Part 7/11:
Hydrogen is not without its challenges. Traditionally, hydrogen production has been carbon-intensive, with "grey" hydrogen responsible for 95% of consumption. ECL is betting on "blue" hydrogen—produced with some carbon capture—as a more acceptable alternative, with aspirations toward future green hydrogen production, albeit at higher costs.
In Texas, ECL's plans for a 1-gigawatt facility that will harness the power of hydrogen pipelines could represent the future of clean energy supply to data centers. With costs already down to $0.06 per kilowatt-hour, the competitive potential of hydrogen alongside traditional sources of power is becoming increasingly attractive.