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Both pink and blue have been used to differentiate between different methods of hydrogen production.

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From Tesla’s Elon Musk to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the past few years have seen many high-profile names talk about the role hydrogen may — or may not — play in the planet’s shift to a more sustainable future.

Musk has expressed skepticism about hydrogen’s usefulness, but many think it could help to slash emissions in a number of sectors, including transportation and heavy industry.   

While there’s a major buzz about hydrogen and its importance as a tool in securing a low-carbon future — a topic that’s generated a lot of debate in recent months — the vast majority of its production is still based on fossil fuels.

Indeed, according to a Sept. 2022 tracking report from the International Energy Agency, low-emission hydrogen production in 2021 accounted for less than 1% of global hydrogen production.

If it’s to have any role in the planned energy transition, then hydrogen generation needs to change in a pretty big way.   

Read more about energy from CNBC Pro

“The first thing to say is that hydrogen doesn’t really exist naturally, so it has to be produced,” said Rachael Rothman, co-director of the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures at the University of Sheffield.

“It has a lot of potential to help us decarbonize going forwards, but we need to find low-carbon ways of producing it in the first place,” she said, adding that different methods of production had been “denoted different colors.”

“About 95% of our hydrogen today comes from steam methane reforming and has a large associated carbon footprint, and that’s what’s called ‘grey’ hydrogen,” Rothman told CNBC.

Grey hydrogen is, according to energy firm National Grid, “created from natural gas, or methane.” It says that the greenhouse gases associated with the process are not captured, hence the carbon footprint that Rothman refers to.

The dominance of such a method is clearly at odds with net-zero goals. As a result, an array of sources, systems and colors of hydrogen are now being put forward as alternatives.

These include green hydrogen, which refers to hydrogen produced using renewables and electrolysis, with an electric current splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen.

Blue hydrogen, on the other hand, indicates the use of natural gas — a fossil fuel — and carbon capture utilization and storage. There has been a charged debate around the role blue hydrogen could play in the decarbonization of society.

Pink potential

Alongside blue and green, another color attracting attention is pink. Like green hydrogen, its process incorporates electrolysis, but there’s a key difference: pink uses nuclear.

“If you split … water, you get hydrogen and oxygen,” Rothman said. “But splitting water takes energy, so what pink hydrogen is about is splitting water using energy that has come from nuclear.”

This means that “the whole system is low carbon, because … there’s no carbon in water … but also the energy source is also very low carbon because it’s nuclear.”

Alongside electrolysis, Rothman noted that nuclear could also be used with something called a thermochemical cycle.

This, she explained, harnessed very high temperatures to split water into oxygen and hydrogen. 

Green hydrogen could help us cut our carbon footprint, if it overcomes some big hurdles

Pink hydrogen already has some potentially significant backers. These include EDF Energy, which has floated the idea of producing hydrogen at Sizewell C, a 3.2-gigawatt nuclear power station planned for the U.K.

“At Sizewell C, we are exploring how we can produce and use hydrogen in several ways,” the firm’s website says. “Firstly, it could help lower emissions during construction of the power station.”

“Secondly, once Sizewell C is operational, we hope to use some of the heat it generates (alongside electricity) to make hydrogen more efficiently,” it adds.

EDF Energy, which is part of the multinational EDF Group, said in a statement sent to CNBC: “Hydrogen produced from nuclear power can play a substantial role in the energy transition.”

The company also acknowledged there were challenges facing the sector and its development.

“Hydrogen is currently a relatively expensive fuel and so the key challenge for low carbon electrolytic hydrogen, whether produced from renewable or nuclear energy, is to bring down the costs of production,” it said.

This needed “supportive policies which encourage investment in early hydrogen production projects and encourage users to switch from fossil fuels to low carbon hydrogen.”

“Growing the market for low carbon hydrogen will deliver the economies of scale and “learning by doing” which will help to reduce the costs of production.”

While there is excitement about the role nuclear could play in hydrogen production and the wider energy transition — the IEA, for example, says nuclear power has “significant potential to contribute to power sector decarbonisation” — it goes without saying that it’s not favored by all.

Critics include Greenpeace. “Nuclear power is touted as a solution to our energy problems, but in reality it’s complex and hugely expensive to build,” the environmental organization says. “It also creates huge amounts of hazardous waste.”

A multi-colored future?

During her interview with CNBC, the University of Sheffield’s Rothman spoke about the bigger picture and the role different types of hydrogen might play. Could we ever see a time when the level of blue and grey hydrogen drops to zero?

“It depends how long a timeframe you’re looking at,” she said, adding that “in an ideal world, they will eventually drop very low.”

“Ultimately, we ideally get rid of all of our grey hydrogen, because grey hydrogen has a large carbon footprint and we need to get rid of it,” Rothman said.

“As we improve carbon capture and storage, there may be a space for blue hydrogen and that’s yet to be evaluated, depending on the … developments there.”

“The pink and green we know there has to be a space for because that’s where you really get the low carbon [hydrogen], and we know it should be, it’s possible to get there.”

Fiona Rayment, chief scientist at the UK National Nuclear Laboratory — which, like EDF Energy, is a member of trade association Hydrogen UK — pressed home the importance of having a range of options available in the years ahead.

“The challenge of net zero cannot be underestimated; we will need to embrace all sources of low carbon hydrogen generation to replace our reliance on fossil fuels,” she told CNBC.

CEO on what's needed for the emerging green hydrogen sector

While there has been a lot of talk about using colors to differentiate the various methods of hydrogen production, there is also a lively discussion about whether such a classification system should even exist at all.

“What we want is low carbon hydrogen,” Rothman said. “And I know there is a lot of confusion about the various colors, and I’ve heard some people say … ‘why do we even have the colors, why do we not just have hydrogen and low carbon hydrogen?'”

“And ultimately, it’s the low carbon bit that’s important, and both pink and green would do that.”

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Tesla owners get creative to distance themselves from Elon with new car logos & projectors

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March 3, 2025

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Tesla owners get creative to distance themselves from Elon with new car logos & projectors

Tesla owners are finding creative ways to distance themselves from Elon Musk. They are now removing Tesla logos from their vehicles, replacing them with badging from other automakers, and even using projections on a Cybertruck in one case.

We previously reported on the surge in sales of stickers reading variations of “I bought this car before I knew Elon was crazy.” One particular business selling such stickers claimed to be selling hundreds per day as Tesla owners are looking to distance themselves from the automaker’s CEO.

Things have escalated since then, and the hate against Tesla has ramped up quite a bit. Some Tesla owners are even worried about people vandalizing their vehicles.

Now, some Tesla owners have found some more creative, tongue-in-cheek ways to distance their Tesla ownership from Elon Musk than slapping a sticker on their bumper.

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For example, Tesla vehicles are being spotted de-badged with the Tesla logos replaced with badges from other automakers (pictures via Stonk King):

It’s not exactly a new phenomenon, but lately, more of these Tesla vehicles with other automaker logos have been spotted.

But here’s an even more creative and clearer example of a Tesla owner trying to distance themselves from Musk.

A Tesla Cybertruck projecting images on its tailgate has been spotted several times in the last week:

It displays pleas not to graffiti the vehicle and adds things like “this truck already makes me look stupid enough.”

The short video is signed “Mussk production,” with the “ss” referencing the Schutzstaffel, a Nazi paramilitary group.

Electrek’s Take

Obviously, these are somewhat tongue-in-cheek examples, but between these, Tesla protests worldwide, and declining sales, it is genuinely mindboggling to see the destruction of Tesla’s brand in such a short period of time.

I have been covering Tesla for roughly 15 years and I remember when it was completely unknown brand, loved only by a handful of EV nerds, like myself, and hated by fossil fuel propagandists.

It took a great deal of work from Tesla employees and the EV community to build Tesla into an incredibly beloved global EV brand. A deep social media addiction, purchasing of Twitter, a move into politics, a few salutes, and now most of that incredible work is gone.

It takes years to build a reputation and seconds to destroy it.

If you are looking to install solar on your own home, to find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage. EnergySage is a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar – whether you’re a homeowner or renter. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20 to 30% compared to going it alone. Some installers even offer Tesla products as shown above. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and you share your phone number with them.

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Offshore wind roars back in 2025 with 19 GW of additions and China in the lead

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March 3, 2025

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Offshore wind roars back in 2025 with 19 GW of additions and China in the lead

offshore wind 2025
Photo Credit: Eric Haynes

Global offshore wind is gearing up for a comeback in 2025, with new capacity additions expected to hit 19 gigawatts (GW) and spending projected to soar to $80 billion, according to Oslo-based independent energy research firm Rystad Energy. That’s a big rebound after a sluggish end to 2024 when new installations dropped to around 8 GW – 2 GW lower than in 2023.

A record number of lease auctions is fueling the recovery. Mainland China, the world’s largest offshore wind market, is leading the charge, accounting for 65% of new capacity. That boost means 2025’s total additions will surpass the previous peak in 2021 by about 1 GW. For context, 2024 saw 7.7 GW added, 2023 hit 10.2 GW, and 2022 came in at 9.3 GW.

Floating wind, where turbines are installed on floating platforms instead of fixed foundations, has seen an uptick in project announcements. But supply chain issues, similar to those in bottom-fixed offshore wind farms, are slowing things down. Right now, floating wind is expected to stay below 7 GW of total capacity by 2030 unless governments step up support to help the sector scale.

Lease agreements, the long-term contracts between wind energy companies and landowners, are also facing some uncertainty. In 2024, a record-breaking 55 GW of offshore wind capacity (excluding mainland China) was up for grabs in lease auctions worldwide. But offered capacity doesn’t always translate into awarded capacity. Case in point: the US had zero bids for its 3 GW floating wind auction in Oregon, while the Gulf of Maine auction awarded about 7 GW of the 13 GW on the table.

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Looking ahead, lease auction openings are expected to dip in 2025, with around 30-40 GW likely to be available. That’s a drop from 2024’s record levels but still in line with what the industry saw in 2021 and 2022. While the offshore wind industry faces some hurdles, the momentum heading into 2025 suggests a sector gearing up for major growth – if it can navigate the challenges ahead.

“Global offshore wind is set for a robust year in 2025; however, certain signals could affect its smooth upward trajectory,” said Petra Manuel, senior offshore wind analyst at Rystad Energy.

“US federal policy is creating significant global ripple effects, hindering offshore wind development, especially where a large portion of auctioned capacity lies.

“President Donald Trump’s January memorandum halting new leasing and approvals on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), citing environmental and safety concerns, could last throughout his term, pausing new developments and creating continued uncertainty for ongoing projects.”

Read more: Europe’s wind power hits 20%, but 3 challenges stall progress

If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*

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EcoFlow Spring Sale takes 59% off power stations, Lectric XPedition 2.0 26Ah e-bike with $762 in free gear, Segway robots, more

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March 3, 2025

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EcoFlow Spring Sale takes 59% off power stations, Lectric XPedition 2.0 26Ah e-bike with 2 in free gear, Segway robots, more

Kicking off this week’s Green Deals are two big sales events from two of our favorite brands, with the first being EcoFlow’s Spring Sale that is seeing up to 59% being taken off power station units, like the DELTA 2 Portable Power Station that comes with two 100W solar panels and an 800W alternator charger for a new $854 low – as well as offering extra savings, free gear, and more. Right behind it is Lectric’s Spring Forward sale that has up to $762 in free gear accompanying e-bike purchases, with a fully-loaded package ($762 value) on the XPedition 2.0 26Ah Dual-Battery Cargo e-bike at $1,799, among others. We also spotted Segway’s Navimow H Series Robot Lawn Mowers getting $600 off once more and starting from their $1,299 low, as well as the return of Anker’s PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh Power Bank Station to $90, but this time without the limited Lightning deal stock. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals from last week are in the links at the bottom of the page, rounded up in our Electrified Weekly coverage from over the weekend.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

EcoFlow’s Spring Sale drops DELTA 2 bundle with two 100W panels and alternator charger to new $854 low

EcoFlow is helping folks prepare for their upcoming adventures by launching a Spring Sale through March 13 with up to 59% taken off power stations and accessory packages – plus, there are bonus savings and gifts too. One notable standout that falls well within affordable means is the DELTA 2 Portable Power Station that comes with two 100W solar panels and an 800W alternator charger for $854.05 shipped, after using the sitewide promo code 25SSAFF5 at checkout for an additional 5% off. Normally, this bundle would cost $1,997 at full price, with this particular combination of items not usually featured in sales. We have been seeing the power station alongside the alternator charger down at $899 recently, occasionally falling lower to $849. Considering the solar panels usually go for up to $399 each, this is some significant savings. All-in-all, you’re looking at $1,143 staying in your wallet here at the best price we have tracked.

We’ve got some bonus promotions I want to point out before diving into the power station’s details, led by the additional 5% sitewide discount you can get by using the code 25SSAFF5 at checkout. You’ll also find that certain offers come with free gear such as a camping chair, camping trolley, or a protective bag. The company is also including a free RAPID 20W GaN charger with a 60W cable on orders over $400, as well as 2x EcoCredits on the “web-exclusive” offers on the sale’s main landing page here.

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A great and affordable companion for travels, EcoFlow’s DELTA 2 power station offers an expandable LiFePO4 capacity starting at 1,024Wh and ramping up to 3,072Wh (with added expansion batteries). Your devices and most appliances are covered through any of its 15 port options, with the unit providing a 1,800W output that surges up to 2,200W thanks to the included X-Boost tech, which also reduces its charging times. In just 50 minutes, you can have its battery back to 80% via a wall outlet, with a full charge taking a little longer at 80 minutes. The included solar panels will have things back at full in around six hours, with that time shrinking as you add more solar input up to its maximum 500W – plus, the alternator charger gives you 1kWh of battery for every 1.3 hours of driving, so just heading out to your camp sites will likely have you topped off and ready for your stay amongst nature.

***Note: The sitewide 5% discount has not been factored into prices below – be sure to use the code 25SSAFF5 at checkout to score the best prices during this sale!

EcoFlow Spring Sale “web-exclusive” deals (2x EcoCredits):

EcoFlow Spring Sale deals for RV adventures:

EcoFlow Spring Sale Campsite coverage deals:

EcoFlow Spring Sale on-the-go backup deals:

EcoFlow Spring Sale home backup deals:

EcoFlow solar panel deals:

EcoFlow expansion battery deals:

You can browse and shop EcoFlow’s entire Spring Sale lineup on the landing page here.

Lectric XPedition 2.0 cargo e-bike

Lectric’s Spring Forward sale offers fully-loaded $762 bundle with its XPedition 2.0 26Ah dual-battery cargo e-bike at $1,799

With the end of winter approaching, Lectric has launched its Spring Forward sale with up to $762 in free gear accompanying your e-bike purchase. Aside from the continued price cuts on the XP 3.0 Long-Range models, Lectric’s XPedition 2.0 26Ah Dual-Battery Cargo e-bike is getting a fully loaded package with $762 in free gear at $1,799 shipped. This bundle would normally run for $2,561, but like always the savings here are on the bundle itself – with this sale’s offer being the biggest package we’ve seen on this model to date. This fully loaded offer includes two rear rack cushions, two running boards, an Elite headlight, a suspension seat post, a 4L frame bag, two XL pannier bags, an accordion-style bike lock, and an orbitor basket and extra cushion. You’ll find the standard single-battery model coming with $326 in free gear while the 35Ah Dual-Battery Long-Range models are getting $654 in free gear. More below.

Lectric’s latest XPedition 2.0 Cargo e-bikes are a great option for folks who tend to haul more than themselves around town – whether that’s packages or passengers – with its extended rear rack and 450-pound payload. They sport the brand’s new 750W M24 rear hub motor (peaking at 1,310W) that provide top speeds of up to 28 MPH, as well as improved acceleration and power for climbing hills (even while carrying extra weight). Expanded from two to three battery options with this generation, the single 13Ah battery delivers up to 60 miles of travel, while the dual 13Ah batteries take things further up to 120 miles and the dual 17.5Ah batteries go higher up to 170 miles – though keep in mind this is while using the PAS support at its lowest levels.

All three share the same upgraded components, like the adjustable dual spring 50mm front suspension fork, the Shimano 8-speed drivetrain, narrower 20-inch by 2.5-inch wheels with fenders over each, more powerful hydraulic mineral oil disc brakes, the headlamp and taillights with brake lighting and turn signal functionality, the wider-stance kickstand, and a color display.

Lectric XPedition 2.0 offers with up to $762 bundles:

Lectric XPeak 2.0 offers with up to $562 bundles:

Lectric XP 3.0 offers with up to $514 bundles:

Lectric XP Lite 2.0 offers with up to $557 bundles:

Lectric ONE LR e-bike with $467 bundle

Lectric XP Trike with $419 bundle

Lectric XPress 750 Commuter e-bikes with $206 bundle

Segway Navimow H series robot lawn mower

Gain autonomous lawncare with Segway’s Navimow H series robot mowers at $600 off from $1,299 low

By way of its official Amazon storefront, Segway is offering $600 discounts across its lineup of Navimow H Series Robot Lawn Mowers starting from $1,299 shipped, after clipping the on-page coupon, with its larger counterparts down at $1,599 and $1,999 thanks to the same discounts. These three robots usually fetch full prices of $1,899, $2,199, and $2,599, respectively, with discounts ranging from $380 to $600 since releasing a year ago. We see these $600 discounts popping up regularly, with another chance to score those savings today at the lowest price we have tracked. Not only does Segway’s direct site only offer the largest model, but it’s currently sold out at the moment, making this your best opportunity to score this autonomous lawn care support with its maximum savings.

The Navimow H series robots from Segway comes in three models that are tailored to cover 0.2, 0.37, or 0.74-acre yards. The first of them delivers a 180-minute runtime on a single charge while the larger two have a larger 240-minute battery life. All three provide a cutting height range between 1.2 inches to 2.4 inches, with the means to traverse up to 24 degrees of slopes and an IP66 waterproof protection rating to stand up to the aftermath of weather changes.

With these models, Segway has tossed aside the need for perimeter wires and replaced them with RTK positioning, which pairs with the VisionFence sensor for enhanced navigation and greater obstacle avoidance. You’ll get the usual array of smart controls here, including the robot being smart enough to register when its battery is running low in order to return to its station for recharging, picking up where it left off after it’s finished. It achieves this thanks to the Global Navigation Satellite Systems that guide it within the set boundaries – plus, it’s able to keep track of its location in case of it getting stuck on terrain or stolen off your property.

Anker PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh Power Bank Station

Anker’s PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh power bank station is a totable companion back at $90

Anker’s official Amazon storefront is offering the popular PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh Portable Power Bank Station for $89.99 shipped in both colorways. Normally posted with a $150 price tag, we saw it spend most of the last year keeping above $100, though since November we’ve been seeing more frequent cuts down to $90 and the occasional fall to the $80 low. You’re looking at the second-lowest price we have tracked here today, which puts $60 back into your pocket and is beating out Anker’s direct site where it’s currently priced at $113.

A solid choice for anyone wanting a larger day-to-day backup power option for their devices, Anker’s PowerCore Reserve beats out the usual 5,000mAh to 20,000mAh models with an even greater 60,000mAh/192Wh capacity. Through its two USB-A ports and/or the two USB-C ports, it delivers up to 60W charging speeds – plus, you can’t beat its bag-ready form factor coming in at just five pounds. Speaking of its design, the crown provides a reliable light source via the pop-up light, complete with two brightness levels and an S.O.S button for emergencies. It offers two methods to recharge its own batteries: either by plugging it into a wall outlet or utilizing up to its 60W solar input limit (sold separately).

You can also still find Anker’s upgraded SOLIX C200 60,000mAh Power Bank Station back at its $100 low, while the 90,000mAh models are also discounted in the same post.

Best New Year EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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