Policy & Socio-Economics
Sufficiency, Sustainability, and Circularity of Critical Materials for Clean Hydrogen
Jan 2022
Publication
Effective global decarbonization will require an array of solutions across a portfolio of low-carbon resources. One such solution is developing clean hydrogen. This unique fuel has the potential to minimize climate change impacts helping decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy industry and global transport while also promoting energy security sustainable growth and job creation. The authors estimate suggest that hydrogen needs to grow seven-fold to support the global energy transition eventually accounting for ten percent of total energy consumption by 2050. A scaleup of this magnitude will increase demand for materials such as aluminum copper iridium nickel platinum vanadium and zinc to support hydrogen technologies - renewable electricity technologies and the electrolyzers for renewable hydrogen carbon storage for low-carbon hydrogen or fuel cells using hydrogen to power transport. This report a joint product of the World Bank and the Hydrogen Council examines these three critical areas. Using new data on the material intensities of key technologies the report estimates the amount of critical minerals needed to scale clean hydrogen. In addition it shows how incorporating sustainable practices and policies for mining and processing materials can help minimize environmental impacts. Key among these approaches is the use of recycled materials innovations in design in order to reduce material intensities and adoption of policies from the Climate Smart Mining (CSM) Framework to reduce impacts to greenhouse gas emissions and water footprint.
Everything About Hydrogen Podcast: Hydrogen on a Global Scale
Aug 2022
Publication
On today’s episode of Everything About Hydrogen we are speaking with Dan Sadler Vice President for UK Low Carbon Solutions at Equinor. Equinor is of course a giant in the global energy sector and is taking a prominent role in the development of the international hydrogen economy with high-profile investments in a number of large-scale production projects in major markets such as the UK. Dan has spent the better part of a decade focused on how to leverage hydrogen’s potential as a fuel for the energy transition and we are excited to have him with us to discuss how Equinor is deploying hydrogen technologies and how he and Equinor expect hydrogen to play a role in a decarbonized energy future.
The podcast can be found on their website.
The podcast can be found on their website.
Quantifying the Potential of Renewable Natural Gas to Support a Reformed Energy Landscape: Estimates for New York State
Jun 2021
Publication
Public attention to climate change challenges our locked-in fossil fuel-dependent energy sector. Natural gas is replacing other fossil fuels in our energy mix. One way to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) impact of fossil natural gas is to replace it with renewable natural gas (RNG). The benefits of utilizing RNG are that it has no climate change impact when combusted and utilized in the same applications as fossil natural gas. RNG can be injected into the gas grid used as a transportation fuel or used for heating and electricity generation. Less common applications include utilizing RNG to produce chemicals such as methanol dimethyl ether and ammonia. The GHG impact should be quantified before committing to RNG. This study quantifies the potential production of biogas (i.e. the precursor to RNG) and RNG from agricultural and waste sources in New York State (NYS). It is unique because it is the first study to provide this analysis. The results showed that only about 10% of the state’s resources are used to generate biogas of which a small fraction is processed to RNG on the only two operational RNG facilities in the state. The impact of incorporating a second renewable substitute for fossil natural gas “green” hydrogen is also analyzed. It revealed that injecting RNG and “green” hydrogen gas into the pipeline system can reduce up to 20% of the state’s carbon emissions resulting from fossil natural gas usage which is a significant GHG reduction. Policy analysis for NYS shows that several state and federal policies support RNG production. However the value of RNG can be increased 10-fold by applying a similar incentive policy to California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).
Power-to-Gas Hydrogen: Techno-economic Assessment of Processes Towards a Multi-purpose Energy Carrier
Dec 2016
Publication
The present work investigates Power-to-Gas (PtG) options for variable Renewable Electricity storage into hydrogen through low temperature (alkaline and PEM) and high-temperature (SOEC) water electrolysis technologies. The study provides the assessment of the cost of the final product when hydrogen is employed for mobility (on-site refueling stations) electricity generation (by fuel cells in Power-to-Power systems) and grid injection in the natural gas network. Costs estimations are performed for 2013-2030 scenarios. A case study on the impact of variable Renewable Electricity storage by hydrogen generation on the Italian electricity and mobility sectors is presented.
Green Synthetic Fuels: Renewable Routes for the Conversion of Non-Fossil Feedstocks into Gaseous Fuels and Their End Uses
Jan 2020
Publication
Innovative renewable routes are potentially able to sustain the transition to a decarbonized energy economy. Green synthetic fuels including hydrogen and natural gas are considered viable alternatives to fossil fuels. Indeed they play a fundamental role in those sectors that are difficult to electrify (e.g. road mobility or high-heat industrial processes) are capable of mitigating problems related to flexibility and instantaneous balance of the electric grid are suitable for large-size and long-term storage and can be transported through the gas network. This article is an overview of the overall supply chain including production transport storage and end uses. Available fuel conversion technologies use renewable energy for the catalytic conversion of non-fossil feedstocks into hydrogen and syngas. We will show how relevant technologies involve thermochemical electrochemical and photochemical processes. The syngas quality can be improved by catalytic CO and CO2 methanation reactions for the generation of synthetic natural gas. Finally the produced gaseous fuels could follow several pathways for transport and lead to different final uses. Therefore storage alternatives and gas interchangeability requirements for the safe injection of green fuels in the natural gas network and fuel cells are outlined. Nevertheless the effects of gas quality on combustion emissions and safety are considered.
Role of Hydrogen-based Energy Carriers as an Alternative Option to Reduce Residual Emissions Associated with Mid-century Decarbonization Goals
Mar 2022
Publication
Hydrogen-based energy carriers including hydrogen ammonia and synthetic hydrocarbons are expected to help reduce residual carbon dioxide emissions in the context of the Paris Agreement goals although their potential has not yet been fully clarified in light of their competitiveness and complementarity with other mitigation options such as electricity biofuels and carbon capture and storage (CCS). This study aimed to explore the role of hydrogen in the global energy system under various mitigation scenarios and technology portfolios using a detailed energy system model that considers various energy technologies including the conversion and use of hydrogen-based energy carriers. The results indicate that the share of hydrogen-based energy carriers generally remains less than 5% of global final energy demand by 2050 in the 2 ◦C scenarios. Nevertheless such carriers contribute to removal of residual emissions from the industry and transport sectors under specific conditions. Their share increases to 10–15% under stringent mitigation scenarios corresponding to 1.5 ◦C warming and scenarios without CCS. The transport sector is the largest consumer accounting for half or more of hydrogen production followed by the industry and power sectors. In addition to direct usage of hydrogen and ammonia synthetic hydrocarbons converted from hydrogen and carbon captured from biomass or direct air capture are attractive transport fuels growing to half of all hydrogen-based energy carriers. Upscaling of electrification and biofuels is another common cost-effective strategy revealing the importance of holistic policy design rather than heavy reliance on hydrogen.
Everything About Hydrogen Podcast: Venturing into Hydrogen
Apr 2021
Publication
Since 2014 when the firm was founded within Anglo-American AP Ventures has been at the forefront of investment in hydrogen sector technologies. At the time the firm started the concerns around climate change and investment in renewable energy tech was gearing up but interest in hydrogen as part of the path to a decarbonized future was limited. The founders of AP Ventures felt differently and saw significant potential for hydrogen to offer a means for cleaning up highly carbon intensive sectors such as heavy transport industrial manufacturing and mining operations. Today that vision for hydrogen appears rather prescient. We are delighted to have two members from the team at AP Ventures with us on the show today. The team is joined by Kevin Eggers - a founding partner at AP - and Michell Robson - associate on the firm's investment team.
The podcast can be found on their website
The podcast can be found on their website
The Role of Hydrocarbons in the Global Energy Agenda: The Focus on Liquefied Natural Gas
May 2020
Publication
Presently there is a paradoxical situation in the global energy market related to a gap between the image of hydrocarbon resources (HCR) and their real value for the economy. On the one hand we face an increase in expected HCR production and consumption volumes both in the short and long term. On the other hand we see the formation of the image of HCR and associated technologies as an unacceptable option without enough attention to the differences in fuels and the ways of their usage. Due to this it seems necessary to take a step back to review the vitality of such a political line. This article highlights an alternative point of view with regard to energy development prospects. The purpose of this article is to analyse the consistency of criticism towards HCR based on exploration of scientific literature analytical documents of international corporations and energy companies as well as critical assessment of technologies offered for the HCR substitution. The analysis showed that: (1) it is impossible to substitute the majority of HCR with alternative power resources in the near term (2) it is essential that the criticism of energy companies with regard to their responsibility for climate change should lead not to destruction of the industry but to the search of sustainable means for its development (3) the strategic benchmarks of oil and coal industries should shift towards chemical production but their significance should not be downgraded for the energy sector (4) liquified natural gas (LNG) is an independent industry with the highest expansion potential in global markets in the coming years as compared to alternative energy options and (5) Russia possesses a huge potential for the development of the gas industry and particularly LNG that will be unlocked if timely measures on higher efficiency of the state regulation system are implemented.
Options for Producing Low-carbon Hydrogen at Scale
Feb 2018
Publication
Low-carbon hydrogen has the potential to play a significant role in tackling climate change and poor air quality. This policy briefing considers how hydrogen could be produced at a useful scale to power vehicles heat homes and supply industrial processes.
Four groups of hydrogen production technologies are examined:
Thermochemical Routes to Hydrogen
These methods typically use heat and fossil fuels. Steam methane reforming is the dominant commercial technology and currently produces hydrogen on a large scale but is not currently low carbon. Carbon capture is therefore essential with this process. Innovative technology developments may also help and research is underway. Alternative thermal methods of creating hydrogen indicate biomass gasification has potential. Other techniques at a low technology readiness level include separation of hydrogen from hydrocarbons using microwaves.
Electrolytic Routes to Hydrogen
Electrolytic hydrogen production also known as electrolysis splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity in an electrolysis cell. Electrolysis produces pure hydrogen which is ideal for low temperature fuel cells for example in electric vehicles. Commercial electrolysers are on the market and have been in use for many years. Further technology developments will enable new generation electrolysers to be commercially competitive when used at scale with fluctuating renewable energy sources.
Biological Routes to Hydrogen
Biological routes usually involve the conversion of biomass to hydrogen and other valuable end products using microbial processes. Methods such as anaerobic digestion are feasible now at a laboratory and small pilot scale. This technology may prove to have additional or greater impact and value as route for the production of high value chemicals within a biorefinery concept.
Solar to Fuels Routes to Hydrogen
A number of experimental techniques have been reported the most developed of which is ‘solar to fuels’ - a suite of technologies that typically split water into hydrogen and oxygen using solar energy. These methods have close parallels with the process of photosynthesis and are often referred to as ‘artificial photosynthesis’ processes. The research is promising though views are divided on its ultimate utility. Competition for space will always limit the scale up of solar to fuels.
The briefing concludes that steam methane reforming and electrolysis are the most likely technologies to be deployed to produce low-carbon hydrogen at volume in the near to mid-term providing that the challenges of high levels of carbon capture (for steam methane reforming) and cost reduction and renewable energy sources (for electrolysis) can be overcome.
Four groups of hydrogen production technologies are examined:
Thermochemical Routes to Hydrogen
These methods typically use heat and fossil fuels. Steam methane reforming is the dominant commercial technology and currently produces hydrogen on a large scale but is not currently low carbon. Carbon capture is therefore essential with this process. Innovative technology developments may also help and research is underway. Alternative thermal methods of creating hydrogen indicate biomass gasification has potential. Other techniques at a low technology readiness level include separation of hydrogen from hydrocarbons using microwaves.
Electrolytic Routes to Hydrogen
Electrolytic hydrogen production also known as electrolysis splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity in an electrolysis cell. Electrolysis produces pure hydrogen which is ideal for low temperature fuel cells for example in electric vehicles. Commercial electrolysers are on the market and have been in use for many years. Further technology developments will enable new generation electrolysers to be commercially competitive when used at scale with fluctuating renewable energy sources.
Biological Routes to Hydrogen
Biological routes usually involve the conversion of biomass to hydrogen and other valuable end products using microbial processes. Methods such as anaerobic digestion are feasible now at a laboratory and small pilot scale. This technology may prove to have additional or greater impact and value as route for the production of high value chemicals within a biorefinery concept.
Solar to Fuels Routes to Hydrogen
A number of experimental techniques have been reported the most developed of which is ‘solar to fuels’ - a suite of technologies that typically split water into hydrogen and oxygen using solar energy. These methods have close parallels with the process of photosynthesis and are often referred to as ‘artificial photosynthesis’ processes. The research is promising though views are divided on its ultimate utility. Competition for space will always limit the scale up of solar to fuels.
The briefing concludes that steam methane reforming and electrolysis are the most likely technologies to be deployed to produce low-carbon hydrogen at volume in the near to mid-term providing that the challenges of high levels of carbon capture (for steam methane reforming) and cost reduction and renewable energy sources (for electrolysis) can be overcome.
Gas Goes Green: Tomorrow's Heat, Today's Opportunity
Sep 2021
Publication
Cutting-edge world-leading energy network innovation is vital to ensuring that our economy can continue to access the energy it needs to safeguard jobs and to maintain our international competitiveness as the world goes through decarbonisation. In this report we build on the 2020 Gas Goes Green Zero Carbon Commitment to set out the scale of investment that Britain’s gas networks wish to deliver to hydrogen innovation projects and preparing the gas networks. This work will be focused over the next ten years creating highly-skilled high-tech green jobs through investment and ensuring that the impact of that innovation is felt in communities across the UK.
Challenges Toward Achieving a Successful Hydrogen Economy in the US: Potential End-use and Infrastructure Analysis to the Year 2100
Jul 2022
Publication
Fossil fuels continue to exacerbate climate change due to large carbon emissions resulting from their use across a number of sectors. An energy transition away from fossil fuels seems inevitable and energy sources such as renewables and hydrogen may provide a low carbon alternative for the future energy system particularly in large emitting nations such as the United States. This research quantifies and maps potential hydrogen fuel distribution pathways for the continental US reflecting technological changes barriers to deployment and end-use-cases from 2020 to 2100 clarifying the potential role of hydrogen in the US energy transition. The methodology consists of two parts a linear optimization of the global energy system constrained by carbon reduction targets and system cost followed by a projection of hydrogen infrastructure development. Key findings include the emergence of trade pattern diversification with a greater variety of end-uses associated with imported fuels and greater annual hydrogen consumption over time. Further sensitivity analysis identified the influence of complementary technologies including nuclear power and carbon capture and storage technologies. We conclude that hydrogen penetration into the US energy system is economically viable and can contribute toward achieving Paris Agreement and more aggressive carbon reduction targets in the future.
Impact and Challenges of Reducing Petroleum Consumption for Decarbonization
Apr 2022
Publication
This study aimed to identify the impact of achieving the 1.5 ◦C target on the petroleum supply chain in Japan and discuss the feasibility and challenges of decarbonization. First a national material flow was established for the petroleum supply chain in Japan including processes for crude petroleum refining petroleum product manufacturing plastic resin and product manufacturing and by-product manufacturing. In particular by-product manufacturing processes such as hydrogen gaseous carbon dioxide and sulfur were selected because they are utilized in other industries. Next the outlook for the production of plastic resin hydrogen dry ice produced from carbon dioxide gas and sulfur until 2050 was estimated for reducing petroleum consumption required to achieve the 1.5 ◦C target. As a result national petroleum treatment is expected to reduce from 177048.00 thousand kl in 2019 to 126643.00 thousand kl in 2030 if the reduction in petroleum consumption is established. Along with this decrease plastic resin production is expected to decrease from 10500.00 thousand ton in 2019 to 7511.00 thousand ton by 2030. Conversely the plastic market is expected to grow steadily and the estimated plastic resin production in 2030 is expected to be 20079.00 thousand ton. This result indicates that there is a large output gap between plastic supply and demand. To mitigate this gap strongly promoting the recycling of waste plastics and making the price competitiveness of biomass plastics equal to that of petroleum-derived plastics are necessary
Decarbonising Heat in Buildings: Putting Consumers First
Apr 2021
Publication
From an evaluation of the GB housing stock it is clear that a mosaic of low carbon heating technologies will be needed to reach net zero. While heat pumps are an important component of this mix our analysis shows that it is likely to be impractical to heat many GB homes with heat pumps only. A combination of lack of exterior space and/or the thermal properties of the building fabric mean that a heat pump is not capable of meeting the space heating requirement of 8 to 12m homes (or 37% to 54% of the 22.7m homes assessed in this report) or can do so only through the installation of highly disruptive and intrusive measures such as solid wall insulation. Hybrid heat pumps that are designed to optimise efficiency of the system do not have the same requirements of a heat pump and may be a suitable solution for some of these homes. This is likely to mean that decarbonised gas networks are therefore critical to delivery of net zero. 3 to 4m homes1 (or 14% to 18% of homes assessed in our analysis) could be made suitable for heat pump retrofit through energy efficiency measures such as cavity wall insulation. For 7 to 10m homes there are no limiting factors and they require minimal/no upgrade requirements to be made heat pump-ready. Nevertheless given firstly the levels of disruption to the floors and interiors of homes caused by the installation of heat pumps and secondly the cost and disruption associated with the requirement to significantly upgrade the electricity distribution networks to cope with large numbers of heat pumps operating at peak demand times - combined with the availability of a decarbonised gas network which requires a simple like-for-like boiler replacement - is likely to mean that many of these ‘swing’ properties will be better served through a gas based technology such as hydrogen (particularly when consumer choice is factored in) or a hybrid system. A recent trial run in winter 2018-19 by the Energy System Catapult revealed that all participants were reluctant to make expensive investments to improve the energy efficiency of their homes just to enhance the performance of their heat pump. They were more interested in less costly upgrades and tangible benefits such as lower bills or greater comfort. This means that renewable gases including hydrogen as heating fuels are a crucial component of the journey to net zero and the UK’s hydrogen ambitions should be reflective of this. The analysis presented in this paper focuses on the external fabric of the buildings further analysis should be undertaken to consider the internal system changes that would be required for heat pumps and hydrogen boilers for example BEIS Domestic Heat Distribution Systems: Gathering Report from February 2021 which considers the suitability of radiators for the low carbon transition.
The Upfront Cost of Decarbonising Your Home
Nov 2021
Publication
The objective of this report is to analyse the upfront capital costs facing consumers when considering the installation of new low carbon heating technology solutions for their homes today including the cost of any associated home upgrades that will likely be required. The UK Government have recently published its Heat and Buildings Strategy which sets out plans to significantly cut carbon emissions from the existing housing stock and new homes. Whilst the Strategy points to a future role for a variety of technologies such as heat pumps hydrogen and heat networks the success of this Strategy will largely be determined by the ability to achieve installed cost reductions for heat pumps of at least 25-50% by 2025 with the view to achieving cost parity with a gas boiler by 2030. The purpose of this report is to launch a series which tracks the upfront costs of these respective technologies over time to establish whether the cost reduction targets mooted by government and heat pump stakeholders are being delivered and the implications this has on our ability to decarbonise the UK housing stock.
Global Gas Report 2022
May 2022
Publication
This edition of the Global Gas Report covers two very turbulent years in the global gas industry and the wider global energy markets. The Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns with a brief period of excess supply and low prices gave way to tight energy markets extreme price volatility and a compounding geopolitical challenge to energy security. At the time of writing the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has been affecting the flows of gas and has put Europe on a quest to diversify its energy and gas supply that is now opening a new paradigm in the energy industry. This report comes at a time when the situation for global commodity and gas markets is in a state of rapid change and the strategic path forwards for the gas industry and energy policy-makers is continually developing. One thing is clear this is a critical and decisive moment for the gas industry. How it navigates the way through this crisis and charts a path forward will shape its long-term success and the role that it will play in the energy transition and beyond. This is the moment for the gas industry to demonstrate that gas can deliver a sustainable and secure energy future for all and that natural gas and a portfolio of decarbonized low- and zero-carbon gases are key to an achievable energy transition. This year’s report assesses key gas market trends from 2020 and 2021 including Covid-19 outcomes tightness of supply price volatility investments and the upward reversal in the global emissions trend. It then turns to the main topic on the global energy agenda – security – and considers key variables impacting it from industry and policy perspectives as well as considering possible paths to reinforce it. Finally the report looks at the main decarbonization pathways for gas supply as they progressively develop to make gas itself a low or zero-carbon fuel for the future. This report seeks to deliver insights about the global gas sector and to inform its stakeholders partners and importantly global decision-makers about the state of play today and possibilities for the future. It concludes with key insights on how sustainability security and competitiveness can help to deliver a sustainable future in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Agenda.
Everything About Hydrogen Podcast: Hydrogen Technology: The Engineer's Perspective
Sep 2020
Publication
The team are joined by Dr. Jenifer Baxter of the Institution for Mechanical Engineers (IMECHE). Dr. Baxter is based in the UK and is the Chief Engineer at IMECHE. We often focus heavily on the business cases and development models at the heart of the hydrogen economy here at EAH. On this episode we bring the technical discussion to the forefront and speak with Dr. Baxter about the technical advantages and the challenges that hydrogen presents as an essential part of the path to decarbonizing the future. The team's conversation is a can't miss exploration of a wide range of potential applications for hydrogen technologies that brings a new and essential perspective to the podcast. Don't miss out on EAH's newest episode where we get the engineer's perspective on the future of hydrogen!
The podcast can be found on their website
The podcast can be found on their website
Our Green Print: Future Heat for Everyone
Jul 2021
Publication
Green Print - Future Heat for Everyone draws together technical consumer and economic considerations to create a pioneering plan to transition 22 million UK homes to low carbon heat by 2050.<br/>Our Green Print underlines the scale of the challenge ahead acknowledging that a mosaic of low carbon heating solutions will be required to meet the needs of individual communities and setting out 12 key steps that can be taken now in order to get us there<br/>The Climate Change Committee (CCC) estimates an investment spend of £250bn to upgrade insulation and heating in homes as well as provide the infrastructure to deliver the energy.<br/>This is a task of unprecedented scale the equivalent of retro-fitting 67000 homes every month from now until 2050. In this Report Cadent takes the industry lead in addressing the challenge.
Future Hydrogen Markets for Transportation and Industry: The Impact of CO2 Taxes
Dec 2019
Publication
The technological lock-in of the transportation and industrial sector can be largely attributed to the limited availability of alternative fuel infrastructures. Herein a countrywide supply chain analysis of Germany spanning until 2050 is applied to investigate promising infrastructure development pathways and associated hydrogen distribution costs for each analyzed hydrogen market. Analyzed supply chain pathways include seasonal storage to balance fluctuating renewable power generation with necessary purification as well as trailer- and pipeline-based hydrogen delivery. The analysis encompasses green hydrogen feedstock in the chemical industry and fuel cell-based mobility applications such as local buses non-electrified regional trains material handling vehicles and trucks as well as passenger cars. Our results indicate that the utilization of low-cost long-term storage and improved refueling station utilization have the highest impact during the market introduction phase. We find that public transport and captive fleets offer a cost-efficient countrywide renewable hydrogen supply roll-out option. Furthermore we show that at comparable effective carbon tax resulting from the current energy tax rates in Germany hydrogen is cost-competitive in the transportation sector by the year 2025. Moreover we show that sector-specific CO2 taxes are required to provide a cost-competitive green hydrogen supply in both the transportation and industrial sectors.
Everything About Hydrogen Podcast: Geopolitical Factors in Hydrogen Markets
Mar 2022
Publication
The EAH Team takes a break from standard format on this special episode of Everything About Hydrogen to discuss some of the geopolitical factors and considerations driving the evolution of global hydrogen markets.
The podcast can be found on their website
The podcast can be found on their website
Webinar to Launch New Hydrogen Economy - Hope or Hype?
Jun 2019
Publication
On 26 June the World Energy Council held a webinar presenting the results of its latest Innovation Insights Brief on hydrogen engaging three key experts on the topic:
Nigel Brandon Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Imperial College London
Craig Knight Director of Industrial Solutions Horizon Fuel Cell Technology
Dan Sadler H21 Project Manager for Equinor
During the webinar the experts answered a series of policy technical and safety questions from the audience. The webinar started with a poll to get a sense of which sectors attendees saw hydrogen playing a key role in 2040 - 77% chose industrial processes 54% mobility and 31% power generation. The questions ranged from the opportunities and limitations of blending hydrogen with natural gas to safety concerns surrounding hydrogen.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
How much hydrogen can be blended with natural gas depends on the rules and regulation of each country. The general consensus is that blending 10% by volume of hydrogen presents no safety concerns or specific difficulties. This would provide an opportunity to develop low hydrogen markets. Nevertheless blending should not be the end destination. It is not sufficient to meet carbon abatement targets.
Low carbon ammonia has a role to play in the new hydrogen economy. It is a proven and understood technology which is easier to move around the world and could be used directly as ammonia or cracked back into hydrogen.
One of the main focus today should be to replace grey hydrogen with green hydrogen in existing supply chains as there would be no efficiency losses in the process.
In China the push for hydrogen is transport-related. This is driven by air quality and energy independence concerns. In the next 10 years the full life cost of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) is expected to be lower than for internal combustion engines. This is due to the fact that FCEVs require less maintenance and that the residual value in the fuel cells is relatively high. At the end of life 95% of the platinum in fuel cells can be repurposed.
FCEVs should not be regarded as competing with battery electric vehicles they sit next to each other on product maps. FCEVs can benefit from the all of the advances in electric drive train systems and electric motors.
To close the webinar attendees were asked whether hydrogen was going through another hype cycle or if it was here to stay. 10% answered hype and 90% here to stay.
Nigel Brandon Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Imperial College London
Craig Knight Director of Industrial Solutions Horizon Fuel Cell Technology
Dan Sadler H21 Project Manager for Equinor
During the webinar the experts answered a series of policy technical and safety questions from the audience. The webinar started with a poll to get a sense of which sectors attendees saw hydrogen playing a key role in 2040 - 77% chose industrial processes 54% mobility and 31% power generation. The questions ranged from the opportunities and limitations of blending hydrogen with natural gas to safety concerns surrounding hydrogen.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
How much hydrogen can be blended with natural gas depends on the rules and regulation of each country. The general consensus is that blending 10% by volume of hydrogen presents no safety concerns or specific difficulties. This would provide an opportunity to develop low hydrogen markets. Nevertheless blending should not be the end destination. It is not sufficient to meet carbon abatement targets.
Low carbon ammonia has a role to play in the new hydrogen economy. It is a proven and understood technology which is easier to move around the world and could be used directly as ammonia or cracked back into hydrogen.
One of the main focus today should be to replace grey hydrogen with green hydrogen in existing supply chains as there would be no efficiency losses in the process.
In China the push for hydrogen is transport-related. This is driven by air quality and energy independence concerns. In the next 10 years the full life cost of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) is expected to be lower than for internal combustion engines. This is due to the fact that FCEVs require less maintenance and that the residual value in the fuel cells is relatively high. At the end of life 95% of the platinum in fuel cells can be repurposed.
FCEVs should not be regarded as competing with battery electric vehicles they sit next to each other on product maps. FCEVs can benefit from the all of the advances in electric drive train systems and electric motors.
To close the webinar attendees were asked whether hydrogen was going through another hype cycle or if it was here to stay. 10% answered hype and 90% here to stay.
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