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About this Training Course
This 4-day course is intended for those seeking a comprehensive explanation of the key factors which will determine the viability and business case for green hydrogen and ‘power-to-fuel’ (PtX) projects: i.e. hydrogen production by electrolysis using renewable power, plus derivatives from this, including ammonia, methanol and e-fuels.
The course content has been developed to provide a clearly explained, business-focused and independent perspective on such projects. It will provide explanations of key technologies and components, doing so in a manner which is easily accessible and relevant to non-technical job functions, including a variety of commercial and business-focused roles.
Furthermore, the course will integrate this knowledge with consideration of practical deployment, financial and market demand factors; all of which must come together to create a viable business case.
It will thus give technology, product or project developers a much more rounded and market-focused context in which to understand and develop their products; or finance and policy-focused attendees a good understanding of where key project risks lie.
Q1: What is green hydrogen and why is it important?
Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced via electrolysis using renewable electricity such as wind or solar. Unlike grey hydrogen (from natural gas) or blue hydrogen (with carbon capture), green hydrogen is near-zero carbon and a key enabler of global decarbonization. It supports sectors that are hard to electrify, such as steelmaking, shipping, and aviation. Its importance lies in reducing fossil fuel dependence, enabling large-scale energy storage, and producing clean fuels and chemicals through Power-to-X (PtX) processes.
Q2: What is Power-to-X (PtX) and how does it work?
Power-to-X (PtX) refers to technologies that convert renewable electricity into fuels, chemicals, or other energy carriers. The first step is producing green hydrogen via electrolysis, which is then used to create products such as green ammonia (via Haber-Bosch), green methanol, synthetic methane, or e-fuels like sustainable aviation fuel. PtX plays a critical role in decarbonizing heavy industry and transport while providing seasonal energy storage solutions.
Q3: How is the cost of green hydrogen calculated?
The main metric is Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH), which includes electrolyzer capex, balance-of-plant costs, electricity prices, operating costs, and utilization rates. Sensitivity analysis is used to see how factors such as power price, capacity factor, or electrolyzer efficiency affect costs. Co-product revenues (e.g., oxygen, heat) can help offset costs. Forecasts expect LCOH to fall with cheaper renewable power, larger-scale electrolysis, and technology learning curves.
Q4: What are the main challenges in scaling green hydrogen and PtX projects?
Key challenges include high upfront capital costs, renewable power availability and variability, water sourcing, infrastructure for storage and transport, and downstream demand readiness. Policy uncertainty and the lack of globally harmonized certification schemes also affect investor confidence. Successful projects integrate power purchase agreements (PPAs), offtake contracts, and storage solutions to manage risk and improve bankability.
Q5: How do renewable energy and storage affect project economics?
Renewable power is the single largest cost driver for green hydrogen projects. Variability in solar or wind output affects electrolyzer utilization, which impacts LCOH. Developers model trade-offs between oversizing renewable capacity, flexible electrolyzer operation, and integrating electricity or hydrogen storage. The choice between storing power before electrolysis or storing hydrogen afterward depends on project economics, grid access, and downstream customer requirements.
Q6: What trends and policies are shaping the future of green hydrogen and PtX?
Key trends include falling electrolyzer costs, growth of corporate PPAs for hydrogen, hybrid projects combining multiple renewable sources, and development of global hydrogen trade corridors. Policies such as the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits, EU hydrogen auctions, and schemes like H2Global are accelerating deployment. Certification standards and guarantees of origin will be crucial for market transparency and international trade.