Consider the following heavy industries:

1. Fertilizer plants

2. Oil refineries

3. Steel plants

Green hydrogen is expected to play a significant role in decarbonizing how many of the above industries?

Key Points

Green Hydrogen:

• Role: Green hydrogen is seen as a crucial player in the decarbonization of heavy industries due to its ability to replace fossil fuels in high-emission processes.
• Fertilizer Plants:
  • Usage:
  • Fertilizer plants primarily use hydrogen to produce ammonia.
  • Current Method:
  • Traditional ammonia production relies on natural gas, resulting in high carbon emissions.
  • Decarbonization:
  • Green hydrogen, produced through electrolysis using renewable energy, can be used to produce hydrogen-rich fertilizers, drastically reducing carbon emissions.
  • Hence, this industry can be decarbonized using green hydrogen.
• Oil Refineries:
  • Usage:
  • Oil refineries use hydrogen in various processes, including hydrocracking and desulfurization.
  • Current Method:
  • The hydrogen used is often produced from fossil fuels, leading to substantial carbon emissions.
  • Decarbonization:
  • By utilizing green hydrogen, refineries can significantly reduce their carbon footprint.
  • Hence, this industry can also be decarbonized using green hydrogen.
• Steel Plants:
  • Usage:
  • Steel production is carbon-intensive, typically using coal in blast furnaces.
  • Decarbonization:
  • Green hydrogen can serve as a clean reducing agent in the steelmaking process, eliminating or greatly reducing carbon emissions.
  • Hence, this industry can be decarbonized using green hydrogen.
• Therefore, green hydrogen is expected to play a significant role in decarbonizing all three industries.
• Thus, the correct answer is Option 3: All three.