Hydrogen: tomorrow's fuel?

In a world plagued by climate change, the energy transition is vital and must take place quickly. Among the green energies, hydrogen is of growing interest to Germany, and indeed to the European Union in general. The advantage is that this compound is present everywhere, and "easy" to recover through sources such as solar and wind power.

However, the enthusiasm for hydrogen as the new oil is being questioned by some. In many cases, the use of solutions such as geothermal or solar energy would be more efficient and less costly than hydrogen. On the other hand, for heavy industry and transport, hydrogen would indeed be an interesting option. Provided that solutions can be found to reduce storage costs and risks. Some companies are thinking of liquids that could be transported by the same means as oil or gas.

The other issue is production. Companies in the Maghreb and Middle East see immense potential for the hydrogen industry. In Morocco, a vast solar panel factory has been set up and is ready for export. However, as some have pointed out, this economic attitude is almost a throwback to colonial times. European countries take advantage of Africa as a place of exploitation without thinking about the repercussions. For example, the Moroccan power plant has forced hundreds of inhabitants, farmers and pastoralists into exile, and the need to cool the hydrogen has led to the detour of part of the water from a nearby dam, a rare source of drinking water used by many communities. In short, the hydrogen industry could help to reduce the ecological footprint, but it must not copy the oil industry.

Running time: 26min11

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