The Future of Hydrogen Technologies: The Contribution of the Estonian Centre of Excellence in Research

The Estonian Centre of Excellence in Research and the Department of Physical Chemistry have taken a significant step in the development of hydrogen technologies, focusing on innovative solutions that could replace fossil fuels in the future and support sustainable development. Professor Enn Lust from the University of Tartu's Institute of Chemistry discussed the potential and challenges of green and natural hydrogen with podcast host Meelis Härmas in the podcast „Tuleviku energeetika – energeetika tulevik“ emphasizing their importance in the chemical industry and energy production.

Host Meelis Härmas and guest Enn Lust covered several exciting topics related to sustainable hydrogen:

Mechanisms of Green and White Hydrogen Formation and Their Occurrences Worldwide: For example, large natural hydrogen deposits have been discovered in France, raising hopes for potential finds in Estonia as well.

Transport and Storage of Hydrogen: Europe plans to build thousands of kilometers of hydrogen pipelines to facilitate the movement and use of hydrogen. The price of natural hydrogen depends on its composition and the need for purification but can also be very affordable.

Accelerating Hydrogen Technologies: The introduction of inexpensive natural hydrogen could accelerate the development and application of hydrogen technologies across various industries, such as iron production, rare earth metal production, and ammonia production. This could make hydrogen technologies cheaper and more widely used. The sustainability of using natural hydrogen and the actual availability of this resource were also discussed.

Future Perspectives in Estonia: In Estonia, it is crucial to develop the production of cheap green electricity and hydrogen to reduce emissions and support a sustainable future. The introduction of natural hydrogen requires complex investments to utilize other associated gases, such as CO2 and water vapor. While green hydrogen production is more environmentally friendly, the purification of natural hydrogen can be costly. The use of hydrogen in the chemical industry and other sectors can help reduce environmental impacts and support sustainable development.

Listen to the episode.

„Tuleviku energeetika – energeetika tulevik“ is a podcast hosted by Meelis Härmas, a researcher at the University of Tartu's Institute of Chemistry. New episodes are released twice a month.