THE HYDROGEN CIRCULAR ECONOMY: ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ADVANCED HYDROGEN INDUSTRY TOWARD VIETNAM NET ZERO 2050

Abstract

In recent years, the development of hydrogen as a new reliable energy source has become a trend and caught lots of attention from all over the world. Hydrogen is a fundamental element that can be produced via different processes, which can be classified into three main groups: green processes (electrolysis), carbon-treated processes (thermoconversion processes), and traditional processes (reforming processes). Hydrogen products were identified using their specific color such as green, blue, and brown hydrogen… Clean hydrogen (blue and green hydrogen) possesses strong energy density, is a renewable energy source, is produced without emissions, and possesses high economic value. However, the sufficient solution to produce hydrogen on a large-scale level must be done based on a well-prepared hydrogen economy; this hydrogen economy must be directed towards the goal of a circular economy model, using green energy, and following the route of carbon-neutral industries or other production activities. In that manner, the hydrogen industry development roadmap must combine the advantages of geographical conditions, appropriate technologies, and compliance with the support policies of each country and region. Building a hydrogen economy is specific to its intended use, needs to be built on a scale from small to large, and deployed based on an economic model that can promote the advantages in the production process, create a flexible mechanism in the product storage and distribution process, and finally create convenience in replicating the production model that may easily bring products to end users. Recognizing all those concerns, the concept of the circular hydrogen economy was born and is predicted to be the dominant model in the hydrogen industry worldwide. Clarifying the role of the circular economy in the establishment of a circular hydrogen economy model plays a key role in this research; Accordingly, the advantages and disadvantages of the circular economy are also analyzed and presented, through the comparison and conclusion obtained from case studies conducted in other countries.