TEHRAN - Head of National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) Jalil Salari said the country’s oil refineries produce 300 million cubic feet (mcf) of hydrogen every day which is consumed inside the country, Shana reported.

Stressing the need for using more clean fuels in the country, Salari said: “The introduction of hydrogen into the country's fuel basket depends on the pricing of energy carriers and the competition it can have as a green and clean fuel in the fuel basket.”

Emphasizing that the highest production of hydrogen in the country is carried out by the NIORDC, Salari added: “Hydrogen production is expensive considering the available resources. However, it can have a place in the country's fuel basket, provided that we have a long-term look at energy carriers.”

“In order for Hydrogen to be included in the fuel basket, the production sources, consumption method, and consumption amount must be specified,” he noted.

Hydrogen can be deployed as a fuel in two distinct ways: in fuel cells which produce electricity, and via combustion to generate heat. When hydrogen is consumed in fuel cells, the only emission at the point of use is water vapor. Combustion of hydrogen can lead to the thermal formation of harmful nitrogen oxide emissions.

In the context of limiting global warming, low-carbon hydrogen (particularly green hydrogen) is likely to play an important role in decarbonizing industry. Hydrogen fuel can produce the intense heat required for industrial production of steel, cement, glass, and chemicals, thus contributing to the decarburization of industry alongside other technologies, such as electric arc furnaces for steelmaking

EF/MA