The Quebec government is investing $3M in a green hydrogen train pilot project between Quebec and Baie-Saint-Paul .
Produced from hydrocarbon or water and electricity, hydrogen is a fuel source proposed as a replacement for fossil fuels.
Its combustion emits only water, contains up to three times more energy than our conventional fuels, and when produced using renewable electricity, hydrogen is characterized as "green" .
With its renewable and inexpensive electricity, Quebec is therefore particularly well positioned to encourage the development of this technology.
On the other hand, with a green hydrogen automobile, a lot of electricity is wasted in the various processes associated with its production.
Hydrogen is therefore not ideal for the total replacement of electric vehicles, but, with its energy density, can be particularly practical for certain projects, such as for the train line in Quebec, where the electrification of the tracks is not not considered optimal .
Although green hydrogen is a potential zero-emissions fuel candidate, its production costs and efficiency do not yet make it viable. In fact, for every 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) produced in a hydroelectric dam, only 0.3 kWh is transmitted to the wheels of a hydrogen automobile, compared to 0.76 kWh for an electric automobile. Its economic potential therefore relies on technological advances making its use and production more efficient, and in zero-emission projects requiring high-density fuels and minimal infrastructure.
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