Hydrogen, as the lightest and most abundant element in the universe, is playing an increasingly important role in industry. Its unique physicochemical properties, combined with growing environmental awareness and technological progress, make it a key component of the energy economy of the future. This article focuses on the main benefits of using hydrogen in industry and its potential across different sectors.
Hydrogen as an environmentally friendly fuel
One of the main advantages of green hydrogen is its environmental profile, especially in the context of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen is an exceptionally clean fuel – when it is combusted in air, nitrogen oxides (NOx) may form because high combustion temperatures cause nitrogen to react with the oxygen present in the air. However, compared with conventional fossil fuels, NOx emissions may be lower or comparable. In processes such as fuel cells, where hydrogen is converted into electricity without combustion, NOx emissions do not occur.
Green hydrogen can be produced using renewable energy sources such as wind, solar or hydropower, further enhancing its environmental profile. Water electrolysis powered by renewable energy is an example of a technology that enables hydrogen to be produced without CO₂ emissions, placing it at the forefront of efforts to decarbonise industry.
What do hydrogen and energy storage have in common?
The ability to store energy efficiently is one of the key challenges facing today’s energy sector. Hydrogen, thanks to its high energy density, is an excellent medium for storing energy. Storing energy in the form of hydrogen and then releasing it through fuel cells can help stabilise power grids and ensure continuity of energy supply during periods of peak demand.
It is important to remember, however, that hydrogen has a high energy density per unit of mass (gravimetric energy density), but a low energy density per unit of volume (volumetric energy density) under standard conditions. This means that hydrogen storage requires special conditions, such as high pressure or low temperature (liquefaction), which entails additional costs and technical challenges.
Use of green hydrogen in the chemical and metallurgical industries
Hydrogen is widely used, including in chemical synthesis processes. It is a key feedstock in the production of ammonia (NH₃), a compound of fundamental importance for the manufacture of fertilisers. It is also used in petroleum refining processes, where it is employed to desulphurise fuels, helping to reduce emissions of harmful sulphur compounds into the atmosphere.
Economic aspects of using hydrogen in a company
In an industrial context, the economic benefits of using hydrogen are multifaceted and include both direct savings and strategic competitive advantages. At an appropriate scale of deployment, hydrogen technologies can deliver significant reductions in operating costs and strengthen companies’ market position.
Although the cost of producing green hydrogen is currently higher than that of conventional fossil fuels, hydrogen may in future help reduce operating costs in energy-intensive sectors as technology develops and the price of CO₂ emission allowances rises.
Investments in hydrogen technologies can provide companies with a long-term competitive advantage. Switching to hydrogen as a primary energy source or feedstock allows companies to strengthen their position in the context of increasingly stringent regulations on CO₂ emissions.
Hydrogen in industry and the compulsory energy audit for businesses in Poland
Green hydrogen, as a clean and efficient energy source, enables companies to optimise production processes in terms of energy consumption and pollutant emissions. Including hydrogen in the energy mix can help reduce overall energy costs, improve energy efficiency and support compliance with national and international sustainability standards.
During an energy audit for businesses in Poland, hydrogen technologies can be assessed for their potential to reduce the energy intensity of industrial processes. Energy auditors analyse the possibility of replacing conventional energy sources with hydrogen, which may lead to the identification of additional savings and an improved energy balance for the company.
Companies using green hydrogen may receive favourable assessments during energy audits for businesses in Poland due to a reduced carbon footprint and compliance with sustainable production requirements, which may bring benefits in the form of tax relief, grants and a stronger market reputation.
Integrating hydrogen into companies’ energy strategies not only makes it easier to meet the requirements of company energy audits in Poland, but also supports a long-term sustainability strategy, which is a key element of modern industrial management.
