Low-Cost and Environmentally Friendly: Green Hydrogen Is Finally Getting Its Day in the Sun

為應對氣候變化，保護環境，許多國家確立了到21世紀中葉實現凈零碳排放的目標。氫在2021年成為首選的未來綠色燃料，而使用可再生能源對水進行電解來提取的綠氫更是受到人們的關注。

Hydrogen has taken off in 2021 as the future green fuel of choice， with governments and businesses betting big that the universes most abundant element can help fight climate change.

氫在2021年成為首選的未來綠色燃料，各國政府和企業都斷定這種宇宙中最豐富的元素可以幫助應對氣候變化。

More than $150 billion worth of green hydrogen projects were announced globally in 2020. In total， more than 70 gigawatts of such projects are in development， which could require $250 billion worth of investment by 2040， research firm Rystad Energy estimates.

2020年，全球宣布了總額超過1500億美元（約合人民幣9830億元）的綠氫項目。據挪威呂斯塔德能源公司估計，總共有超過70千兆瓦的此類項目正在開發之中，到2040年可能會需要2500億美元的投資。

China has set net zero targets for carbon emissions by the year 2060.

中國已經確立了目標，目標是到2060年實現凈零碳排放。

While most developed countries along with China and India plan to boost renewable power output， the net zero emission targets are driving a push to find ways to decarbonize industries that cannot be electrified and depend on fossil fuels.

時值大多數發達國家以及中國和印度都計劃提高可再生能源產量之際，凈零排放目標正推動各國設法使無法電氣化而依賴礦物燃料的行業脫碳。

The main targets are those sectors that use coal， oil and gas as raw materials， such as in steel-making， cement and fertilizers， and in shipping and aviation.

這主要針對那些以煤炭、石油和天然氣為原料的產業，例如煉鋼、水泥和化肥以及航運和航空產業。

To meet that expected demand， powerhouse oil and gas exporters have set out policies to develop production and export of green hydrogen.

為了滿足這一預期中的需求，各大石油和天然氣出口國已經制定了發展綠氫生產和出口的政策。

Hydrogen， long used as rocket fuel， is mainly used in oil refining and to produce ammonia for fertilizers. Today it is mostly extracted from natural gas or coal， called grey hydrogen， in processes that emit 830 million tons a year of carbon dioxide， according to the International Energy Agency.

長期用作火箭燃料的氫主要用于煉油和生產化肥中的氨。國際能源署稱，如今，氫主要從天然氣或煤炭中提取，即所謂灰氫，提取過程每年排放8.3億噸二氧化碳。

Hydrogen produced from natural gas and which eliminates emissions by capturing and storing the emitted carbon is called blue hydrogen.

天然氣制氫將制造過程中排放的碳捕獲并儲存起來，其產品被稱為“藍氫”。

The holy grail is to extract hydrogen from water using electrolysis powered by renewable energy， “green hydrogen”， for under $1.50 per kilogram， to make it competitive with coal， oil and gas.

最令人向往的是以每千克不到1.50美元的成本、使用可再生能源對水進行電解來提取氫，即“綠氫”，這樣它與煤炭、石油和天然氣相比才能有競爭力。

The key costs that have to fall to meet the sub-$1.50 target are the cost of wind and solar power and the cost of electrolyzers， which split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

要實現綠氫須降至1.50美元以下的目標，主要成本包含風能和太陽能成本以及電解器成本。電解器的作用是將水分解為氫和氧。

It is estimated that renewable power costs need to fall by around 50% and electrolyzer costs would need to drop by around 75% to meet that target.

據估計，要實現那個目標，可再生能源成本需要降低約50%，電解器成本則需要降低約75%。

Word Study

abundant /?'b?nd?nt/ adj. 大量的;豐盛的;充裕的

Fish are abundant in the lake.

emission /i'm??n/ n. 排放物;散發物

eliminate /?'l?m?ne?t/ v. 排除;清除;消除

electrolysis /?'lek'tr?l?s?s/ n. 電解

Water can be reduced to oxygen and hydrogen by electrolysis.