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An ACT Expo panel discusses hydrogen. “We need to move away from this obsession with blue, green and gray,” said Abhinav Kumar, project manager for Linde Engineering, discussing hydrogen's colors. (TRC Companies)

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ANAHEIM, Calif. — Hydrogen is typically categorized by colors meant to indicate its emissions, but speakers at ACT Expo said getting too hung up on color could hinder the production and adoption of hydrogen-powered equipment.

“We need to move away from this obsession with blue, green and gray,” said Abhinav Kumar, project manager for Linde Engineering. “I think we need to be color agnostic, especially with medium-duty and heavy-duty transportation.”

Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis using renewable energy sources, while blue hydrogen is derived from natural gas and uses carbon capture technology to prevent CO2 emissions. Gray hydrogen is sourced from natural gas without carbon capture. Other colors, including turquoise and yellow, are used to describe different sources and methods.

“If you’re living in an industrialized area, do you care if it is decarbonized 80% or 90%? Green is the holy grail. It will be available down the road, but don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good,” said Sarah Farnand, manager of hydrogen for mobility business development for Air Products.

Air Products has all colors of hydrogen available. “We have blue hydrogen facilities under construction in Edmonton, [Alberta], and in Louisiana. We have the world’s largest green hydrogen production facility under construction in Saudi Arabia and one in Arizona,” Farnand said. “Let’s pause for a second to think about what we are trying to accomplish. We’re trying to accomplish cleaner air.”

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Air Products has all colors of hydrogen fuel available. (Air Products)

Greg Heller, sales manager for Total Hydrogen Solutions, said there has been an extra magnifying glass on hydrogen and its carbon intensity. “I haven’t seen a charger that is purely connected to solar and wind. Then came along the colors and the different pillars,” he said. “We’re looking for the perfect instead of what we can do right now.”

Robert Wegeng, president and chief technology officer of Stars Technology Corp., said different people have different interpretations of what the colors mean, further complicating the issue.

Right now, Kumar believes producers should do whatever they can to get hydrogen production up and running. “Build these options where fleets can feel rewarded rather than punished for being early adopters,” he said.

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