Hydrogen on board

Before stepping aboard our multihulls, let’s first take a look at what’s happening ashore. While many major industrial players are turning to hydrogen production, it’s not just to make electric mobility viable and meet ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets. It’s also to support and optimize the development of green energy production - particularly solar and wind-generated power. With respective increases of 24% and 17% in electricity production in 2023, these two energy sources now account for almost 15% of the global mix. One of the forthcoming challenges is to manage production levels, which are bound to fluctuate: surplus electricity not consumed directly could be used to produce hydrogen by electrolysis. This will make it possible to store clean energy rather than waste it.

The different ways of producing hydrogen

Hydrogen atoms (H) form a very light gas, with the chemical formula H2. Highly flammable, it is odorless, colorless, non-toxic and non-corrosive. In its natural state, it is generally combined with other atoms: in particular, it is found in water (H2O), petroleum (HC hydrocarbons) and natural gas (CH4 composition). Chemical processes are used to separate hydrogen from the elements with which it is associated.

These different methods are distinguished by color codes - which still vary from country to country, pending global consensus.
- Green hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water using electricity generated solely from renewable energies.
- Gray hydrogen is produced by thermochemical processes using fossil fuels (coal or natural gas) as raw materials.
- Blue hydrogen is produced in the same way as grey hydrogen, except that the CO_² emitted during manufacture is captured for reuse or is stored.
- Yellow hydrogen, more specific to France, is produced by electrolysis like green hydrogen, but the electricity comes mainly from nuclear power.

Worldwide hydrogen consumption today stands at around 100 million metric tons, representing less than 2% of global energy consumption. Hydrogen is considered an “energy carrier” because, once produced, it can be stored, transported and used. The energy contained in this gas can be recovered in two ways: by burning it or using a fuel cell. It is also used as an input in certain industrial processes. Thanks to the advent of new technologies (in particular hydrogen fuel cells), hydrogen offers a wide range of uses, from energy storage to providing power for buildings and vehicles.

A bet that’s far from being won in advance

Today, 95% of hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal). This is the least expensive solution. Water electrolysis currently accounts for just 4% of hydrogen production, and less than 1% is produced from green electricity (solar, wind and tidal power), which emits very little CO2. The result is a virtuous cycle that uses oil only in the materials that make up the equipment itself. An installation such as a solar farm or electrolysis mill ...