Will hydrogen revolutionise Polish agriculture?

Agriculture, in particular livestock farming, makes a major contribution to this. During the Central European Hydrogen Technology Forum, experts from Podlasie region discussed the growing role of hydrogen technology in agriculture. Among other things, they wondered how the decarbonisation of Polish agriculture can be achieved with the help of renewable energy sources and whether this is possible at all.

- As far as carbon dioxide emissions are concerned, they are not yet so high and can be reduced by simple and acceptable means, e.g. the new CAP perspective and eco-schemes, there is a way to encourage farmers - also financially - to use low-emission technologies, especially in agrotechnics and cultivation - explained Wojciech Mojkowski, Director of Podlasie Agricultural Advisory Centre in Szepietowo. - I think that we are a bit too schematic in our approach to animals. Cattle emit differently in a meadow and in dairy processing plants. This is multiplied by different coefficients. Nevertheless, the problem will exist. In Wielkopolska it is easier to take joint initiatives. On the national scale it may be a problem - he added.

As we know, Poland is one of the largest food producers in Europe, but it does not fully use its energy potential. Agricultural biogas plants seem to be a good solution here, but we have few of them compared to other countries. We do not have biomethane plants at all. Moreover, not all farmers are convinced of such innovative projects.

German scientists have shown that European fertiliser manufacturers can contribute to a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions if they use new hydrogen technologies for this purpose. It concerns the production of ammonia. Production can be adjusted to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by almost 19% by 2030 compared to current levels. The Frankfurt-based Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (Dechema) has carried out a study on behalf of the European umbrella association Fertilizers Europe that proves this.

Hydrogen is needed to produce ammonia, but so far it has been obtained conventionally, i.e. by processing fossil raw materials such as coal.

This results in very high carbon dioxide emissions, which have a negative impact on the environment. Researchers analysing this phenomenon have shown that if, during the production of hydrogen, carbon dioxide were captured and stored by means of so-called 'carbon capture and storage' (CCS), emissions would fall significantly.

In addition, it turns out that such 'blue hydrogen' represents a considerable saving. On an annual basis, it can amount to up to 3,000 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide emissions less. An even greater reduction in emissions is possible by partially replacing such hydrogen with green or yellow hydrogen produced on site. The former is obtained by electrolysis of water using green electricity, and if ordinary electricity is used, yellow hydrogen is obtained.

Turquoise hydrogen was also considered, which in turn is produced by methane pyrolysis. The engineers of the German Dechema assumed that by 2030 the production of ammonia by conventional methods and using "blue hydrogen" would be about the same. On the other hand, the use of yellow and green hydrogen produced on site, as well as green and turquoise pipeline hydrogen, is likely to result in significantly higher production costs.