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TOWARDS DECARBONISATION GREEN AVIATION
‘Low-carbon hydrogen has robust growth Virent and Johnson Matthey enable fi rst fully

prospects, but needs policy support’ SAF-powered transatlantic fl ight

Global demand for low-carbon Funding remains encouraging Virgin Atlantic’s ‘Flight 100’ which
hydrogen is predicted to rise steadily – In 2022, venture investors poured arrived in New York on November
although it accounted for less than a record $2.41-bn into hydrogen ven- 28 from London has become the fi rst
1% of the total hydrogen produc- tures, including $300-mn on Mono- transatlantic fl ight by a commercial
tion in 2022. Demand increases are lith, which has developed methane airline using drop-in 100% sustainable
estimated to reach 150-mt by 2030 pyrolysis technology to split natural aviation fuel (SAF) in all engines.
and 520-mt in 2050 – but a lot will gas into carbon and hydrogen gas on
depend on the policy environment and a commercial scale. This year, the The fl ight was a one-off of its kind
other factors, according to a study by industry is on course for a lower so far, and was not carrying fare-paying
US-based research fi rm, Cleantech $1.92-bn. Overall, green hydrogen is passengers.
Group. An estimated $80-$300 bn will the best funded segment, with $954-mn, The fl ight was made possible by tional jet fuel, the BioForming process contain any aromatics, but the Bio-
be required to build the global low- followed by hydrogen pyrolysis with the BioForming technology invented enabled the Virgin Atlantic fl ight to be Forming process has changed this by
carbon hydrogen economy by 2030, $300.1-mn. by Virent and jointly developed for powered entirely by SAF made from converting sustainable plant sugars into
it said. commercialisation by Virent and UK’s sustainable feedstocks, with no changes a bio-aromatic product, BioForm Syn-
purchase agreements (HSAs) lead to Emerging rainbow options to the aircraft or its fuelling system thesized Aromatic Kerosene (SAK).
Produced with at least 80% lower delays in investment decisions.” Hydrogen occurs in many forms, Johnson Matthey. Virent is a wholly- infrastructure. This can be blended with other types
emissions than fossil fuels, low-carbon with each offering varied options owned green fuel & chemicals subsi- of SAF to increase SAF content up to,
diary of US-based refi ner, Marathon
hydrogen costs up to three times more Emerging global strategy and challenges. Naturally occurring Petroleum. Existing aircraft and fuelling sys- and including, a drop-in 100% alter-
than alternatives, but robust policy By 2030, innovation – supplemen- hydrogen – dubbed ‘gold’ when found tems require a component in the fuel native to conventional jet fuel, which is
support including direct fi nancial ted by subsidies – is expected to cut underground, and ‘white’ when identi- Aviation, as one of the contributors called ‘aromatics’, which interact with able to meet the accepted international
incentives, can help it become competi- the cost of low-carbon hydrogen fi ed in depleted oil wells – could be to global carbon emissions, is one of polymer seals, making them swell to standard for jet fuel (Jet A). SAK is also
tive. Low-carbon hydrogen could gain production by 80%. Many countries among the cheapest at less than $1/kg. the hardest industries to abate. Unlike help prevent fuel leakage, increase said to improve lubricity, viscosity and
a 14% share of global energy demand are targeting a $1-3/kg goal, with ‘Turquoise’ hydrogen, produced by other fl ights, which have used a per- lubricity, and ensure proper fuel system density, and produce a cleaner burning
by 2050, according to the Paris-based higher carbon prices even enabling methane pyrolysis, has the potential to centage of SAF mixed with conven- performance. SAF does not typically fuel.
energy think-tank, International Energy low-carbon hydrogen cost parity with be carbon negative and offers carbon
Agency. fossil fuel equivalents in some geogra- black as a by-product. Green hydro-
phies, such as the EU. Still, challenges gen, produced with renewable energy, China will dominate solar supply chain for years:
“Green hydrogen production is abound, notably in building a global is growing fast, but poses challenges
energy-intensive and there is a need hydrogen economy, estimated to cost to scale up. Companies with nuclear Wood Mackenzie
for additional renewable capability, between $80-$300 bn. assets have the opportunity to pro-
new infrastructure, and a better sup- duce ‘pink’ hydrogen using electro- China will have more than 80% of The aggressive capacity expansion has
ply chain,” said Ms. Selene Law, Sr. Far-reaching impact lysis, and ‘purple’ hydrogen with the world’s solar manufacturing capa- already forced solar panel prices down
Associate Energy & Power at Clean- Increased penetration of low-carbon thermolysis. city through 2026 and will be capable of dramatically this year and is prompting
tech Group. “The industry will need hydrogen can have far-reaching impact satisfying annual global demand for concern among US producers that
to overcome technical midstream across broad swathes of the economy. Innovation focused on costs, much of the next decade, according to are banking on a government-backed
challenges and aggressively cut It can help decarbonise hard-to-abate effi ciency a report by energy research fi rm, Wood domestic manufacturing boom.
costs to become competitive,” she industries, such as heavy-duty truck- Hydrogen start-ups are bringing Mackenzie.
added. ing (6% of global CO emissions), steel innovation to address the twin chal- “Despite strong government initia-
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production (9% of CO ), and aviation lenges of reducing costs and raising The report comes as nations like the tives for developing local manufactur-
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“Stable and supportive policy (2.4% of CO ). Green ammonia for effi ciencies. In production, Aurora US and India are subsidizing their own ing in overseas markets, China will still
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environment is also crucial,” Ms. Law fertiliser production is the nearest-term Hydrogen is using plasma at high tem- solar production to reduce reliance on dominate the global solar supply chain
said. “Convoluted support procedures offtake market since no custom facili- peratures to reduce CO , while Plagazi Chinese-made goods to achieve their and will bring more than a terrawatt and continue to widen the technology
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in the EU, uncertainty around hydro- ties will be required for its transporta- is tapping different waste feedstocks. clean energy goals. But China has of solar wafer, cell and panel capacity and cost gap with competitors,” Ms.
gen regulation in the US, and an tion and it has the lowest cost barrier Similarly, Getech is using subsurface invested more than $130-bn into its online by 2024. That’s enough to meet Huaiyan Sun, the author of the report,
insuffi cient number of hydrogen for producers. imaging to tap natural hydrogen. solar industry this year, the analysis said, annual global demand through 2032. said.

164 Chemical Weekly December 12, 2023 Chemical Weekly December 12, 2023 165

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