vesivetykäyttöön

Vesivetykäyttöön, meaning "for water hydrogen use" in Finnish, refers to applications and technologies focused on utilizing hydrogen produced from water as an energy source or raw material. This concept is closely tied to the broader field of the hydrogen economy, which aims to transition towards a more sustainable energy system based on hydrogen.

The primary method for producing hydrogen from water is electrolysis, a process that uses electricity to split water molecules (H2O) into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2). When the electricity used for electrolysis comes from renewable sources like solar or wind power, the resulting hydrogen is termed "green hydrogen." This green hydrogen is considered a clean fuel because its production and use do not generate greenhouse gas emissions.

Vesivetykäyttöön encompasses various potential applications. These include using hydrogen as a fuel for transportation, particularly in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), which emit only water vapor as a byproduct. It can also be used for stationary power generation, to store excess renewable energy, and as a feedstock in industrial processes such as ammonia production or refining.

Challenges in widespread vesivetykäyttöön include the cost of electrolysis, the need for significant infrastructure development for hydrogen storage and transportation, and ensuring the efficiency and scalability of production methods. Research and development efforts are ongoing to overcome these hurdles and make water-derived hydrogen a viable and widespread energy solution. The goal is to leverage water's abundance as a source for a clean and sustainable energy carrier.