As a US–founded company now with substantial operations in both the US and UK, the opportunities for friendly transatlantic banter are plentiful! On July 4, those of us Stateside will celebrate our independence from the British (and the Special Relationship, of course) while our colleagues back in Blighty might celebrate their independence from late evening US-sent emails for a couple of days!
Independence has taken on new relevance with some of the geopolitical surprises we have witnessed over the last few years – energy independence in particular. The supply chain disruptions that began with the COVID outbreak – followed by the disruptions from the war in Ukraine and subsequent sanctions on Russia – have made it clear to many countries, like the UK and Germany, that reliance on shipments of foreign oil, kerosene and natural gas is no longer a safe way to run an economy.
And, while the US has plenty of its own fossil fuel production, the price of those fuels is subject to fluctuations in the global market, leaving American consumers at the mercy of OPEC.
Fortunately, another recent development promises a viable route toward energy independence: renewables like solar and wind.
The decreasing cost of solar panels and wind turbines and improved technology have made renewable sources of electric power available to a wider array of nation-states. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that, in 2023, world investment in renewables significantly outpaced investment in new fossil fuel supply, a trend extending back several years. Several studies have indicated that if the world is not at its peak in fossil fuel consumption, it will be very soon.
Of course, in addition to supporting energy independence, the increasing deployment of renewable energy production also helps reduce the carbon emissions associated with electric power generation.
One of the problems associated with wind and solar power is what’s called “intermittency;” the sun or wind might be generating a surfeit of electricity at times when it is not needed. To work around intermittency, power systems require a way to store any excess energy they produce when the systems are running so that power can be available for periods of low power generation.
Hydrogen is one element that can be used as a storage medium. Excess renewable electricity can be converted into clean hydrogen through electrolysis; it can then be stored in gaseous form in a pressurized tank or in liquid form in a cryogenically cooled tank until needed.
The clearest path to energy independence is likely green hydrogen. Green hydrogen is produced using electrolysers powered by electricity from renewable energy sources. While, renewable cost and capacity is not universal or equal across different geographies, meaning green hydrogen prices will be variable, price projections from analysts suggest that green hydrogen will be cheaper as an energy source than fossil equivalents ahead of 2050.
In the case of aviation, green hydrogen can be produced and stored at or near airports, to reduce transportation costs that traditionally drive up the fuel price. Electrolyzers can even be powered by locally generated renewable energy. Renewable hydrogen stored in tanks is then converted to electricity in flight using a fuel cell, which then powers the electric motors – a more energy efficient process than burning fuel, creating additional cost benefits.
Hydrogen’s potential as an energy source to help wean nation-states and regions from fossil fuel dependence is what has been driving regional and national initiatives pursuing it as a critical energy source for the future. Some tangible examples:
As well as solving renewables intermittency challenges, hydrogen has immense potential in abating the carbon emissions of what are known as hard-to-abate sectors of our economy like steel and cement production and heavy-duty transportation. “De-fossilizing” these stubborn emission sources is critical as they make up the vast majority of GHGs.
For the aviation industry, a move away from fossil would also provide a greater degree of energy security. Many countries are net importers of jet kerosene and, given that aviation is a major economic driver, they are at the mercy of that supply. For the airlines, fluctuations in oil prices mean that they spend a lot of money and time hedging their risk in response.
A surfeit of hydrogen, driven in pursuit of independence, will help airline operators manage their costs more effectively as the transition to this new aviation fuel picks up speed.
The clearest path to energy independence is hydrogen-electric power derived from clean (aka “green”) hydrogen. Green hydrogen is produced using electrolysers powered by electricity from renewable energy sources.
In the case of aviation, green hydrogen can be produced and stored at or near airports, to reduce transportation costs that traditionally drive up the fuel price. Electrolyzers can be powered by locally generated renewable energy. Renewable hydrogen stored in tanks is then converted to electricity in flight using a fuel cell, which then powers the electric motors.
Clean energy, with hydrogen playing a major role, can move almost all countries to higher levels of energy independence. It’s a compelling, high-value reason to integrate hydrogen into the energy mix in addition to focusing on hitting net-zero emissions goals (e.g., the EU’s 2050 target) and improving air quality.
The good news is that there’s an entire ecosystem working on reducing national and industrial reliance on fossil fuels. Hydrogen-electric systems play an important and growing role that ecosystem. This de-fossilization movement is no pipe dream, it’s real and happening at an enormous scale.
Hydrogen is a key fuel for a future of greater energy independence, and that future starts now.
[Read more about hydrogen and its range of “colors” here.]
Join us on this critical energy independence journey with the clean future of flight as its destination. Contact us to take the first step.
