WHAT IS HYDROGEN ?
Abundant
It is the most widespread element in the universe, main constituent of the sun and most of the stars.
Natural
Its pure form, di-hydrogen, is created naturally by chemical reactions in the earth's crust.
RARELY ALONE
It is most often associated with other elements to form molecules (water, methane, starch, sugar, alcohol, etc.)
The lightest
It is the smallest and lightest element (14 times lighter than air)
AN ENERGY
Natural hydrogen contains 3 times more energy than gasoline
Odorless
In its pure form, di-hydrogen is invisible, odorless and non-toxic.
HYDROGENE IN FIGURES
is currently in kt the annual French consumption of hydrogen
is the percentage of carbon-free hydrogen produced in France
is the number of natural hydrogen fields so far discovered in the world (Mali).
is in t the CO₂ released for the production of 1t of H₂ by steam reforming
is in billions of euros the allocated budget to develop the hydrogen sector in France
is the distance in km that a car can travel with 1kg hydrogen
THE HYDROGEN MARKET IN EUROPE
Source: economie.gouv.fr, France Hydrogèene (AFHYPAC), IHS Markit, Les Echos
HYDROGEN USES
Hydrogen, in its pure form dihydrogen,
offers unique properties that make it so strategic and sought-after :
USED AS A CHEMICAL COMPOUND :
It is very reactive and therefore combines very easily with other elements to create compounds (associated with nitrogen for the creation of ammonia, the basis of fertilizers or even used for the creation of nylon and various plastics) .
Hydrogen is used to remove sulfur when refining gasoline to prevent sulfur oxides (SOx) from being released during combustion. These oxides participate in atmospheric pollution and are responsible for certain respiratory diseases.
When dihydrogen is combined with CO₂, methane is generated (natural gas). This process, called methanation, has particularly emerged with the development of wind and solar energy, which requires the ability to store the excess electricity produced. This conversion of electricity into gas ("power to gas"), can contribute to the energy transition and to a reduction in overall CO₂ emissions.
USED AS AN ENERGY VECTOR :
Powered by hydrogen, a fuel cell produces electricity and emits heat and water. In addition to a vector of mobility, this electricity can supply isolated sites, industrial units or even sensitive sites requiring emergency alternative energy.
Solar and wind power have the disadvantage of being intermittent and sometimes more electricity is produced than the network can accommodate. This excess electricity can then be used to produce hydrogen, via an electrolyzer, which will then be converted back into power via a fuel cell.
The hydrogen used in a fuel cell makes it possible to produce electricity directly in a vehicle powered by an electric motor (car, train, truck, etc.). These "zero emission" vehicles then emit only water.
USED AS FUEL :
From the beginning of the space industry, hydrogen immediately played an important role as rocket fuel. It is the fuel that concentrates the most energy, a criterion of primary importance as a space launcher must be as light as possible.
Hydrogen is used in metallurgy for heat treatment atmospheres that make it possible to produce mechanical parts or modify their properties.
HYDROGEN :
its main production methods
its main production methods
PRODUCED FROM SUBSURFACE
Hydrogen is naturally produced on the planet and is the most abundant element on Earth. Hydrogen extracted from the subsurface is known as white hydrogen or natural hydrogen.
This process differs from all other production methods in that it allows us to benefit from low-carbon hydrogen, at very competitive costs, which requires no water, no anthropogenic energy, and no critical raw materials to produce.
It is this hydrogen that 45-8 ENERGY intends to explore and produce.
BY WATER ELECTROLYSIS
As part of the European strategy for the development of low-carbon hydrogen, initiatives to manufacturate hydrogen is emerging.
This electrochemical reaction, called "water electrolysis", splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using a large amount of electricity.
We call green hydrogen when the electricity used for this process comes from renewable energies, pink hydrogen when it comes from nuclear energy and yellow hydrogen when it comes from solar energy or other sources.
BY STEAM REFORMING OF HYDROCARBONS
Most hydrogen consumed today is produced from natural gas (CH4). The "steam reforming" process breaks down the methane molecule to recover the hydrogen that makes it up using steam.
However, this process also generates carbon dioxide. We call grey hydrogen when the CO2 generated is released into the atmosphere without recovery and blue hydrogen when the carbon dioxide produced is captured and recovered.
45-8 ENERGY plans to transform any methane fractions that might be associated with helium and natural hydrogen in the subsoil directly into blue hydrogen at its production sites.
BY COAL GASIFICATION
This is the oldest process used to produce hydrogen on an industrial scale.
Gasification converts the carbonaceous elements in coal, both organic and fossil, into hydrogen, carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) through a thermochemical treatment using steam.
The hydrogen is then separated from the other elements by means of specific absorbers or membranes. We call black or brown hydrogen, depending on the type of coal used.
This technique is extremely polluting as the CO2 and CO generated cannot be reused and are released into the atmosphere.
45-8 ENERGY APPROACH
Natural hydrogen :
the main target
the main target
In certain geological contexts, helium and natural hydrogen can be found together. It is therefore natural that 45-8 ENERGY is interested in these two resources. In addition to meeting the growing demand for helium in Europe, the associated natural hydrogen can also contribute to the supply of low-cost, low-carbon hydrogen in Europe.
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Decarbonised? Since it does not use hydrocarbons or coal to be generated, it does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, its production, with its limited surface footprint, requires neither water, nor anthropogenic energy, nor critical raw materials.
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Inexpensive? Since it does not require complex synthesis processes and can be efficiently separated from other gases on the surface, its production cost is very competitive. In particular, the covalorisation approach opens the door to deposits where hydrogen is in the minority and cannot alone support dedicated infrastructures.
To date, several potential areas have already been identified by 45-8 ENERGY and are being studied in depth. For example, the gas mix of the "Avant-Monts franc-comtois" project seems to present a fraction of natural hydrogen, which however remains to be confirmed during our exploration work. Other areas of interest are also being studied on a European scale.
As natural hydrogen exploration is relatively recent, several technological challenges remain to be addressed. 45-8 ENERGY can rely on its R&D, conducted with renowned industrialists and academics, which enables it to overcome these barriers while strengthening its competitiveness.
Blue hydrogen :
a solution for the potential methane fractions
a solution for the potential methane fractions
In certain geological contexts, helium and natural hydrogen can sometimes be associated with methane.
Considering the urgency of climate change and sovereignty regarding the production of strategic resources, 45-8 ENERGY envisages the transformation of these possible methane fractions into blue hydrogen on the production site, thanks to the "vaporeforming" process.
The carbon dioxide generated by this process will be captured and purified to supply local consumer industries (food industry, dry ice manufacturers, fire-fighting, etc.), which is also a tight market. This approach is a real response to the challenges of supplying hydrogen, but also carbon dioxide, in Europe while contributing to the energy and ecological transition.
The EARTH₂ initiative, originally created by 45-8 ENERGY and CVA Group, is today led by the "Pole Avenia" competitive cluster. It aims to bring together the natural hydrogen actors (exploration, production and storage) to promote this new and carbon-free energy. Through this initiative, we also wish to collaborate and caracterize the "native hydrogen system" in a collaborative way.
France Hydrogène (formerly AFHYPAC) brings together the players in hydrogen and fuel cells in France with the ambition of accelerating the development of hydrogen solutions for the benefit of the energy transition.
