Season 2 Episode 4 – Julio Dal Poz – Edited Transcript
Conversations on Climate Podcast Season 2 Episode 4: Creating a Viable Hydrogen Economy with Julio Dal Poz – Edited Transcript
Chris: Welcome to Season 2 of Conversations on Climate, a podcast series developed in partnership with the London Business School’s Energy Club. I’ve been leading a series of conversations with global experts, exploring the critical challenge of our time: climate change.
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Today, we’re speaking with Julio Dal Poz about hydrogen. Julio, could you give us a bit of background on your interest in hydrogen?
Julio Dal Poz: Sure. I began working with hydrogen projects as a senior advisor on the corporate strategy team at Techno while I was with Equinox. Equinox is an interesting case of why energy companies are looking into hydrogen. Norway, for instance, is a major gas exporter to Europe, especially the UK. As European countries aim to decarbonize their energy mix, the demand for natural gas is expected to decline. This led us to consider hydrogen seriously, transforming natural gas production into blue hydrogen production, combining carbon capture and storage with hydrogen to decarbonize natural gas and sell hydrogen as an energy source.
I worked on strategies for Equinox’s role in this space, building a hydrogen business. Currently, there’s no commodities market for hydrogen, so no set price. But to produce it at scale, a market needs to be created. We considered our role in this market and how to meet the needs of major hydrogen consumers, creating a transition plan towards green hydrogen.
Chris: How is hydrogen traditionally produced?
Julio: Traditionally, it’s a byproduct of the oil and gas refining process. It’s used as a catalyst in various industrial processes. When burned, hydrogen generates energy and water, making it an attractive clean energy source. However, producing hydrogen involves challenges. It can be generated by reforming natural gas, separating CO2 and hydrogen. This requires carbon capture and storage to address emissions. This method, known as blue hydrogen, is transitional, moving towards green hydrogen produced through electrolysis, separating water into oxygen and hydrogen using electricity. The cost of electrolyzers and the electricity used are significant factors in hydrogen production costs.
Chris: Where do you see the future of hydrogen?
Julio: Hydrogen will initially play a significant role in decarbonizing large industrial clusters, like the Humber region in the UK. It can replace natural gas in electricity generation and decarbonize industries like steel production. Residential heating with hydrogen seems more challenging; electrifying heating systems might be more efficient. In transportation, hydrogen could be used in fixed-route services like ferries or to replace heavy fuels in shipping. However, widespread use in light-duty vehicles poses challenges due to the need for extensive fueling infrastructure.
Chris: Thank you, Julio, for your insights and time.
Closing Remarks: Thank you for joining us in this conversation. We hope you found it informative. If you enjoyed it, please leave a five-star review and subscribe to our channels. Stay tuned for future productions. This series is produced by United Renewables in collaboration with the London Business School Alumni Energy Club.
To watch the full conversation with Julio Dal Poz go to our podcast page
To listen to the podcast on the go, go to our Talk Climate Channel on Podbean
To find out more about United Renewables and what we do visit our ‘About Us’ page.
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