Consider the following heavy industries : 1. Fertilizer plants 2. Oil refineries 3. Steel plants Green hydrogen is expected to play a significant role in decarbonizing how many of the above industries?

1. A. Only one
2. B. Only two
3. C. All three
4. D. None

Answer: C

Explanation

Green hydrogen, produced through electrolysis using renewable energy, is considered a crucial element for decarbonizing ‘hard-to-abate’ heavy industries that are difficult to electrify directly:
1. Fertilizer plants: The production of ammonia, a key component in fertilizers, currently relies heavily on hydrogen derived from fossil fuels (grey hydrogen). Replacing this with green hydrogen is a major pathway to decarbonize the fertilizer industry.
2. Oil refineries: Refineries use substantial amounts of hydrogen for various processes like hydrocracking and hydrotreating. Substituting fossil-fuel-derived hydrogen with green hydrogen is essential for reducing the carbon footprint of oil refining.
3. Steel plants: Traditional steelmaking is highly energy-intensive and carbon-emitting. Green hydrogen can be used as a reducing agent in direct reduced iron (DRI) processes, enabling the production of ‘green steel’ with significantly lower emissions.
Therefore, green hydrogen is expected to play a significant role in decarbonizing all three listed industries. This question assesses knowledge of emerging clean energy technologies and their application in industrial decarbonization strategies.