Hydrogen, particularly green hydrogen produced from water electrolysis using renewable electricity, has received the lion’s share of attention due to its essential role in helping the world reach net-zero emissions by 2050. By comparison, little attention has been paid to biohydrogen (Bio-H2), a type of hydrogen produced from organic waste streams (e.g., agricultural waste) that can potentially yield a carbon-removing (or climate-positive) fuel when coupled with efficient carbon capture and storage. This carbon-negative hydrogen can offer a solution for decarbonizing energy-intensive industrial processes such as iron and steel production. At present, however, the wide deployment of carbon-negative Bio-H2 still faces considerable obstacles.
The Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs hosted a discussion on key findings from its latest report on hydrogen, The Potential Role of Biohydrogen in the Net-Zero World: The Production and Applications of Carbon-Negative Hydrogen. The report explores the current state of play for Bio-H2 and its potential contribution to decarbonization efforts by examining its production options, carbon footprint, cost, potential applications, and policy options.
Moderator:
- Anne-Sophie Corbeau, Global Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia SIPA
Panelists:
- Emanuele Bianco, Programme Officer, International Renewable Energy Agency
- Zhiyuan Fan, Ph.D. student and Research Associate, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia SIPA
- Doris Fujii, Head of Hydrogen and CCUS Analysis, bp
- Yushan Lou, Research Associate, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia SIPA
