Decarburizing heavy industries with green hydrogen

Ohmium explores how innovation, collaboration and policy in the green hydrogen sector can tackle climate change.

As outlined in the Paris Agreement, global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C require immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change emphasizes that emissions should peak by 2025 and need to get back on track with a decline of around 43% by 2030. Renewables have made great strides in reducing emissions from generation to generation, but that alone does not address the full range of challenges. Many heavy industries continue to release significant amounts of Co₂, even if they are fully renewable energy-equipped, rely on fossil-based hydrogen or other carbon-intensive ingredients.

It is estimated that current industrial applications of hydrogen will contribute 2-3% of the global total carbon emissions primarily from a small number of “standard disabled” industries (Hydrogen Council, 2021). The three most emissions-intensive sectors are steel production, refining and chemical manufacturing. Steel production accounts for 7-9% of global industrial emissions due to its dependence on coke, blast furnace coal, and DRI furnace natural gas (International Energy Agency, 2023). The refinery industry uses hydrogen for hydrocloaking and desulfurization, contributing 3-4% of global industrial emissions (World Resources Institute, 2022). Similarly, chemical production relies on hydrogen to produce methanol and other compounds, driving 5-6% of industrial emissions (Global Carbon Project, 2023).

Green hydrogen is the real solution now

Decarbonization These mitigation industries require either replacing fossil-based hydrogen with green hydrogen or electrifying chemical processes. In this case, green hydrogen is produced using renewable electricity and water electrolysis. This method does not generate carbon emissions, is a sustainable option for hydrogen production and an important enabler of global decarbonization efforts. This shift to green hydrogen is essential to achieving emission reduction targets for a sustainable future.

Green hydrogen is currently only a small portion of the global hydrogen market, but is growing rapidly. The lower costs of renewable energy driven by advances in solar and wind technology have significantly reduced the cost of electrolysis producing green hydrogen. Energy accounts for a large part of the cost of production, so these reductions are important to improve competitiveness. At the same time, innovations in the design of electrolyzers and increased manufacturing scale have resulted in increased efficiency and reduced equipment costs.

PEM electrolyzer transforms the green hydrogen economy and production

Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Electrolither is at the forefront of this progression. Ohmium, a leading electrolyser solution manufacturer, has developed PEM electrolithers that combine high efficiency, energy density and fast ramping capabilities, making them particularly suitable for integration with renewable energy sources. Ohmium Advanced PEM Technology offers high availability and high energy density with a small footprint, unlike traditional alkaline electrolytic agents, which are constrained by slower response times and bulkier designs.

Ohmium has achieved cost savings previously predicted to take more than a decade. This acceleration is partially driven by a reduced dependence on rare materials such as iridium, allowing for gigawatt scale production. Ohmium’s hypermodular design further reduces costs, reducing installation costs to 10-20% of capital expenditures compared to 50-100% of traditional custom built systems. Sound commercial practices also play an important role. By leveraging global supply chains and mass production at low-cost facilities, Ohmium PEM Electroolyser solutions reflect the rapid cost-saving trajectory seen in the solar industry.

It is important to note that achieving the potential of green hydrogen requires a globally scalable and rapidly deployable solution. Here, Ohmium’s hyper modular design shines brightest. Hypermodularity reduces engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) costs by simplifying the design and assembly process, significantly reducing project start-to-finish times. The interlock module architecture improves scalability and allows systems to scale seamlessly to meet demand (for example, as production requirements increase). Built-in redundancy increases operational reliability by minimizing downtime and reducing costs, while the rack-in rack-out design further reduces operational disruption. Relatedly, backwards compatible systems support seamless upgrades without risking stuck assets. Another important advantage of hypermodule is its ability to generate standardized modules with highly efficient gigafactors, which increases production efficiency and facilitates the creation of a robust and cost-effective global supply chain.

We provided innovation #1

Green hydrogen applications in power generation

Lower costs have expanded the potential uses of green hydrogen, including power generation systems. Ohmium and Spirare Energy collaborated on the Green Hydrogen Pilot Project at the NTPC Netra campus in New Delhi. Spirare Energy led the development of the project, while Ohmium supplied high-efficiency PEM technology to support green hydrogen-based power generation solutions. The system is equipped with an NTPC Netra solar array that supplies renewable energy to Ohm’s cutting-edge PEM electrolither to produce green hydrogen. This hydrogen is stored in the field and later returned to electricity using fuel cells to provide a continuous supply of energy. Ohmium PEM Electrolysers are extremely efficient at exploiting renewable energy, but are designed for dynamic operation and rugged condition. This is an essential feature given the extreme heat and challenging climatic conditions on the project site. Ohmium green hydrogen-based power generation system allows NTPC Netra microgrids to provide reliable power for operations 24/7, even when the main grid is out of control.

We provided innovation #2

Transforming industry that is not easily debilitated: Green Steel

Another example of the conversion potential of Ohmium Green hydrogen solutions is its role in enabling the production of green steel. Ohmium was chosen to provide PEM electrolyzer technology for a groundbreaking project between Masdar and Emstel to promote the production of green steel. Masdar is a global sustainability leader in developing utility-scale power plants, community grid projects and energy storage systems. With over 40 countries across six continents and combined with capabilities of over 51 GW, Masdar is a key participant in the UAE’s vision of global sustainability and climate action. Emsteel is the global leader in sustainable steel and building materials in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Located in Abu Dhabi, the groundbreaking pilot project is the first initiative in the Middle East and North Africa region, leveraging green hydrogen produced from ohamium pem electrolyzers to extract iron from iron ore. The pilot project demonstrates how green hydrogen can successfully begin production of green steel and significantly reduce CO emissions in steel production. This achievement coincides with the UAE’s ambition to become a global leader in hydrogen and green steel production, addressing the growing global demand for decarbonized steel. By enabling the transition to low-carbon steel production, this pilot project is an example of the role that green hydrogen can play in transforming decayable industries and decarbonizing the global steel value chain.

Collaboration is essential for innovation to flourish

It is important to note that broader efforts are essential to fully realize the potential of green hydrogen in achieving global climate targets. While corporate-led innovations reduce costs, government incentives and support policies play a key role in fostering adoption. Programs like the European Hydrogen Strategy and Germany’s H2Global Initiative are aimed at stimulating market demand through funding and international partnerships. However, policy support must exceed financial incentives. The streamlined permitting processes for renewable energy projects, infrastructure development for hydrogen transport and storage, and international cooperation on standardization are all important for effective scaling of green hydrogen. A coordinated approach that integrates industrial, government and global collaboration is essential to unlocking the full potential of green hydrogen to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This article will also be featured in the 22nd edition of Quarterly Publication.