A schism is emerging in the clean hydrogen sector, pitting natural “white hydrogen” proponents against advocates of electrolyzer-based “green hydrogen” in a battle over cost, scalability and climate impact.
Head-to-Head Comparison:
| Metric | White Hydrogen (Natural) | Green Hydrogen (Electrolyzed) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost/kg | 0.50−0.50−1.20 | 4.50−4.50−7.80 |
| Purity | 85-99% | 99.999% |
| Carbon Intensity | 0.3kg CO₂ e/kg | 0kg (with renewables) |
| Scalability | Geologically constrained | Unlimited (with clean power) |
Industry Alliances:
- White H₂: Oil majors, miners, startups (Koloma, HyTerra)
- Green H₂: Siemens Energy, Plug Power, renewable utilities
Policy Battles:
- EU’s “Additionality Clause” may exclude natural hydrogen
- US Inflation Reduction Act credits both but favors green
- China betting big on white hydrogen for steel/chemicals
Scientific Debate:
Stanford researchers warn natural hydrogen leaks could negate climate benefits, while MIT studies show 400x lower emissions than blue hydrogen.
