H2O molecule

As with Covid-19, also for climate change, what cannot be seen and grasped is something unknown and unknown that easily leads many to deny the problem and postpone the times to face it. The Legambiente City Climate Observatory reports that in the last 10 years 500 municipalities have been affected by intense events, 400 disastrous floods. Those who want to see the evidence are interested in a participatory and proactive definition of how to identify priorities and ideas capable of combining defense and respect for nature, even with technological and economic innovation.

Today hydrogen is the most present element on earth and in the universe - unlimited, clean, storable and transportable - which can contribute to a new phase, like a traditional fuel, usable in a way decentralized, where and when it is needed.
The process of decarbonization is a long road that is underway. Alongside planting trees (the Davos 2020 Economic Forum has launched a plan for a trillion trees) and other solutions to be implemented immediately, it is possible to think about hydrogen, an energy source that many consider the "internet" of energy, for the possibility of creating local and proximity networks
Compared to the past, it can be thought of as a lever of a revised energy system, which solves, for example, the problems of the most widely used renewable sources today. In short, look at everything from new points of view.
With the Recovery Fund, are we thinking of infrastructures and investments capable of creating jobs, new jobs, new consumption with a multiplier effect and capable of responding to environmental sustainability at the same time, of designing a future of environment and economic growth?

Could hydrogen, the new petroleum, give part of the answer? Instead of taking sides, you have to analyze the pros (some mentioned above) and the cons. If in the end the pros prevail, not only states and companies are given an indication, but also hope for young people to choose useful actions in the next 10 years.
Currently hydrogen (world market of 100 billion dollars, half of the gold market) is produced - it takes energy - almost entirely from fossil fuels. Green hydrogen, on the other hand, can be produced by solar and wind power plants with electrolysis. Hydrogen can be transported through existing pipelines such as gas pipelines (where hydrogen can be mixed with methane) or in tanks.

Storage is easy (while it is difficult as we know how to store electricity) even with particular methods (eg salt cavities). The application of innovations such as those mentioned, and an increase in volumes, would quickly lead to a reduction in costs, in order to make it competitive. Widespread use improves the quality of the air. It has safety aspects like fossil fuels, but it disperses quickly because it is 16 times lighter than air. There are probably also well-founded criticisms, to be examined. Germany, Holland, United Kingdom, Japan are betting on it with adequate investments. Is our country thinking about it?
"Hydrogen is not a magic potion, but it can make the transition from fossil sources very feasible" (M. Alverà).

Carlo Degiacomi
NP November 2020