The warming impact of hydrogen has been “overlooked” in projections of climate change, according to authors of the latest “global hydrogen budget”. The study, published in Nature, is the most comprehensive analysis yet of the global hydrogen cycle, showing how the gas moves between the atmosphere, land and ocean. Hydrogen has long been recognised as a clean alternative to fossil fuels and an important component of the green energy transition. However, while hydrogen is not itself a greenhouse gas, rising emissions are “supercharging” the warming effect of methane, the authors say. Increasing levels of atmospheric hydrogen have led to “indirect” warming of 0.02C over the past decade, the study finds. The authors say that limiting leaks from future hydrogen fuel projects and rapidly cutting methane emissions will be key to securing benefits from hydrogen as a clean-burning alternative to oil and gas. The international team of scientists behind the study also produce the annual “global carbon budget”, which saw its 20th edition published last month. ‘Supercharging’ methane Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe. It is also an explosive gas that contains more energy per unit of weight than fossil fuels. The gas has long been recognised as a clean alternative to fossil fuels, because it only emits water when burned. There are many ways to produce hydrogen. It is typically generated in a carbon-intensive process that relies on fossil fuels. However, renewable energy can be used to produce “green hydrogen” with near-zero carbon emissions. Hydrogen…
