The majority of the world is actively working towards achieving zero emissions. As noble as this pursuit is, some may argue that it is not so feasible, especially now that the hydrogen dream may be fading. Many people may not realize that there are nine colors of hydrogen to choose from, but only two of these colors actually matter. Why? Because these two colors are the only ones that can actually make a sustainable difference. That is why mankind must be cautious in the pursuit to decarbonize the world.
Decarbonizing the world, but at what cost?
The world has made great progress in lowering its carbon footprint, and inevitably, the planet’s temperature. Unfortunately, a report by Environment and Climate Change Canada indicates that 2026 be in the top four hottest years on record. Furthermore, experts predict that global temperatures will remain higher than in pre-industrial years.
As more and more nations experience extreme weather events due to climate change, decarbonization is becoming more urgent. Unfortunately, this is no easy feat, because:
- Some sectors are resistant to change
- AI and data centers are increasing energy demands
- Upgrading grid capacity and infrastructure is expensive and time-consuming
Even the resource globally perceived as the ultimate game-changer for the energy sector is not perfect. This enigmatic resource is hydrogen. There are nine colors of hydrogen to choose from, which may confuse some, as the gas is colorless, after all.
9 colors of hydrogen to choose from
In 2024, we discussed the potential of the hydrogen market in clean energy through strategic development and global expansion. While much of this remains true, there has been significant difficulty in exploiting the potential of the only two hydrogen colors that truly matter.
In total, there are nine colors of hydrogen, meaning that there are nine ways to obtain hydrogen. Production methods receive a color code, which enables us to categorize the produced hydrogen’s sustainability. According to National Grid, these colors are:
- Blue
- Green
- Black
- Grey
- Brown
- Pink/purple/red
- Turquoise
- Yellow
- White
Six of these colors indicate a production method that is not highly sustainable, which defeats the purpose. The least sustainable of them are black and brown hydrogen. According to National Grid, fossil fuels, such as black or brown coal (lignite), are used to power the production process, which has a significant environmental impact due to carbon emissions.
Only these two colors truly matter: 100% clean
White hydrogen is naturally occurring and the purest, but its exploitation methods are presently limited. Therefore, only two colors can be seen as “100% clean” to some extent. RMI presented the world with a harsh truth, which is that all hydrogen production methods face varying challenges.
In general, hydrogen is categorized as “clean” due to its low carbon-emission rates. Turquoise and pink hydrogen are relatively new colors, and use methane pyrolysis and nuclear-powered electrolysis, respectively, during production. They cannot be deemed 100% clean, but the following two, in general, can:
- Blue hydrogen
- Made from natural gas, and the by-product, carbon dioxide, is captured
- Green hydrogen
- Using renewable energies to power water electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen
Carbon capture can be difficult and not 100% effective. Its storage is also another factor to consider. Integrating renewable energy sources with electrolysis facilities for hydrogen production requires significant funding for infrastructure upgrades.
It’s no wonder the hydrogen dream is fading, as not only are there various approaches to obtain this valuable resource, but all these approaches present their own unique challenges. In the end, individual needs and capabilities must be evaluated to determine which color would be most suitable. While people are now leaning toward green hydrogen in general, interest in white hydrogen is increasing. In fact, experts have discovered a 46 million-ton hydrogen treasure beneath France.
