The different colours of hydrogen & strategic sustainability leadership
More organisations are utilising hydrogen to reduce emissions and achieve sustainability targets. But how do production and sourcing impact these goals?
As the urgency to combat climate change intensifies, organisational leaders are increasingly tasked with finding innovative solutions to meet ambitious sustainability targets and reduce emissions.
Many are utilising hydrogen to achieve these goals. The most abundant natural element and a versatile clean energy source, it can support various industrial applications. However, not all hydrogen is created equal.
Even though hydrogen is a colourless gas, colours have been conceptually assigned to the different ways hydrogen is produced so we can identify when it has been made with fossil fuels and when it hasn’t. The different colours of hydrogen (grey, blue, green, and beyond) have distinct production methods, environmental impacts, and economic implications. The colours don’t have any inherent technical or regulatory value – but it’s a useful way to differentiate different production pathways at a high level.
Leadership teams must carefully consider these when integrating hydrogen into their organisation’s sustainability frameworks. Doing so can position your business to meet sustainability targets, strengthen corporate responsibility, and be at the forefront of innovation and resilience in an evolving market.
Let’s explore the different colours of hydrogen, with deeper insights into:
how production and sourcing can impact organisations’ sustainability goals
the significance of choosing the right hydrogen sources
how these decisions can drive environmental and economic success for forward-thinking organisations.
The most common and promising hydrogen colours organisations are using to meet sustainability targets include: blue, green, turquoise, and pink hydrogen. They encompass viable production methods with practical applications to reduce emissions.
Grey Hydrogen
Produced from natural gas through steam methane reforming (SMR), grey hydrogen is the most widely used form of hydrogen today. But its production emits significant carbon dioxide, which can conflict with sustainability goals. While it may be cost-effective in the short term,
organisations may like to consider more sustainable alternatives to improve environmental responsibility outcomes.
Blue Hydrogen
Similar to grey hydrogen, blue hydrogen uses the same SMR process, but incorporates carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to reduce emissions. This makes it a more sustainable choice for organisations bridging traditional fuels and greener options.
Turquoise Hydrogen
Turquoise hydrogen is generated through methane pyrolysis, producing solid carbon instead of CO2. This emerging method offers a sustainable production option for organisations interested in pioneering new technologies.
Pink Hydrogen
Pink (or red) hydrogen is created through water electrolysis powered by nuclear energy, which provides a low-emission alternative. As organisations diversify their energy strategy, pink hydrogen can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Organisations may consider this option to complement their sustainability efforts while leveraging the benefits of nuclear energy.
Green Hydrogen
Green hydrogen is generated through electrolysis, powered by renewable energy sources (such as wind or solar). The gold standard for sustainability, it’s ideal for organisations with net-zero targets, offering a zero-emission solution and significantly enhanced sustainability profiles.
Embracing green hydrogen positions companies as market leaders to achieve long-term, corporate sustainability strategies and strengthen relationships with suppliers and other key stakeholders. (Currently, Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy is focused on accelerating clean hydrogen industry growth.)
A note about power usage
Note: there are some scenarios where “green hydrogen” production isn’t cut and dry. For instance, if an organisation uses an electrolyser to produce hydrogen, but sources electricity from the grid, the hydrogen may not be fully considered "green."
This is because the grid power might come from a mix of energy sources, including fossil fuels, which contribute to carbon emissions. Find out more about Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
Strategies can be employed to avoid these emissions. For example, a company can purchase certifcates created by renewable energy producers to offset the purchased grid energy emissions. The right technology choice can also help. Using PEM electrolysis rather than alkaine for exampe, the electrolyser will be able to better track the variability of renewable energy inputs, meaning more renewables can be utiised by the system.
Endua’s focus is on the production of green hydrogen via our proprietary electrolysis technology. Combining 15 years of research and development by the CSIRO in PEM electrolysis and our team's extensive experience in hydrogen innovation, we are engineering a suite of technologies that enable the distributed on-site production of green hydrogen.
Achieving sustainability targets
For organisations looking to reduce emissions and meet ambitious sustainability goals, it’s valuable to understand the spectrum of hydrogen production methods. While grey and blue hydrogen can serve as stepping stones in the short term, green hydrogen—produced using renewable energy—represents the most sustainable and future-proof solution.
Advanced technology, such as the Endua power bank and Endua electrolyser, supports organisations to harness the potential of green hydrogen.
Green hydrogen not only aligns with global decarbonisation efforts but also positions organisations as leaders in innovation and corporate responsibility. By investing in green hydrogen, businesses can drive significant environmental impact, enhance long-term resilience, and gain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market focused on clean energy solutions.
Interested to learn more about green hydrogen energy storage and production? Get in touch with the Endua team.