Q59. 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?

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.