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Thirsty future: Australia’s inexperienced hydrogen targets may require vastly extra water than the federal government hopes

Source link : https://tech365.info/thirsty-future-australias-inexperienced-hydrogen-targets-may-require-vastly-extra-water-than-the-federal-government-hopes/

Inexperienced hydrogen is touted by some as the longer term—a manner for Australia to slowly substitute its reliance on fossil gas exports. The energy-dense gasoline has the potential to cut back emissions in sectors difficult to decarbonize, equivalent to steelmaking and fertilizer manufacturing.

The Albanese authorities needs it to be a large new export trade and has laid out a pathway by means of its Nationwide Hydrogen Technique.

Sadly, there’s an actual hole between rhetoric and actuality. Regardless of formidable plans, no inexperienced hydrogen venture has but succeeded in Australia. The know-how’s most outstanding native backer, billionaire miner Twiggy Forrest, has dialed down his ambition. Globally, simply 7% of introduced inexperienced hydrogen tasks are up and operating.

Financial viability is one drawback. However there is a a lot bigger concern flying underneath the radar: water. Hitting the 2050 goal of 15 million to 30 million tons of hydrogen a yr would use 7%–15% of the quantity Australia’s households, farms, mines and black coal energy crops use yearly. That is merely not sustainable.

Splitting water

Inexperienced hydrogen makes use of renewable vitality to energy electrolyzer machines, which cut up water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.

On the floor, that is an interesting use of unpolluted vitality, particularly throughout photo voltaic peak durations.

However what the federal government hasn’t correctly accounted for is the water value…

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Author : tech365

Publish date : 2025-07-12 07:47:00

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