Hydrogen fuel cells are a promising green power source, but they’re not perfect yet. Producing hydrogen is an energy-intensive, often fossil fuel-powered process and fuel cells’ secondary emissions go further, too. Fuel cell manufacturing must also eliminate its emissions for these technologies to be truly green.
Once in service, fuel cells offer emissions-free power for vehicles, generators and other applications. However, if the production processes that make them generate emissions, increasing fuel cell adoption will result in larger carbon footprints. The industry must address this issue to reach its full sustainable potential.
Emissions in the Fuel Cell Production Process
Manufacturing in any context uses a considerable amount of energy. Considering how 80% of energy consumption in the U.S. comes from fossil fuels, this production carries a substantial carbon footprint. While fuel cells may represent a minuscule portion of overall manufacturing, it still contributes to this energy usage, generating harmful emissions.
Fuel cells also typically require precious metals like platinum. Obtaining and processing those materials involves more energy-intensive processes, particularly in mining, where most heavy machinery runs on diesel.
The fuel cell production process also generates emissions apart from carbon dioxide. Gas streams from producing the anode and cathode release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be harmful in their vapor form and contribute to the greenhouse effect in large enough quantities.
How Fuel Cell Production Can Eliminate Emissions
Thankfully, emissions-free fuel cell production is possible. Studies show that wet scrubbers can remove most particulate matter from industrial gasses. This can reduce VOC emissions that may arise during fuel cell production.
Scrubbers, like similar carbon capture technologies, aren’t a perfect solution, as organizations must find ways to store or recycle the gases. However, they can play a critical role in the green energy transition. These less disruptive technologies can mitigate current emissions as zero-emissions energy sources become more accessible to fuel cell manufacturers.
Production facilities must ultimately switch to renewable energy like wind and solar. That goal is becoming increasingly viable as technological advances lead to plummeting prices. Utility-scale solar energy costs have declined by 89% over the past decade, and wind power prices have dropped 70%. As these trends continue, more manufacturing facilities will be able to use 100% renewable energy to power their production.
Fuel cell companies must also remove emissions from their supply chain, particularly in the materials mining process. This will likely take longer, as alternative fuels have yet to see widespread adoption in heavy equipment. However, some industry-leading companies have committed to eliminating emissions from mining equipment by 2050.
Only working with supply chain partners committed to zero-emissions goals will help eliminate secondary and tertiary emissions. When that happens, fuel cell production can truly claim to be emissions-free.
Green Production Is a Critical Step Toward Green Hydrogen
Green hydrogen is an essential step forward for fuel cells to reach their full potential. While removing emissions from hydrogen production is an important part of that, fuel cell companies must consider their manufacturing processes, too.
Following these steps can help mitigate and eventually eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from fuel cell production. Hydrogen power can then be truly green, helping move the world to a cleaner, safer future.
Jane Marsh, Contributor
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