You have probably heard about green and blue hydrogen. With Japan being a pioneer in clean energy and striving to implement anything that brings sustainability, scientists and engineers from the country are now looking into turquoise hydrogen. Turquoise hydrogen is an energy source that combines the efficiency of natural gas with the clean benefits of hydrogen.
The Japanese industrial machinery and plant engineering firm Ebara is developing technology to create turquoise hydrogen that is safe for the environment. Additionally, it is advertising its process for recycling and gasifying plastic waste. Methane pyrolysis, the thermal breakdown of natural gas (mostly methane) into sellable hydrogen and solid carbon, is how “turquoise” hydrogen is produced.
Turquoise hydrogen: Why it’s not like anything we have ever seen?
Turquoise hydrogen is created by splitting methane into hydrogen and solid carbon, as opposed to blue hydrogen, which depends on carbon capture, or green hydrogen, which is created using power from renewable sources. In addition to producing pure hydrogen, the process, called methane pyrolysis, also produces solid carbon rather than dangerous CO₂ emissions.
In this way, Japan’s strategy for producing turquoise hydrogen ensures that no greenhouse gases leak into the atmosphere while avoiding the energy-intensive procedures needed to produce green hydrogen. Turquoise hydrogen is a waste-free energy source since the solid carbon byproduct can even be used again in sectors like agriculture, construction materials, and battery manufacturing.
The potential and difficulties of energy innovation in Japan
Although turquoise hydrogen seems like the ideal remedy, obstacles must be removed before it can be used extensively. Scalability is one of the main obstacles; Japan is making significant research investments to improve methane pyrolysis technology so that it can be used on an industrial scale. To make turquoise hydrogen as available as conventional fuels, infrastructure for hydrogen storage and transportation still needs to be improved.
But the advantages greatly exceed the drawbacks. Japan has the potential to revolutionise global energy markets by lowering carbon emissions and dependency on fossil fuels if it is successful in establishing turquoise hydrogen as a common energy source. Experts predict that, given Japan’s history of energy efficiency and technological innovation, turquoise hydrogen will soon play a significant role in the renewable energy sector.
The top nations in the world for research and development of turquoise hydrogen
Japan is not the only country pioneering turquoise hydrogen. Countries in the world for research and development of turquoise hydrogen, according to EAI, are:
Canada: With collaborations like the one with Suncor Energy, FortisBC, and Hazer Group, Canada is also making progress in the field of blue hydrogen. Through this collaboration, natural gas feedstock will be converted into turquoise hydrogen by utilising Hazer Group’s unique methane pyrolysis technique.
United States: With businesses like C-Zero and Monolith Inc. spearheading the charge, the US is also becoming a major player in the turquoise hydrogen market. California-based startup C-Zero has acquired $11.5 million in finance from big businesses like Engie, Trafigura, and SK Gas to construct a pilot plant producing turquoise hydrogen.
Japan: With several active research and development initiatives, Japan is regarded as a pioneer in the field of turquoise hydrogen technology. The Mizuho Financial Group analysis emphasises that because of its quick social implementation potential, turquoise hydrogen has the potential to become the hydrogen production leader in Japan in the future. Additionally actively involved are Japanese businesses such as Taiyo Koko, Ihara Industries, and Ebara Corporation.
Japan’s dedication to turquoise hydrogen is a daring move towards a cleaner, more sustainable future, not just a scientific experiment. This innovative energy source, which combines efficiency and environmental responsibility, has the potential to power everything from factories to automobiles in the near future, demonstrating that clean energy is not just about solar and wind.