Accusations of greenwashing could confound Europe's net zero plans

Converting natural gas to clean hydrogen is a good idea in principle but, at present, the process is bedevilled by inefficiency

Inefficiency remains a challenge for ‘clean hydrogen’ producers: By the time the gas is made, stored, and burned to make electricity again, there’s nearly 70% less energy than at the start — and the cost has tripled. Stock picture

European utilities are pushing to build power plants that would burn natural gas now and then be switched to burn clean hydrogen down the road. However, the technology they’re depending on wastes energy and opens the door for accusations of greenwashing.

RWE, SSE, and Equinor say the swap will be easy once green hydrogen becomes plentiful and cheaper. The concept is so popular that Germany, Europe’s biggest energy user, is counting on the clean fuel to help it achieve 100% renewable-power production by 2035.