#  Dr. Gabriël Clemens on how hydrogen is driving forward the energy transition 

 





October 01, 2024

 

 

   
As scientists continue to explore the potential use of green hydrogen—a zero-carbon energy carrier and chemical feedstock that can be used to replace fossil fuels in “hard-to-abate” industries, transportation, and other sectors, the Harvard-China Project welcomed **Dr.** **Gabriël Clemens** for a seminar on “[Opportunities and Challenges of the Hydrogen Energy Transition – A Private Sector Perspective](https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__harvard.us15.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D4af236efd32ea98da2e8552f3-26id-3Dbf3ebe1d88-26e-3D77fa2b04ab&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=7RTg8Z6UnZwaWWImjic98P5ziI7-rnQHhkmGzZCsAGo&m=68vfezW4QEO4yVKq7MOMU5CqX8Ky9NFtmw6mC11bse39GwTqCf_JYoI8jImKdwsZ&s=e82dEOT0nnCiU1BKRckkEQJK4zGfU_iJiVYW-qfbWMs&e=).” As CEO of Green Gas E.ON and Managing Director of E.ON Hydrogen GmbH, Dr. Clemens and Germany-based E.ON play a leading industry role in how hydrogen is driving forward the energy transition, especially in Europe.

   ![Clemens Talk](/sites/g/files/omnuum3496/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/chinaproject/files/tempimagecorrip.gif?itok=hMErXKV1) 

 

 His Research Seminar, which attracted a standing-room-only crowd, began with an introduction by **Dr. Nicola De Blasio**, Associate of the Harvard-China Project (SEAS) and ENRP/STPP programs (HKS). Dr. Clemens described the production paths of the “rainbow” of hydrogen forms, ranging from “black” and “grey” (produced from coal and gas) to low-carbon “green” and “pink” (produced electrolytically from renewable or nuclear power). He also explored hydrogen’s vast potential in sectors such as industry, transportation, buildings, and power generation.

   ![Crowd - Clemens](/sites/g/files/omnuum3496/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/chinaproject/files/tempimageoujk82.gif?itok=Kc-XClPa) 

 

 “It is not only about the transition of the grid and its energy systems; we also need to think about what happens *behind* these systems,” he explained as he addressed key market obstacles to clean hydrogen adoption. Recently, overly ambitious policies may impede, rather than speed, the scaling up of green hydrogen production and use. For example, new European regulations require that by 2030, green hydrogen must be produced from renewable power generated within the same hour or stored in new, co-located facilities.

##  "It is not only about the transition of the grid and its energy systems; we also need to think about what happens *behind* these systems."

 Additionally, the need for physical infrastructure to connect supply and demand presents a “chicken-and-egg” dilemma: no one will invest in sufficient infrastructure without a big enough market, but the clean hydrogen market requires supporting infrastructure to develop. Although a 100% green hydrogen system is the “ultimate goal,” Dr. Clemens suggested that partial reliance on “blue” hydrogen—produced from fossil fuels but combined with carbon capture, which large oil and gas companies can produce—will likely be needed in the interim to build scale in both markets and infrastructure for clean hydrogen.

   ![Clemens, Nielsen, De Blasio](/sites/g/files/omnuum3496/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/chinaproject/files/img_4271_copy.jpg?itok=FU-gJhs_) 

 

######  *Image, left to right: Chris Nielsen, Executive Director of the Harvard-China Project; Dr. Clemens; Dr. Nicola De Blasio, Associate of the Harvard-China Project and HKS.* 

 Dr. Clemens also shared insights into E.ON's strategy for serving the hydrogen market, describing a model that E.ON has developed to estimate hydrogen demand and identify supply options. He noted that Germany’s growing demand, coupled with a domestic supply shortfall, necessitates clean hydrogen imports. It is mainly shipped as green or blue hydrogen-derived ammonia (NH3), which while toxic is easier and cheaper to transport and can be “cracked” back into hydrogen for end use. Concluding his talk, Dr. Clemens discussed the hydrogen production and export prospects of countries or regions such as Norway, North Africa, the U.S., India, and Namibia, emphasizing their potential to contribute to global decarbonization efforts.

 *By Kellie Nault, Harvard-China Project Communications Manager*

 [Explore the Harvard-China Project's work on Energy Systems](/renewable-electric-power-and-grid-integration)



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ News ](/news-type/news)
- [ Climate Change & Air Pollution ](/research-area/air-pollution-greenhouse-gases-climate)
- [ Energy Systems ](/research-area/energy-grid)
- [ Transportation & Urban Planning ](/research-area/transportation-urban-environment)
- [ Economy and Policy ](/research-area/economy)
 
 

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