Hydrogen: the ally of the future

It is the oldest and most abundant element in the universe. It exists in the stars, but it is not easy to find on its own, due to its very strong gregarious tendency. Incidentally, pure hydrogen is only available on our planet in the molecular form H₂ (dihydrogen), or in other words, in sets of two atoms, the smallest and lightest that exist.

In isolation, hydrogen does not exist naturally in the biosphere. A good companion, it associates with other elements, mostly non-metals, to make life on Earth possible. Combined with oxygen it is water, where two atoms are bonded to one oxygen atom (H₂O). With carbon it forms methane (CH₄), coal and petroleum. It is in everything that grows (biomass).

Only becoming liquid at temperatures below -258.8^oC, the first element of the periodic table of modern chemistry has among its properties excellent flammability, which forces one to handle it with care, and the fact that it is a good energy carrier. In other words, a substance that contains energy that is convertible into other forms, such as mechanical work or heat. And this is while emitting only water vapour, a huge advantage over coal and oil, which leave residues in the air.

Hydrogen can be produced through various processes and different primary energy sources can be used. Currently, the most common are fossil fuels, with natural gas (70% of cases) coming well ahead of diesel and coal and energy made through the reforming process, in which water vapour reacts with methane (natural gas) at high temperatures.

With the price of renewable energy becoming increasingly competitive, its use for hydrogen production through water electrolysis is gaining more and more interest, combined with the inherent environmental gains.

Hydrogen can be removed from water by electrolysers, machines that use an electric current to split its two components. When the electricity used in this process (electrolysis) comes from renewable sources and without carbon emissions, as is the case of solar or wind energy, the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) is close to zero and therefore this gas is known as "green hydrogen".

Biomass is also being considered, where there is this sustainable (but limited) resource available in abundance.

The environmental advantages of green hydrogen are undeniable, at a time when climate change mitigation and the fight against global warming have forced the adoption of tight decarbonisation targets and have become imperative for the very survival of humanity. Hence the investment in research and development of hydrogen production techniques, increasing the economic competitiveness of this energy.

The high energy efficiency of hydrogen, combined with the fact that it is low polluting, makes its use highly recommendable in transport (heavy-duty, maritime and air) and heating, especially in places where it is difficult to get electricity.

Given that hydrogen is produced in its molecular form (H₂), it is possible to release the energy present within the molecule by reacting with oxygen to produce water. This is possible using traditional internal combustion engines or with devices called fuel cells. This ability to simultaneously produce electricity and potable water, in a sustainable way, has been very convenient in space missions.

The possibility of transporting hydrogen through pipelines and other existing gas networks, mixed with natural gas in a portion up to 15% (in volume), is particularly favourable. In this way, the current natural gas infrastructures will play a fundamental role in enabling higher levels of incorporation of hydrogen

and therefore of renewable sources in final consumption.

A very advantageous aspect of hydrogen-based chemistry is the potential it has to decarbonise much of the petrochemical industry, acting as a carbon sink.

Hydrocarbons (containing hydrogen and carbon) are present in almost all fuels, plastics, pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals produced with petroleum-derived feedstock.

When carbon capture and use technologies evolve in the move towards a circular and decarbonised economy, (green) hydrogen will be needed to convert the captured carbon into usable chemicals such as methanol, methane, urea or formic acid.

With hydrogen, the use and valorisation of carbon will be a viable alternative for industries where decarbonisation is difficult, such as cement and steel.

Regarding the mission of creating an innovative and sustainable chemistry that contributes to a better world, Bondalti sees an opportunity in hydrogen production to enhance advanced, intelligent and efficient technologies, with low environmental impact, guiding the company towards more qualified products with higher added value.

The Bondalti project for the production of hydrogen at the Estarreja Chemical Complex achieved the status of “Important Project of Common European Interest” (IPCEI) awarded by the European Commission.

Named H2Enable, and integrated into the mobilizing agendas of the PRR (Program for Recovery and Resilience) with an estimated investment of 142 million euros until 2026, the project led by Bondalti, and including other partners, such as Air Liquide, Faculty of Engineering of University of Porto, APQuímica and HyLab, comprises of the building of an infrastructure for the production of green hydrogen at the Estarreja Chemical Complex.

H2Enable aligns with the European goals of decarbonization and re-industrialization, based on advanced, intelligent and efficient technologies, low environmental impact, orientation towards more qualified products with greater added value, as well as the principles of circularity.

The project mainly aims to decarbonise Bondalti's operations, namely in the production of Aniline, in line with the Company's goals of achieving carbon neutrality and using energy from 100% renewable sources by 2030. H2Enable will also allow production for direct sale in the market, namely through the national natural gas network and in the mobility sector, contributing to Portugal's competitive positioning in green energies and in line with the objectives of the European Commission of RePowerEU.