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The Precourt Institute for Energy is now part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

Hydrogen

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About 95 percent of commercial hydrogen is produced by steam reforming of natural gas and other hydrocarbons. Production of this grey hydrogen results in much CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere. At the opposite end of the of hydrogen’s sustainability spectrum is blue hydrogen, which is produced by electrolysis of water using only wind, solar or hydroelectric power. In between is blue hydrogen, in which emissions from grey hydrogen are captured and either sequestered or converted into useful chemicals. Other methods include pyrolysis of fossil fuels, and electrolysis of water using grid electricity or from a nuclear power plant. The sustainable production, storage and transport of hydrogen is a major focus at Stanford, as is analysis of the potential for a hydrogen economy.