INFOGRAPHIC: What is green hydrogen

What is green hydrogen?

Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity.

After renewable energy is generated and distributed to a hydrogen plant, it is used to split water (H2O) into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) in a process known as electrolysis.

The resultant hydrogen is then transported via pipeline or via cryogenic liquid tanker trucks, to where it is needed as a fuel or for industrial processes. Green hydrogen can be used in multiple industrial processes including steel making and as fuel in "fuel cells" that can power cars, buses, mining vehicles, trains or even ships.

According to the International Energy Agency, green hydrogen production would save 830 million tonnes of CO2 emitted annually when hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels. More CO2 would be saved by having hydrogen fuel cells replace other forms of fuel - or even batteries - in vehicles.

Graphic by Hope Mukami, bird story agency