Uruguay has hope in the incursion of green hydrogen, but also in the white hydrogen, other sustainable fuel which, based on its discovery in Australian soils, could also have a path of development in the national territory.
The second energy transition and the decarbonization of the economy They are central points on the agenda of both the government and the National Administration of Fuel, Alcohol and Portland (Ancap); and in this, the green hydrogen plays a fundamental role.
However, this is not the only sustainable fuel, with zero pollution levels, that is in the country’s range of possibilities: although much less known, the so-called white hydrogen You could have your part, too.
What is white hydrogen?
White hydrogen is that hydrogen which has its origin in geological formations, below the earth’s surface and from reactions between water and minerals. Unlike fossil fuel deposits, this natural element is continually replenished, making it a great alternative in terms of sustainability and, in addition, it is presented as a less expensive variant than the “green” one—in a liquid state.
The first time that this presentation of the natural hydrogen in its pure state on the planet was by accident, when a well that emitted this element was discovered in 2012, in Mali. Since then, experimentation around extraction has progressed more and more.
An important fact about white hydrogen —and hence its name—is that it can be reduced to a white powder to facilitate its transport at room temperature. The original process is expensive and harmful to the environment but, recently, Australia announced a new catalyst process capable of quickly and economically converting sodium metaborate into sodium borohydride—an element necessary for the transformation of hydrogen-, as confirmed by the specialized media Surtidores.
An opportunity for Uruguay?
The truth is Ancap have the white hydrogen within its menu of possibilities Alternative fuels for a long time. But green hydrogen was always presented as a closer and more plausible alternative for the country’s tools and its availability of resources.
However, recent discoveries in Australia are good news for the development of this other clean fuel in Uruguay. This is because, with the new catalyst that the startup will use Kotai Energy In that country, the cost of extracting and transporting white hydrogen could be up to 20 times lower than today.
Furthermore, this process is not only more economic but, furthermore, it is more efficient since while one ton of ammonia offers 178 kg of hydrogen, one ton of sodium borohydride plus water produces 213 kg of hydrogen.
But, furthermore, the discovery of white hydrogen in Australia brings another good news for Uruguay: since both countries are in close parallel, the soil conditions They may be similar—just as happened with the discovery of oil off the coast of Namibia-, Therefore, the Uruguayan territory could have its own raw material for this renewable fuel alternative.
Source: Ambito
