Harvard explores China’s use of hydrogen to replace fossil fuels

Harvard University is researching the use of hydrogen in China’s heavy industry to help it move away from fossil fuels.

In order to achieve China’s 2060 net-zero goal, the Harvard-China Project on Energy, Economy, and Environment conducted a study to assess the potential usage of clean hydrogen throughout the country’s energy system and economy using an integrated modeling methodology.

According to the study, widespread clean hydrogen use could enable China to become carbon neutral while doing it more affordably than in the absence of clean hydrogen production and use. Compared to a pathway without it, clean hydrogen might prevent a loss of 0.13% in China’s total GDP (2020–2060) and save $1.72 trillion in investment expenses.

The most economical kind of clean hydrogen was also looked at by the researchers. According to their research, China’s green hydrogen might cost $2/kg on average by 2037 and $1.2/kg by 2050, when it will be significantly less expensive than blue hydrogen ($1.9/kg).