Resources

What is Hydrogen?

Hydrogen is a clean fuel that, when consumed in a fuel cell, produces only water. Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of domestic resources, such as natural gas, nuclear power, biomass, and renewable power like solar and wind. These qualities make it an attractive fuel option for transportation and electricity generation applications. It can be used in cars, in houses, for portable power, and in many more applications.

Hydrogen is an energy carrier that can be used to store, move, and deliver energy produced from other sources.

Today, hydrogen fuel can be produced through several methods. The most common methods today are natural gas reforming (a thermal process), and electrolysis. Other methods include solar-driven and biological processes. Read more from the U.S. Department of Energy’s website.

More H2 Resources

GIS Map of UT, WY, CO, NM

Four state (UT, WY, CO, NM) regional hydrogen hub interactive dashboard tool

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U.S. Department of Energy – Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office U.S Department of Energy – Alternative Fuels Data Center Hydrogen Tools – Hydrogen Analysis Resource Center U.S. Energy Information Administration U.S. Energy Information Administration National Renewable Energy Laboratory U.S. Department of Energy

The Hydrogen ‘Spectrum’

Green Hydrogen:

Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced with no harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Green hydrogen is made by using clean electricity from surplus renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, to electrolyze water. Electrolyzers use an electrochemical reaction to split water into its components of hydrogen and oxygen, emitting zero carbon dioxide in the process.

Green hydrogen currently makes up a small percentage of the overall hydrogen spectrum, because production is expensive. Just as energy from wind power has reduced in price, green hydrogen will come down in price as it becomes more common.

Blue Hydrogen:

Blue hydrogen is produced mainly from natural gas, using a process called steam reforming, which brings together natural gas and heated water in the form of steam. The output is hydrogen – but also carbon dioxide as a by-product. That means carbon capture and storage (CCS) is essential to trap and store this carbon. Blue hydrogen is sometimes described as ‘low-carbon hydrogen’.

Gray Hydrogen:

Currently, this is the most common form of hydrogen production. Gray hydrogen is created from natural gas, or methane, using steam methane reformation but without capturing the greenhouse gases made in the process.

Black/Brown Hydrogen:

Hydrogen made from black coal or lignite (brown coal) through the process of ‘gasification’ is sometimes called black or brown hydrogen interchangeably. It is similar to gray hydrogen, because the carbon dioxide byproduct is not captured, so it is the most carbon intensive form of producing hydrogen.

Pink Hydrogen:

Pink hydrogen is generated through electrolysis like green hydrogen, however is powered by nuclear energy.  Nuclear-produced hydrogen can also be referred to as purple hydrogen or red hydrogen.

Figure: How Green Are the National Hydrogen Strategies? - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate.net

Hydrogen made from black coal or lignite (brown coal) through the process of ‘gasification’ is sometimes called black or brown hydrogen interchangeably. It is similar to gray hydrogen, because the carbon dioxide byproduct is not captured, so it is the most carbon intensive form of producing hydrogen.

Turquoise Hydrogen:

This is a new entry in the hydrogen color charts and production has yet to be proven at scale. Turquoise hydrogen is made using a process called methane pyrolysis to produce hydrogen and solid carbon. In the future, turquoise hydrogen may be valued as a low-emission hydrogen, dependent on the thermal process being powered with renewable energy and the carbon being permanently stored or used.

Yellow Hydrogen:

Yellow hydrogen is a relatively new phrase for hydrogen made through electrolysis using solar power.

White Hydrogen:

White hydrogen is a naturally-occurring geological hydrogen found in underground deposits and created through fracking.

Source:https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/hydrogen-colour-spectrum

Hydrogen Resources from the Four-State WISHH Coalition

Colorado

Colorado Hydrogen Network
Colorado Energy Office

Utah

Utah Office of Energy Development

New Mexico

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department
Energy Conservation and Management Division

Wyoming

Wyoming Energy Authority
Wyoming Hydrogen Initiatives

Request for Expression of Interest (RFEI)

We’re seeking information from those interested in participating in the clean hydrogen economy (producers, users, storage providers, and transporters) to inform early analysis and evaluate ideas for potential inclusion in funding opportunities.

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