Brown hydrogen

Energy - sustainability.

Hydrogen can potentially be burned very cleanly, producing only heat and water.

Brown hydrogen is hydrogen produced in a relatively polluting way, using thermal coal in the production process.

In this context, the term "brown" refers to the heavy carbon impact of using thermal coal (also known as a black or brown coal) to produce this hydrogen.

The hydrogen itself is physically and chemically identical to hydrogen produced using other methods.

Is hydrogen low carbon?

"It can be used in a fuel cell or combusted in a boiler, turbine or engine to generate heat or electricity.

It can be stored in various ways, including at very large scales, and be transported to different end users, in much the same way as natural gas or liquid fuels....

However, hydrogen can only be considered as a decarbonisation option if it is readily available, at the right price, the right volume and with sufficient confidence it is low carbon.

In addition, potential users must be able to purchase hydrogen-using equipment, with proper assurances about safety and reliability."

UK Hydrogen Strategy - August 2021.

See also

• Biofuel
• Blue hydrogen
• Brown
• Brown coal
• Carbon
• Corporate social responsibility
• Decarbonise
• Electrolysis
• Fossil fuel
• Green energy
• Green hydrogen
• Grey energy
• Grey hydrogen
• Hydrogen
• Peak demand
• Peak oil
• Pink hydrogen
• Renewables
• Sustainability
• Thermal coal
• Turquoise hydrogen
• White hydrogen
• Yellow hydrogen

External links

• UK Hydrogen Strategy 2021 - UK Government
• Hydrogen fuel basics - US Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
• The hydrogen colour spectrum - National Grid