With the transition of the global energy structure from fossil fuels to zero carbon alternative fuels, magnetic bearings have opened up new applications in the emerging technologies that promote the energy revolution. An important growth area in the future is hydrogen production and transmission.

Nowadays, hydrogen is mainly produced from fossil fuels, but it can also be obtained by electrolyzing water. If the electricity used in the electrolysis process comes from renewable energy, the "green" hydrogen obtained therefrom is a zero carbon clean energy. In many applications, hydrogen has potential advantages over other energy carriers, and its energy density is relatively high, making it a suitable power fuel for ships, aircraft and heavy trucks.

In addition, as a clean energy source, hydrogen combustion can generate extremely high temperatures required for steel making and other industrial and chemical processes. Hydrogen is the key raw material for the synthesis of liquid fuels, and low-carbon synthetic liquid fuels can replace fossil fuels.

Hydrogen needs to be liquefied for transportation and storage, and magnetic bearings can play a great role in this respect, giving full play to all the advantages they have in hydrocarbon applications. Efficient and reliable turbine machinery will be the key equipment in a variety of green hydrogen production modes, including hydrogen production by large-scale solar light field in desert areas such as the Middle East or Australia, and hydrogen production by wind power.

Expected future growth

Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUs) is another potential growth area of magnetic bearings. This technology is used to collect carbon dioxide at the source and store it in a suitable place to prevent greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Abandoned oil and gas fields are suitable storage places. Like hydrogen production technology, many carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies will rely on high-efficiency large compressors.

"Blue" hydrogen technology is another booming field. This technology combines the traditional hydrogen production with the carbon capture, utilization and storage technology, creating a new method for sustainable use of traditional fossil fuels, while reducing its impact on climate change from the source. The blue hydrogen industry will require a large number of efficient turbomachinery to process the input gas, discharged hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

The transition from traditional fossil fuels to low-carbon and zero carbon alternative fuels is the most significant change in the global energy system in the past century. Energy transformation requires not only fundamental changes by energy producers, energy consumers and the whole society, but also a large number of pollution-free and efficient rotating equipment. As a mature, reliable and robust solution, magnetic bearing can help equipment manufacturers to cope with some of the key technical challenges they are facing today.