Greener hydrogen is good – by Glenn Corrie

Green hydrogen produced by electrolysis remains expensive right now, but Hazer Group offers a promising alternative – it is transforming biogas waste into hydrogen and graphite. By Glenn Corrie.

The hydrogen sector is at a crossroads, as the recent pullback by Fortescue underscored a critical truth: green hydrogen, while promising, is currently too expensive and impractical to be a viable, near-term solution for replacing fossil fuels.

It’s time to shift our focus from the ‘green’ ideal to the ‘clean’ reality of hydrogen production.

Australia has a unique opportunity to lead the global hydrogen economy, but we must adopt a pragmatic approach, as focusing solely on green hydrogen risks delaying our transition to a clean energy future.

Efforts should concentrate on creating practical, cost-effective, and quickly deployable clean hydrogen production solutions that still notably reduce carbon emissions compared to conventional methods.

A way to produce clean hydrogen is through methane pyrolysis, which breaks down natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon without generating carbon dioxide emissions.

This method, often referred to as turquoise hydrogen production, presents an immediate and viable solution to decarbonisation challenges due to its unique characteristics.

By transforming abundant methane into pure hydrogen and valuable solid carbon, we at Hazer Group are creating a domestic industry that can compete globally. This approach not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also provides a stable, reliable energy source.

Unlike blue hydrogen, which necessitates carbon capture and storage (CCS), our technology avoids this complex and costly step.

Additionally, unlike green hydrogen production, which relies heavily on renewable energy sources, turquoise hydrogen can be produced using existing natural gas infrastructure, potentially accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy.

One promising approach of clean hydrogen production uses methane pyrolysis to generate hydrogen and graphite.

This method significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional and carbon capture-based hydrogen production, while it also offers a greater circular economic advantage.

The solid carbon byproduct, often in the form of valuable materials like graphene, can be utilised in various industrial applications, ultimately reducing waste and adding further economic value and revenue streams to the process.

Embracing clean hydrogen is crucial for building a robust hydrogen economy. It provides a dual benefit by being both commercially viable and environmentally friendly.

It ticks all the boxes that have yet to be accomplished by either green or traditional hydrogen production methods.

It is a versatile, reliable, low-emission, affordable option that can be deployed rapidly. Most importantly, our technology has been endorsed by international global customers who believe in our scalability and commercial readiness.

By championing innovation across all hydrogen forms, Australia can ensure energy security, thriving domestic industry, economic prosperity, and a sustainable future.

Glenn Corrie is the CEO of Hazer Group, a Perth-based company commercialising its clean hydrogen production technology. With 25 years of experience in the international energy industry, private equity, and investment sectors, Glenn has a substantial background in leading both publicly listed and private equity-backed companies. Prior to Hazer Group, Glenn held the role of CEO at Sino Gas & Energy and NEO Energy, and has served in senior executive positions at Ophir Energy PLC and Temasek International.

Picture: Glenn Corrie