Biofore Magazine 2020

By Asa Butcher Illustration iStock & Riversimple

TECH HUB

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Europe can lead the hydrogen economy Most of the energy UPM uses is based on fossil-free energy, such as bioenergy, hydropower and nuclear power, which has resulted in its remaining emissions being rather low. UPM has, nevertheless, com- mitted to further lowering its carbon emissions tomeet the UN target of 1.5°C. Ilvespää notes that UPM’s renewable diesel lowers CO 2 emissions by over 80% compared to its fossil counterpart: “If we use green hy- drogen instead of fossil hydrogen in the diesel production process, we could come close to a 100% reduction.” Further opportunities emerge by capturing biogenic CO 2 from the pulp mills or biofuels processes. “While bioenergy based on sustaina- ble forestry is described as climate neutral, since tree growth and use are in balance, the burning of biomass still emits CO 2 . This could be utilised as a raw material if it is captured and combined with hydro- gen,” says Hoffmann. Ilvespää agrees. “We are looking into technologies that can synthe- sise our biogenic CO 2 and turn hydrogen into hydrocarbons. We are

replace everything, and that establishing a hydrogen industry “is not something you can expect to be there tomorrow.” “It takes time to build the infrastructure, write the legislation and develop the companies that are acting within this industry, as well as finally providing it to the user, who eventually also needs to invest in using hydrogen as a feedstock or as an intermediary for processes,” says Hoffmann. Nevertheless, there are a broad range of industries looking into join- ing the hydrogen economy. From energy-intensive industries, such as refining and steel manufacturing, to the marine and airline sectors, interest is growing because they all need to decarbonise and consider hydrogen as one viable solution. “What also makes it attractive is that you can produce it anywhere, so long as you have cost-competitive zero-carbon emitting electricity, and potentially a suitable infrastructure in place,” Hoffmann says. In addition, if costs and infrastructures allow, it’s possible to ship hydro- gen fromone destination to another, eventually transforming it into a globally traded commodity.

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