combustion technology then when these fuels become too costly and scarce more fossil fuels will be burned and emit greenhouse gases. This could cause problems with long and short climate targets.  Hydrogen based fuels should be prioritized into applicants where they can be indispensable like feedstocks and aviation. Sectors like this can barely electrify directly. Green hydrogen is produced through a process called electrolysis. To split a stable H2O a lot of electricity is needed. Then after it is split the hydrogen can be used to synthesize hydrocarbon fuels by adding more carbon.  The result of electro fuels are easier to store and transport than electricity . E-fuels can be burned in combustion and directly substituted for fossil fuels. However Gunnar Luderer, the co-author of the paper says "given their limited availability, it would be wrong to think that fossils can be fully replaced this way."  Scientist are far from 100% renewable electricity so making the use of all of it is the key. If scientist use hydrogen based fuels instead of other alternatives, the amount of electricity is high depending on how its applied.  Scientist say that efficiency loss happens on both the supply side and demand side . Combustion engine wasted more energy than an electrical one. If produced with current electric mixes, hydrogen based fuels would increase greenhouse gas emissions. Electric cars cause greenhouse emissions that are lower than gasoline cars based on today's electric mixes. Only for renewable based power systems do hydrogen based fuels become effective to help stabilize climate. Hydrogen based fuels require large amounts of additional renewable energy production facilities. Another problem with hydrogen based fuels is their costs. With increasing CO2 prices, fuels like this could become more competitive by 2050. Hydrogen based fuels have the potential to become the backbone for replacing all remaining fossil fuels. The long term look at hydrogen based fuels is very promising. E-fuels can be globally traded  and resolve future  renewable energy problems.

*Coming to you Live - AP Environmental Science in the News!*

Coming to you Live - AP Environmental Science in the News!