Knowra Hydrogen production Hydrogen production Hydrogen production is the generation of hydrogen gas from feedstocks such as natural gas, water, and biomass. Its environmental impact depends strongly on the production method and energy source.
Steam methane reforming : An industrial process that reacts methane with steam to produce hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. This is the dominant conventional route and a major source of hydrogen-related emissions.
Ammonia production : The industrial manufacture of ammonia, primarily by combining nitrogen with hydrogen in the Haber–Bosch process. Ammonia synthesis is the largest established use of hydrogen.
Hydrogen economy : An energy system in which hydrogen serves as a significant fuel, feedstock, or means of storing energy. Scaling production is a prerequisite for hydrogen to play a larger role across the economy.
Grey hydrogen : Hydrogen produced from fossil fuels without capturing most of the resulting carbon dioxide. It is the conventional baseline against which lower-emission routes are often compared.
Water electrolysis : A process that uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. It produces hydrogen without direct carbon emissions when powered by low-carbon electricity.
Petroleum refining : The processing of crude oil into fuels and other products through physical and chemical operations. Refineries consume hydrogen to remove sulfur and upgrade fuel molecules.
Carbon capture and storage : The capture of carbon dioxide emissions followed by transport and long-term storage. Capturing reforming emissions can reduce, but does not eliminate, fossil-based hydrogen's climate impact.
Blue hydrogen : Hydrogen made from fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage applied to some process emissions. It retains fossil feedstocks while attempting to reduce production emissions.
Autothermal reforming : A process that combines partial oxidation and steam reforming of hydrocarbons to produce hydrogen-rich gas. It is an alternative reforming route that can be designed for carbon capture.
Hydrogen fuel cell : An electrochemical device that converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, heat, and water. Fuel cells use hydrogen as an energy carrier, linking production to power and transport.
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