- European utilities plan to build power plants burning natural gas now and then switch to clean hydrogen later.
- The technology of burning hydrogen wastes energy and opens the door for greenwashing accusations.
- Hydrogen's inefficiency is a significant obstacle to achieving 100% renewable power production by 2035 in Germany.
- If natural gas plants don't transition to cleaner hydrogen fast enough, they will become hindrances to climate goals or stranded assets.
- Hydrogen's higher cost could balance out over time, but it is an expensive option.
Threat of Hydrogen Greenwashing Stalks Europe’s Net Zero Plans
European utilities are pushing to build power plants that would burn natural gas now and then be switched to burn clean hydrogen down the road. But the technology they’re depending on wastes energy and opens the door for accusations of greenwashing.
Will Mathis
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