Policy & Socio-Economics
Living Carbon Free – Exploring What a Net-zero Target Means for Households
Jun 2019
Publication
The Energy Systems Catapult (ESC) explored the role of households in a net-zero emissions society to accompany the CCC’s Net Zero report looking at opportunities and challenges for households to reduce emissions from today’s levels and to support the stretch from an 80% emissions reduction to a net-zero greenhouse gas target. As well as describing a net-zero emissions world for households of different types the ESC looked at average household emissions under different decarbonisation scenarios and the options households can take to contribute to the decarbonisation effort.
This supported the Net Zero Technical report.
This supported the Net Zero Technical report.
The Pathway to Net Zero Heating in the UK: A UKERC Policy Brief
Oct 2020
Publication
There is uncertainty over how heating might practically be decarbonised in the future. This briefing provides some clarity about the possible pathways forward focusing on the next 5-10 years.<br/>Meeting the UK government’s net zero emissions goal for 2050 will only be possible by complete decarbonisation of the building stock (both existing and new). There is uncertainty over the extent to which heating might practically be decarbonised in the future and what the optimal technologies may be. This paper provides some clarity about the pathways forward focusing on the next 5-10 years.
Energy Innovation Needs Assessment: Road Transport
Nov 2019
Publication
The Energy Innovation Needs Assessment (EINA) aims to identify the key innovation needs across the UK’s energy system to inform the prioritisation of public sector investment in low-carbon innovation. Using an analytical methodology developed by the Department for Business Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) the EINA takes a system level approach and values innovations in a technology in terms of the system-level benefits a technology innovation provides. This whole system modelling in line with BEIS’s EINA methodology was delivered by the Energy Systems Catapult (ESC) using the Energy System Modelling Environment (ESMETM) as the primary modelling tool.
To support the overall prioritisation of innovation activity the EINA process analyses key technologies in more detail. These technologies are grouped together into sub-themes according to the primary role they fulfil in the energy system. For key technologies within a sub-theme innovations and business opportunities are identified. The main findings at the technology level are summarised in sub-theme reports. An overview report will combine the findings from each sub-theme to provide a broad system-level perspective and prioritisation.
This EINA analysis is based on a combination of desk research by a consortium of economic and engineering consultants and stakeholder engagement. The prioritisation of innovation and business opportunities presented is informed by a workshop organised for each sub-theme assembling key stakeholders from the academic community industry and government.
This report was commissioned prior to advice being received from the CCC on meeting a net zero target and reflects priorities to meet the previous 80% target in 2050. The newly legislated net zero target is not expected to change the set of innovation priorities rather it will make them all more valuable overall. Further work is required to assess detailed implications.
To support the overall prioritisation of innovation activity the EINA process analyses key technologies in more detail. These technologies are grouped together into sub-themes according to the primary role they fulfil in the energy system. For key technologies within a sub-theme innovations and business opportunities are identified. The main findings at the technology level are summarised in sub-theme reports. An overview report will combine the findings from each sub-theme to provide a broad system-level perspective and prioritisation.
This EINA analysis is based on a combination of desk research by a consortium of economic and engineering consultants and stakeholder engagement. The prioritisation of innovation and business opportunities presented is informed by a workshop organised for each sub-theme assembling key stakeholders from the academic community industry and government.
This report was commissioned prior to advice being received from the CCC on meeting a net zero target and reflects priorities to meet the previous 80% target in 2050. The newly legislated net zero target is not expected to change the set of innovation priorities rather it will make them all more valuable overall. Further work is required to assess detailed implications.
Clean Hydrogen Monitor
Oct 2020
Publication
It’s the first of its kind overview showing the state of play with regards to hydrogen technologies in Europe. On an annual basis there will be an update serving as a basis for your investment or political decisions.<br/><br/>OUR MISSION IS – NO EMISSION!<br/>From day 1 Hydrogen Europe promoted clean hydrogen and clean hydrogen technologies as enablers of a decarbonised energy system. We strongly support the adoption of very ambitious climate targets for 2030 and the objective of carbon neutrality in the EU by 2050. Clean hydrogen can help to realise this transition of our energy system in multiple sectors from energy production storage and distribution to end-uses in transport industry heating and others.<br/><br/>CLEAN HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGIES CAN AND WILL REPLACE<br/>not just fossil-based hydrogen in current (industrial) uses but also other fossil-based energies such as petrol diesel and hydrocarbon fuels in the transport sector coal /coke in the steel sector natural gas in the heating sector and other polluting and emitting fuels and feedstocks. <br/><br/>WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SYSTEMIC CHANGE.<br/>The use of clean hydrogen needs adaptations in production schemes in the infrastructure and in the deployment of hydrogen by the end users. This cannot – of course –be done in a day. Yet we should not wait for the implementation of the different hydrogen strategies on private municipal regional national or European level until other geographies worldwide race ahead.<br/><br/>
The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution: Building Back Better, Supporting Green Jobs, and Accelerating Our Path to Net Zero
Nov 2020
Publication
As the world looks to recover from the impact of coronavirus on our lives livelihoods and economies we have the chance to build back better: to invest in making the UK a global leader in green technologies.
The plan focuses on increasing ambition in the following areas:
The plan focuses on increasing ambition in the following areas:
- advancing offshore wind
- driving the growth of low carbon hydrogen
- delivering new and advanced nuclear power
- accelerating the shift to zero emission vehicles
- green public transport cycling and walking
- ‘jet zero’ and green ships
- greener buildings
- investing in carbon capture usage and storage
- protecting our natural environment
- green finance and innovation
World Energy Issues Monitor 2021: Humanising Energy
Mar 2021
Publication
Based on data collection carried out between October and December 2020 and the testing of emerging findings with the Council’s regional communities during a series of digital workshops held during February 2021 the report has shown
- Energy leaders’ perceptions of areas of risk opportunity and priorities for action have radically changed over the last 12 months. While economic turbulence stemming from the ongoing reverberations of COVID-19 is the biggest area of uncertainty with uncertainty around economic trends increasing by a third over the previous year there is also a growing focus on the social agenda associated with a faster paced energy transition.
- There is an increased awareness of the societal and human impact of both recovery and the wider energy transition. The issue of energy affordability has rapidly risen up the industry’s priority list with its impact and uncertainty perceived 20% larger than a year ago. Energy affordability affects society across all geographies ranging from city dwellers in developed countries to the rural poor in developing ones.
- The emergence of a new generation of digital energy services and energy entrepreneurs. Increasingly agile disruptive technologies have taken advantage of the social upheaval to gain market share at the expense of supply-centric energy solutions. There is a growing focus on customer-centric demand-driven solutions and fast changing patterns of global and local demand.
Modeling and Economic Operation of Energy Hub Considering Energy Market Price and Demand
Feb 2022
Publication
This paper discusses the economic operation strategy of the energy hub which is being established in South Korea. The energy hub has five energy conversion devices: a turbo expander generator a normal fuel cell a fuel cell with a hydrogen outlet a small-scale combined heat and power device and a photovoltaic device. We are developing the most economically beneficial operation strategy for the operators who own the hub without making any systematic improvements to the energy market. First sixteen conversion efficiency matrices can be achieved by turning each device (except the PV) on or off. Next even the same energy must be divided into different energy flows according to price. The energy flow is controlled to obtain the maximum profit considering the internal load of the energy hub and the price fluctuations of the energy market. Using our operating strategy the return on investment period is approximately 9.9 years which is three years shorter than that without the operating strategy.
People’s Attitude to Energy from Hydrogen—From the Point of View of Modern Energy Technologies and Social Responsibility
Dec 2020
Publication
Energy from hydrogen is an appropriate technological choice in the context of sustainable development. The opportunities offered by the use of energy from hydrogen also represent a significant challenge for mobile technologies and daily life. Nevertheless despite a significant amount of research and information regarding the benefits of hydrogen energy it creates considerable controversy in many countries. Globally there is a lack of understanding about the production process of hydrogen energy and the benefits it provides which leads to concerns regarding the consistency of its use. In this study an original questionnaire was used as a research tool to determine the opinions of inhabitants of countries in which hydrogen energy is underutilized and where the infrastructure for hydrogen energy is underdeveloped. Respondents presented their attitude to ecology and indicated their knowledge regarding the operation of hydrogen energy and the use of hydrogen fuel. The results indicate that society is not convinced that the safety levels for energy derived from hydrogen are adequate. It can be concluded that knowledge about hydrogen as an energy source and the production safety and storage methods of hydrogen is very low. Negative attitudes to hydrogen energy can be an important barrier in the development of this energy in many countries.
Renewable Energy Market Analysis: Africa and its Regions
Jan 2022
Publication
An energy system centred on renewable energy can help resolve many of Africa’s social economic health and environmental challenges. A profound energy transition is not only feasible it is essential for a climate-safe future in which sustainable development prerogatives are met. Renewables are key to overcoming energy poverty providing needed energy services without damaging human health or ecosystems and enabling a transformation of economies in support of development and industrialisation.
Africa is extraordinarily diverse and no single approach will advance its energy future. But efforts must be made to build modern resilient and sustainable energy systems across the continent to avoid trapping economies and societies in increasingly obsolete energy systems that burden them with stranded assets and limited economic prospects.
This report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) sets out the opportunities at hand while also acknowledging the challenges Africa faces. It lays out a pathway to a renewables-based energy system and shows that the transition promises substantial gains in GDP employment and human welfare in each region of the continent.
Among the findings:
A large part of Africa has so far been left out of the energy transition:
Africa is extraordinarily diverse and no single approach will advance its energy future. But efforts must be made to build modern resilient and sustainable energy systems across the continent to avoid trapping economies and societies in increasingly obsolete energy systems that burden them with stranded assets and limited economic prospects.
This report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) sets out the opportunities at hand while also acknowledging the challenges Africa faces. It lays out a pathway to a renewables-based energy system and shows that the transition promises substantial gains in GDP employment and human welfare in each region of the continent.
Among the findings:
A large part of Africa has so far been left out of the energy transition:
- Only 2% of global investments in renewable energy in the last two decades were made in Africa with significant regional disparities
- Less than 3% of global renewables jobs are in Africa
- In Sub-Saharan Africa electrification rate was static at 46% in 2019 with 906 million people still lacking access to clean cooking fuels and technologies
- Africa has vast resource potential in wind solar hydro and geothermal energy and falling costs are increasingly bringing renewables within reach
- Central and Southern Africa have abundant mineral resources essential to the production of electric batteries wind turbines and other low-carbon technologies
- Renewable energy deployment has grown in the last decade with more than 26 GW of renewables-based generation capacity added. The largest additions were in solar energy
- Average annual investments in renewable energy grew ten-fold from less than USD 0.5 billion in the 2000-2009 period to USD 5 billion in 2010-2020
- Distributed renewable energy solutions including stand-alone systems and mini-grids are playing a steadily growing role in expanding electricity access in off-grid areas and strengthening supply in already connected areas
- The energy transition under IRENA’s 1.5°C Scenario pathway predicts 6.4% higher GDP 3.5% higher economy-wide jobs and a 25.4% higher welfare index than that realised under current plans on average up to 2050
- Jobs created in the renewable energy transition will outweigh those lost by moving away from traditional energy. Every million U.S. dollars invested in renewables between 2020 – 2050 would create at least 26 job-years; for every million invested in energy efficiency at least 22 job-years would be created annually; for energy flexibility the figure is 18
- A comprehensive policy package that combines the pursuit of climate and environmental goals; economic development and jobs creation; and social equity and welfare for society as a whole
- Strong institutions international co-operation (including South- South co-operation) and considerable co-ordination at the regional level
FCH Programme Review Report 2014
Apr 2015
Publication
The 2014 Review is the fourth review of the FCH JU project portfolio. The reviews began in 2011 following a recommendation arising from the interim evaluation of the FCH JU which identified the need to ensure that the FCH JU project portfolio as a whole fulfilled the objectives of the Multi-Annual Implementation or Work Plan.<br/><br/>An international team of leading experts in the FCH field undertakes each review based on (1) The achievements of the portfolio against the strategic objectives and content of the FCH JU’s MAIP/MAWP and the AIP/AWPs as set out for the transportation and energy innovation pillars and the cross-cutting category; (2) The extent to which the portfolio meets the FCH JU’s remit for promoting the horizontal activities of RCS PNR safety life-cycle and socio-economic analysis education and training and public awareness; (3) The portfolio’s effectiveness in promoting linkages and co-operation between projects and between FCH JU-supported projects and those supported by other European instruments the Member States and internationally. Review panels The 2014 review comprised six panels covering a total of 114 projects. Each panel covered between 10 and 24 projects as shown in Table 1 below. The objective was to assess projects within each panel as a sub-portfolio (within the FCH JU portfolio) and not as individual projects although examples of individual projects representing good practice were highlighted.
Hydrogen Strategy for Canada: Seizing the Opportunities for Hydrogen - A Call to Action
Dec 2020
Publication
For more than a century our nation’s brightest minds have been working on the technology to turn the invisible promise of hydrogen into tangible solutions. Canadian ingenuity and innovation has once again brought us to a pivotal moment. As we rebuild our economy from the impacts of COVID-19 and fight the existential threat of climate change the development of low-carbon hydrogen is a strategic priority for Canada. The time to act is now.<br/>The Hydrogen Strategy for Canada lays out an ambitious framework for actions that will cement hydrogen as a tool to achieve our goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and position Canada as a global industrial leader of clean renewable fuels. This strategy shows us that by 2050 clean hydrogen can help us achieve our net-zero goal—all while creating jobs growing our economy and protecting our environment. This will involve switching from conventional gasoline diesel and natural gas to zero-emissions fuel sources taking advantage of new regulatory environments and embracing new technologies to give Canadians more choice of zero emission alternatives.<br/>As one of the top 10 hydrogen producers in the world today we are rich in the feedstocks that produce hydrogen. We are blessed with a strong energy sector and the geographic assets that will propel Canada to be a major exporter of hydrogen and hydrogen technologies. Hydrogen might be nature’s smallest molecule but its potential is enormous. It provides new markets for our conventional energy resources and holds the potential to decarbonize many sectors of our economy including resource extraction freight transportation power generation manufacturing and the production of steel and cement. This Strategy is a call to action. It will spur investments and strategic partnerships across the country and beyond our borders. It will position Canada to seize economic and environmental opportunities that exist coast to coast. Expanding our exports. Creating as many as 350000 good green jobs over the next three decades. All while dramatically reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. And putting a net-zero future within our reach.<br/>The importance of Canada’s resource industries and our clean technology sectors has been magnified during the pandemic. We must harness our combined will expertise and financial resources to fully seize the opportunities that hydrogen presents. This strategy is the product of three years of study and analysis including extensive engagement sessions where we heard from more than 1500 of our country’s leading experts and stakeholders. But its release is not the end of a process. This is only the beginning. Together we will use this Strategy to guide our actions and investments. By working with provinces and territories Indigenous partners and the private-sector and by leveraging our many advantages we will create the prosperity we all want protect the planet we all cherish and we will ensure we leave no one behind.
Mind the Gap—A Socio-Economic Analysis on Price Developments of Green Hydrogen, Synthetic Fuels, and Conventional Energy Carriers in Germany
May 2022
Publication
In recent years the development of energy prices in Germany has been frequently accompanied by criticism and warnings of socio-economic disruptions. Especially with respect to the electricity sector the debate on increasing energy bills was strongly correlated with the energy system transition. However whereas fossil fuels have rapidly increased in price recently renewable substitutes such as green hydrogen and synthetic fuels also enter the markets at comparatively high prices. On the other hand the present fossil fuel supply is still considered too low-priced by experts because societal greenhouse gas-induced environmental impact costs are not yet compensated. In this study we investigate the development of the price gap between conventional energy carriers and their renewable substitutes until 2050 as well as a suitable benchmark price incorporating the societal costs of specific energy carriers. The calculated benchmark prices for natural gas (6.3 ct kWh−1 ) petrol (9.9 ct kWh−1 ) and grey hydrogen from steam methane reformation (12 ct kWh−1 ) are nearly 300% above the actual prices for industry customers in 2020 but below the price peaks of early 2022. In addition the price gap between conventional fuels and green hydrogen will be completely closed before 2050 for all investigated energy carriers. Furthermore prognosed future price developments can be considered rather moderate compared to historic and especially to the recent price dynamics in real terms. A gradual implementation of green hydrogen and synthetic fuels next to increasing CO2 prices however may temporarily lead to further increasing expenses for energy but can achieve lower price levels comparable to those of 2020 in the long term.
A Perspective on Hydrogen Investment, Deployment and Cost Competitiveness
Feb 2021
Publication
Deployment and investments in hydrogen have accelerated rapidly in response to government commitments to deep decarbonisation establishing hydrogen as a key component in the energy transition.
To help guide regulators decision-makers and investors the Hydrogen Council collaborated with McKinsey & Company to release the report ‘Hydrogen Insights 2021: A Perspective on Hydrogen Investment Deployment and Cost Competitiveness’. The report offers a comprehensive perspective on market deployment around the world investment momentum as well as implications on cost competitiveness of hydrogen solutions.
The document can be downloaded from their website
To help guide regulators decision-makers and investors the Hydrogen Council collaborated with McKinsey & Company to release the report ‘Hydrogen Insights 2021: A Perspective on Hydrogen Investment Deployment and Cost Competitiveness’. The report offers a comprehensive perspective on market deployment around the world investment momentum as well as implications on cost competitiveness of hydrogen solutions.
The document can be downloaded from their website
Decarbonization Roadmaps for ASEAN and their Implications
Apr 2022
Publication
The objective of this paper is to derive for the first time decarbonization roadmaps for the ten nations of ASEAN. This study first presents a regional view of ASEAN’s fossil and renewable energy usage and energy-related CO2 emission. Results show that renewable energies have been losing ground to fossil energies in the last two decades and fossil fuels will likely continue to be an important part of ASEAN’s energy mix for the next few decades. Therefore decarbonizing efforts should focus not only on increasing the share of renewable energies in electricity generation but also on technologies to reduce CO2 emission from fossil power and industrial plants. This study next performs a technology mapping exercise for all ten ASEAN countries to determine decarbonization technologies that have high impact and high readiness for individual countries. Besides installing more sustainable renewable energies common themes coming from these roadmaps include switching from coal to gas for power generation using carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies to decarbonize fossil and industrial plants replacing internal combustion vehicles by electric vehicles and for countries that have coal and natural gas resources upgrading them to blue hydrogen by chemical processes and using CCS to mitigate the emitted CO2. Blue hydrogen can be used to decarbonize hard-to-decarbonize industries. Policy implications of these roadmaps include imposing a credible carbon tax establishing a national hydrogen strategy intergovernmental coordination to establish regional CCS corridors funding research and development to improve carbon capture efficiency on a plant level and resolving sustainability issues of hydropower and bioenergy in ASEAN.
The Future Potential Hydrogen Demand in Energy-intensive Industries - A Site-specific Approach Applied to Germany
Dec 2021
Publication
Hydrogen when based on renewable electricity can play a key role in the transition towards CO2-neutral industrial production since its use as an energy carrier as well as a feedstock in various industrial process routes is promising. At the same time a large-scale roll-out of hydrogen for industrial use would entail substantial impacts on the energy system which can only be assessed if the regional distribution of future hydrogen demand is considered. Here we assess the technical potential of hydrogen-based technologies for energy-intensive industries in Germany. The site-specific and process-specific bottom-up calculation considers 615 individual plants at 367 sites and results in a total potential hydrogen demand of 326 TWh/a. The results are available as an open dataset. Using hydrogen for non-energy-intensive sectors as well increases the potential hydrogen demand to between 482 and 534 TWh/a for Germany - based on today’s industrial structure and production output. This assumes that fossil fuels are almost completely replaced by hydrogen for process heating and feedstocks. The resulting hydrogen demand is very unevenly distributed: a few sites account for the majority of the overall potential and similarly the bulk of demand is concentrated in a few regions with steel and chemical clusters.
A Comparative Review of Alternative Fuels for the Maritime Sector: Economic, Technology, and Policy Challenges for Clean Energy Implementation
Oct 2021
Publication
Global maritime transportation is responsible for around 3% of total anthropogenic green‐ house gas emissions and significant proportions of SOx NOx and PM emissions. Considering the predicted growth in shipping volumes to 2050 greenhouse gas emissions from ships must be cut by 75–85% per ton‐mile to meet Paris Agreement goals. This study reviews the potential of a range of alternative fuels for decarbonisation in maritime. A systematic literature review and information synthesis method was applied to evaluate fuel characteristics production pathways utilization technologies energy efficiency lifecycle environmental performance economic viability and cur‐ rent applicable policies. Alternative fuels are essential to decarbonisation in international shipping. However findings suggest there is no single route to deliver the required greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Emissions reductions vary widely depending on the production pathways of the fuel. Alternative fuels utilising a carbon‐intensive production pathway will not provide decarbonisation instead shifting emissions elsewhere in the supply chain. Ultimately a system‐wide perspective to creating an effective policy framework is required in order to promote the adoption of alternative propulsion technologies.
How Hydrogen Can Help Decarbonise the Maritime Sector
Jun 2021
Publication
Hydrogen Europe is the organisation representing the interests of the European hydrogen industry. It fully adheres to the European Union’s target of climate neutrality by 2050 and supports the European Commission’s objectives to develop and integrate more renewable energy sources into the European energy mix.<br/><br/>In December 2015 in Paris a global climate agreement was reached at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 21). The Paris Agreement is seen as a historic and landmark instrument in climate action. However the agreement is lacking emphasis on international maritime transport and the role that this sector will need to play in contributing to the decarbonisation of the global economy and in striving for a clean planet for all.<br/><br/>Hydrogen hydrogen-based fuels (such as ammonia) and hydrogen technologies offer tremendous potential for the maritime sector<br/>and if properly harnessed can significantly contribute to the decarbonisation and also mitigate the air pollution of the worldwide fleet. Hydrogen Europe will be the catalyst in this process the decarbonisation and also mitigate the air pollution of the worldwide fleet. Hydrogen Europe will be the catalyst in this process.<br/><br/>The pathway towards hydrogen and hydrogenbased fuels for the maritime sector does not come without technological and commercial challenges let alone regulatory barriers.
Hydrogen Economy Outlook
Mar 2020
Publication
The falling cost of making hydrogen from wind and solar power offers a promising route to cutting emissions in some of the most fossil fuel dependent sectors of the economy such as steel heavy-duty vehicles shipping and cement.
Hydrogen Economy Outlook a new and independent global study from research firm BloombergNEF (BNEF) finds that clean hydrogen could be deployed in the decades to come to cut up to 34% of global greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and industry – at a manageable cost. However this will only be possible if policies are put in place to help scale up technology and drive down costs.
The report’s findings suggest that renewable hydrogen could be produced for $0.8 to $1.6/kg in most parts of the world before 2050. This is equivalent to gas priced at $6-12/MMBtu making it competitive with current natural gas prices in Brazil China India Germany and Scandinavia on an energy-equivalent basis. When including the cost of storage and pipeline infrastructure the delivered cost of renewable hydrogen in China India and Western Europe could fall to around $2/kg ($15/MMBtu) in 2030 and $1/kg ($7.4/MMBtu) in 2050.
Kobad Bhavnagri head of industrial decarbonization for BNEF and lead author of the report said: “Hydrogen has potential to become the fuel that powers a clean economy. In the years ahead it will be possible to produce it at low cost using wind and solar power to store it underground for months and then to pipe it on-demand to power everything from ships to steel mills.”
Hydrogen is a clean-burning molecule that can be used as a substitute for coal oil and gas in a large variety of applications. But for its use to have net environmental benefits it must be produced from clean sources rather than from unabated fossil fuel processes – the usual method at present.
Renewable hydrogen can be made by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity generated by cheap wind or solar power. The cost of the electrolyzer technology to do this has fallen by 40% in the last five years and can continue to slide if deployment increases. Clean hydrogen can also be made using fossil fuels if the carbon is captured and stored but this is likely to be more expensive the report finds.
Read the full report on the BloombergNEF website here
Hydrogen Economy Outlook a new and independent global study from research firm BloombergNEF (BNEF) finds that clean hydrogen could be deployed in the decades to come to cut up to 34% of global greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and industry – at a manageable cost. However this will only be possible if policies are put in place to help scale up technology and drive down costs.
The report’s findings suggest that renewable hydrogen could be produced for $0.8 to $1.6/kg in most parts of the world before 2050. This is equivalent to gas priced at $6-12/MMBtu making it competitive with current natural gas prices in Brazil China India Germany and Scandinavia on an energy-equivalent basis. When including the cost of storage and pipeline infrastructure the delivered cost of renewable hydrogen in China India and Western Europe could fall to around $2/kg ($15/MMBtu) in 2030 and $1/kg ($7.4/MMBtu) in 2050.
Kobad Bhavnagri head of industrial decarbonization for BNEF and lead author of the report said: “Hydrogen has potential to become the fuel that powers a clean economy. In the years ahead it will be possible to produce it at low cost using wind and solar power to store it underground for months and then to pipe it on-demand to power everything from ships to steel mills.”
Hydrogen is a clean-burning molecule that can be used as a substitute for coal oil and gas in a large variety of applications. But for its use to have net environmental benefits it must be produced from clean sources rather than from unabated fossil fuel processes – the usual method at present.
Renewable hydrogen can be made by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity generated by cheap wind or solar power. The cost of the electrolyzer technology to do this has fallen by 40% in the last five years and can continue to slide if deployment increases. Clean hydrogen can also be made using fossil fuels if the carbon is captured and stored but this is likely to be more expensive the report finds.
Read the full report on the BloombergNEF website here
The Heralds of Hydrogen: The Economic Sectors that are Driving the Hydrogen Economy in Europe
Jan 2021
Publication
This paper looked at 39 hydrogen associations across Europe to understand which economic sectors support the hydrogen transition in Europe and why they do so. Several broad conclusions can be drawn from this paper. It is clear that the support for hydrogen is broad and from a very wide spectrum of economic actors that have clear interests in the success of the hydrogen transition. Motivations for support differ. Sales and market growth are important for companies pursuing professional scientific and technical activities as well as manufacturers of chemicals machinery electronic or electrical equipment and fabricated metals. The increasing cost of CO2 combines with regulatory and societal pressure to decarbonize and concerns from investors about the long-term profitability of sectors with high emissions. This makes hydrogen especially interesting for companies working in the energy transport steel and chemical industries. Another motivation is the ability to keep using existing fixed assets relevant for ports oil and gas companies and natural gas companies. More sector-specific concerns are a technological belief held by some motor vehicle manufacturers in the advantages of FCVs over BEVs for private mobility which is held more widely regarding heavy road transport. Security of supply and diversifying the current business portfolio come up specifically for natural gas companies. Broader concerns about having to shift into other energy technologies as a core business are reasons for interest from the oil and gas sector and ports.
Perhaps the most important lesson is that the hydrogen transition has already begun – but it needs continued policy support and political commitment. Carbon-intensive industries such as steel and chemicals are clearly interested and willing to invest billions but need policy support to avoid carbon leakage to high-carbon competitors before they commit. The gas grid is ready and many operators and utility companies are eager but they need clearance to experiment with blending in hydrogen. Hydrogen road vehicles still face many regulatory hurdles. There are several clusters that can serve as models and nuclei for the future European hydrogen economy in different parts of Europe. However these nuclei will need more public funding and regulatory support for them to grow.
Link to document on Oxford Institute for Energy Studies website
Perhaps the most important lesson is that the hydrogen transition has already begun – but it needs continued policy support and political commitment. Carbon-intensive industries such as steel and chemicals are clearly interested and willing to invest billions but need policy support to avoid carbon leakage to high-carbon competitors before they commit. The gas grid is ready and many operators and utility companies are eager but they need clearance to experiment with blending in hydrogen. Hydrogen road vehicles still face many regulatory hurdles. There are several clusters that can serve as models and nuclei for the future European hydrogen economy in different parts of Europe. However these nuclei will need more public funding and regulatory support for them to grow.
Link to document on Oxford Institute for Energy Studies website
Power to Gas Linking Electricity and Gas in a Decarbonising World
Oct 2018
Publication
Since the COP 21 meeting in Paris in December 2015 there has been a growing realisation that with the long-term objective that the energy system should be approaching carbon-neutrality by 2050 continuing to burn significant quantities of fossil-derived natural gas will not be sustainable. If existing natural gas infrastructure is to avoid becoming stranded assets plans to decarbonise the gas system need to be developed as a matter of urgency in the next three to five years given the typical life expectancy of such assets of 20 years or more. One of the options to decarbonise gas is “power-to-gas”: production of hydrogen or renewable methane via electrolysis using surplus renewable electricity. This Energy Insight reviews the status of power-to-gas and makes an assessment of potential future development pathways and the role which it could play in decarbonising the energy system.
Link to document on the OIES website
Link to document on the OIES website
Hydrogen Europe Podcast: Hydrogen, The First Element: Why Renewable Hydrogen? Why Now?
Mar 2022
Publication
In the first episode of Hydrogen Europe's podcast "Hydrogen the first element" our CEO Jorgo Chatzimarkakis discusses with NEL's CEO and President of Hydrogen Europe Jon Andre Løkke. Starting off on how Jon joined the hydrogen sector the two CEOs investigate the historical moment renewable hydrogen is currently living.
Oxford Energy Podcast – Energy Transition Post-Pandemic in the Gulf: Clean Energy, Sustainability and Hydrogen
Jun 2021
Publication
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated challenges faced by hydrocarbon exporters in the Gulf owing to the global push to transition to cleaner energy sources. In this podcast Manal Shehabi (OIES) discusses with David Ledesma a recent OIES-KFAS workshop held in April 2021 titled “Energy Transition Post-Pandemic in the Gulf States” held with support from the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS). They discuss separate but interrelated issues on clean energy economic and climate sustainability and hydrogen. Specially they examine how the global energy transition outlook has changed post-pandemic along with its impacts on Gulf States’ economies and energy transition projects. They explain implications to Gulf states’ sustainability evaluating whether these countries are fiscally sustainable post-pandemic and their urgent need for energy and economic diversification. They focus in on the possibility of the Gulf States’ using hydrogen to diversify both in domestic and export markets evaluating opportunities and challenges for both blue and green hydrogen. A preliminary case study on the economics of hydrogen in Kuwait is highlighted as indication of whether Gulf states can produce green hydrogen competitively. They conclude with policy recommendations to increase economic sustainability and resilience post-pandemic both through the energy transition and responses to it.
The podcast can be found on their website
The podcast can be found on their website
UK Hydrogen Strategy
Aug 2021
Publication
The UK’s first-ever Hydrogen Strategy drives forward the commitments laid out in the Prime Minister’s ambitious 10 Point Plan for a green industrial revolution by setting the foundation for how the UK government will work with industry to meet its ambition for 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 – the equivalent of replacing natural gas in powering around 3 million UK homes each year as well as powering transport and businesses particularly heavy industry.<br/>A booming UK-wide hydrogen economy could be worth £900 million and create over 9000 high-quality jobs by 2030 potentially rising to 100000 jobs and worth up to £13 billion by 2050. By 2030 hydrogen could play an important role in decarbonising polluting energy-intensive industries like chemicals oil refineries power and heavy transport like shipping HGV lorries and trains by helping these sectors move away from fossil fuels. Low-carbon hydrogen provides opportunities for UK companies and workers across our industrial heartlands.<br/>With government analysis suggesting that 20-35% of the UK’s energy consumption by 2050 could be hydrogen-based this new energy source could be critical to meet our targets of net zero emissions by 2050 and cutting emissions by 78% by 2035 – a view shared by the UK’s independent Climate Change Committee. In the UK a low-carbon hydrogen economy could deliver emissions savings equivalent to the carbon captured by 700 million trees by 2032 and is a key pillar of capitalising on cleaner energy sources as the UK moves away from fossil fuels.
Transition of Future Energy System Infrastructure; through Power-to-Gas Pathways
Jul 2016
Publication
Power-to-gas is a promising option for storing interment renewables nuclear baseload power and distributed energy and it is a novel concept for the transition to increased renewable content of current fuels with an ultimate goal of transition to a sustainable low-carbon future energy system that interconnects power transportation sectors and thermal energy demand all together. The aim of this paper is to introduce different Power-to-gas “pathways” including Power to Hydrogen Power to Natural Gas End-users Power to Renewable Content in Petroleum Fuel Power to Power Seasonal Energy Storage to Electricity Power to Zero Emission Transportation Power to Seasonal Storage for Transportation Power to Micro grid Power to Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) to Pipeline (“Methanation”) and Power to Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) to Seasonal Storage. In order to compare the different pathways the review of key technologies of Power-to-gas systems are studied and the qualitative efficiency and benefits of each pathway is investigated from the technical points of view. Moreover different Power-to-gas pathways are discussed as an energy policy option that can be implemented to transition towards a lower carbon economy for Ontario’s energy systems
H2FC SUPERGEN- The Role of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in Delivering Energy Security for the UK
Mar 2017
Publication
This White Paper has been commissioned by the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell (H2FC) SUPERGEN Hub to examine the roles and potential benefits of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies within each sector of future energy systems and the transition infrastructure that is required to achieve these roles. The H2FC SUPERGEN Hub is an inclusive network encompassing the entire UK hydrogen and fuel cells research community with around 100 UK-based academics supported by key stakeholders from industry and government. It is funded by the UK EPSRC research council as part of the RCUK Energy Programme. This paper is the third of four that were published over the lifetime of the Hub with the others examining: (i) low-carbon heat; (ii) energy security; and (iv) economic impacts.
- Hydrogen and fuel cells are now being deployed commercially for mainstream applications.
- Hydrogen can play a major role alongside electricity in the low-carbon economy.
- Hydrogen technologies can support low-carbon electricity systems dominated by intermittent renewables and/or electric heating demand.
- The hydrogen economy is not necessary for hydrogen and fuel cells to flourish.
Life Cycle Assessment of Hydrogen Production and Consumption in an Isolated Territory
Apr 2018
Publication
Hydrogen produced from renewables works as an energy carrier and as energy storage medium and thus hydrogen can help to overcome the intermittency of typical renewable energy sources. However there is no comprehensive environmental performance study of hydrogen production and consumption. In this study detailed cradle to grave life cycle analyses are performed in an isolated territory. The hydrogen is produced on-site by Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) water electrolysis based on electricity from wind turbines that would otherwise have been curtailed and subsequently transported with gas cylinder by road and ferry. The hydrogen is used to provide electricity and heat through fuel cell stacks as well as hydrogen fuel for fuel cell vehicles. In order to evaluate the environmental impacts related to the hydrogen production and utilisation this work conducts an investigation of the entire life cycle of the described hydrogen production transportation and utilisation. All the processes related to the equipment manufacture operation maintenance and disposal are considered in this study.
Industrial Decarbonisation Policies for a UK Net-Zero Target
Dec 2020
Publication
To inform our Sixth Carbon Budget advice the Climate Change Committee (CCC) asked the University of Leeds to undertake independent research to evaluate which policies (and combinations of policies) would enable industrial decarbonisation in line with the UK’s net zero target without inducing carbon leakage. The research focused on policies applicable to the manufacturing sector but with some consideration also given to the policies required to decarbonise the Fossil Fuel Production and Supply and Non-Road Mobile Machinery sectors. This report:
Sets out a comprehensive review of existing policies;
The paper can be downloaded from the CCC website
Sets out a comprehensive review of existing policies;
- Identifies future policy mechanisms that address key challenges in decarbonising industry;
- Explores how combinations of policies might work together strategically in the form of ‘policy packages’ and how these packages might evolve over the period to 2050;
- Evaluates a series of illustrative policy packages and considers any complementary policies required to minimise carbon leakage and deliver ‘just’ industrial decarbonisation.
- The findings were developed through a combination of literature review and extensive stakeholder engagement with industry government and academic experts.
The paper can be downloaded from the CCC website
Modelling the UK Energy System: Practical Insights for Technology Development and Policy Making
Jun 2014
Publication
The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) has developed an internationally peer-reviewed model of the UK’s national energy system extending across power heat transport and infrastructure. The Energy System Modelling Environment (ESME) is a policy neutral system-wide optimisation model. It models the key technology and engineering choices taking account of cost engineering spatial and temporal factors.
Key points:
Key points:
- A system-wide perspective informed by modelling is highly relevant because complex energy systems are made more inter-dependent by emissions reduction objectives
- Efforts to cut emissions are substitutable across a national energy system encompassing power heat transport and infrastructure.
- Energy systems are subject to key decision points and it is important to make the right choices in major long lived investments
- Policy makers should place policy in a system-wide context.
- Decarbonisation can be achieved affordably (at around 0.6% of GDP) provided that the most cost effective technologies and strategies to reduce emissions are deployed
- A broad portfolio of technologies is needed to deliver emissions reductions with bio-energy and carbon capture and storage of particular system-wide importance
Clean Growth- Transforming Heating Overview of Current Evidence
Dec 2018
Publication
Government has reviewed the evidence base on options for achieving long term heat decarbonisation. This report provides an overview of the key issues arising from our review and seeks to:
- highlight the different characteristics of the main alternative sources of low carbon heat and the approaches to achieving transformational change
- set out strategically important issues ‘strategic inferences’ which we have drawn from the evidence available to help focus the development of our long term policy framework
- identify areas that require further exploration to inform the development of a new long term policy framework for heat
- better understanding of the different options available for decarbonising heating
- a clearer common agenda across industry academia and the public sector to ensure effort and resources are effectively and efficiently applied to long term heat decarbonisation issues
- the strategic inferences identified
- the priority areas requiring further development
- any important omissions
- the parties best placed to deliver in these areas
- opportunities for enhancing co-ordination
Energy White Paper: Powering our Net Zero Future
Dec 2020
Publication
The Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan has set out the measures that will help ensure the UK is at the forefront of this revolution just as we led the first over two centuries ago. As nations move out of the shadow of coronavirus and confront the challenge of climate change with renewed vigour markets for new green products and services will spring up round the world. Taking action now will help ensure not just that we end our contribution to climate change by achieving our target of net zero emissions. It will help position UK companies and our world class research base to seize the business opportunities which flow from it creating jobs and wealth for our country.
Following on from the Ten Point Plan and the National Infrastructure Strategy the Energy White Paper provides further clarity on the Prime Minister’s measures and puts in place a strategy for the wider energy system that:
Following on from the Ten Point Plan and the National Infrastructure Strategy the Energy White Paper provides further clarity on the Prime Minister’s measures and puts in place a strategy for the wider energy system that:
- Transforms energy building a cleaner greener future for our country our people and our planet
- Supports a green recovery growing our economy supporting thousands of green jobs across the country in new green industries and leveraging new green export opportunities
- Creates a fair deal for consumers protecting the fuel poor providing opportunities to save money on bills giving us warmer more comfortable homes and balancing investment against bill impacts.
Scenario-Based Techno-Economic Analysis of Steam Methane Reforming Process for Hydrogen Production
Jun 2021
Publication
Steam methane reforming (SMR) process is regarded as a viable option to satisfy the growing demand for hydrogen mainly because of its capability for the mass production of hydrogen and the maturity of the technology. In this study an economically optimal process configuration of SMR is proposed by investigating six scenarios with different design and operating conditions including CO2 emission permits and CO2 capture and sale. Of the six scenarios the process configuration involving CO2 capture and sale is the most economical with an H2 production cost of $1.80/kg-H2. A wide range of economic analyses is performed to identify the tradeoffs and cost drivers of the SMR process in the economically optimal scenario. Depending on the CO2 selling price and the CO2 capture cost the economic feasibility of the SMR-based H2 production process can be further improved.
Recovery Through Reform: Advancing a Hydrogen Economy While Minimizing Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Feb 2021
Publication
This brief explores recent momentum on hydrogen and evaluates potential implications for subsidies for fossil fuel-based hydrogen given the government's commitments on fossil fuel subsidies.
Spending on hydrogen has the potential to significantly influence the direction taken by the world’s energy systems. In December 2020 Canada unveiled a national hydrogen strategy following the announcement of a strengthened climate plan. The strategy emphasized both blue and green hydrogen. As the government considers whether to provide subsidies for hydrogen we recommend government:
This brief is one of three International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) policy briefs in its Recovery Through Reform series which assesses how efforts to achieve a green recovery from COVID-19 in Canada rely on—and can contribute to—fossil fuel subsidy reform.
Spending on hydrogen has the potential to significantly influence the direction taken by the world’s energy systems. In December 2020 Canada unveiled a national hydrogen strategy following the announcement of a strengthened climate plan. The strategy emphasized both blue and green hydrogen. As the government considers whether to provide subsidies for hydrogen we recommend government:
- Ensure that any subsidies for hydrogen are in line with the government’s commitments to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies by 2025 and meet net-zero by 2050.
- Thoroughly evaluate the potential efficiency of subsidies for hydrogen against robust social environmental and economic criteria. • Improve transparency by publicly reporting on direct spending and tax expenditures for hydrogen production.
- Follow international best practices being set by Canada’s peers. For example Germany and Spain have laid out hydrogen strategies prioritizing green hydrogen.
This brief is one of three International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) policy briefs in its Recovery Through Reform series which assesses how efforts to achieve a green recovery from COVID-19 in Canada rely on—and can contribute to—fossil fuel subsidy reform.
World Energy Issues Monitor 2018: Perspectives on the Grand Energy Transition
May 2018
Publication
The World Energy Issues Monitor provides the views of energy leaders from across the globe to highlight the key issues of uncertainty importance and developing signals for the future.
The World Energy Issues Monitor Tool presents in one place dynamic map views of the nine years of Issues Monitor data that has been collated by the World Energy Council. The maps convey a narrative of the key energy issues regional and local variances and how these have changed over time. The tool allows the preparation of different maps for comparison and allows the manipulation of data by geography over time or by highlighting of specific energy issues.
The World Energy Issues Monitor Tool presents in one place dynamic map views of the nine years of Issues Monitor data that has been collated by the World Energy Council. The maps convey a narrative of the key energy issues regional and local variances and how these have changed over time. The tool allows the preparation of different maps for comparison and allows the manipulation of data by geography over time or by highlighting of specific energy issues.
- The geographical views can now be broken out into a country level.
- The time view allows you to see how specific issues have developed whether globally at a regional or country level
- Issues can also be viewed according to certain categories such as OECD non-OECD G20 countries innovators
Evaluation of Decarbonization Technologies for ASEAN Countries via an Integrated Assessment Tool
May 2022
Publication
A new assessment tool for evaluating decarbonization technologies that considers each technology’s sustainability security affordability readiness and impact for a specific country is proposed. This tool is applied to a set of decarbonization technologies for the power transport and industry sectors for the ten Southeast Asian countries that constitute ASEAN. This results in a list of the most promising decarbonization technologies as well as the remaining issues that need more research and development. This study reveals several common themes for ASEAN’s decarbonization. First carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a key technology for large-scale CO2 emission. Second for countries that rely heavily on coal for power generation switching to gas can halve their CO2 emission in the power sector and should be given high priority. Third hydropower and bioenergy both have high potential for the majority of ASEAN countries if their sustainability issues can be resolved satisfactorily. Fourth replacing conventional vehicles by electric vehicles is the overarching theme in the road transport sector but will result in increased demand for electricity. In the medium to long term the use of hydrogen for marine fuel and biofuels for aviation fuel are preferred solutions for the marine and aviation transport sectors. Fifth for the industry sector installing CCS in industrial plants should be given priority but replacing fossil fuels by blue hydrogen for high-temperature heating is the preferred long-term solution.
The Compatibility of Onshore Petroleum with Meeting the UK’s Carbon Budgets
Jul 2016
Publication
The Committee’s report ‘The compatibility of UK onshore petroleum with meeting the UK’s carbon budgets’ is the result of a new duty under the Infrastructure Act 2015. This duty requires the CCC to advise the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change about the implications of exploitation of onshore petroleum including shale gas for meeting UK carbon budgets.<br/>The CCC’s report finds that the implications of UK shale gas exploitation for greenhouse gas emissions are subject to considerable uncertainty – from the size of any future industry to the potential emissions footprint of shale gas production. It also finds that exploitation of shale gas on a significant scale is not compatible with UK carbon budgets or the 2050 commitment to reduce emissions by at least 80% unless three tests are satisfied.
Reducing Emissions in Scotland – 2017 Progress Report
Sep 2017
Publication
The Scottish Act sets a long-term target to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by at least 80% in 2050 relative to 1990 with an interim target to reduce emissions by 42% in 2020. Secondary legislation passed in October 2010 and October 2011 also set a series of annual emission reduction targets for 2010 to 2022 and 2023 to 2027 respectively. We advised the Scottish Government on annual targets for the period 2028 to 2032 in March 2016 and July 2016.<br/>The report reveals that Scotland’s annual emissions reduction target for 2014 was met with gross Scottish greenhouse gas emissions including international aviation and shipping falling by 8.6% in 2014. This compares to a 7.3% fall for the UK as a whole. Since 1990 gross Scottish emissions have fallen nearly 40% compared to nearly 33% at a UK level.
Reducing Emissions in Scotland 2019 Progress Report
Dec 2019
Publication
This is the eighth annual Progress Report to the Scottish Parliament required by Scottish Ministers under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. It assesses Scotland’s progress in achieving its legislated targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.<br/>Overall greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 3% in 2017 compared to a 10% fall in 2016. The fall was again led by the power sector due in large part to Scotland’s first full year of coal-free electricity generation. Recent performance in other sectors shows only incremental improvement at best and unless emissions reductions are delivered economy-wide Scotland is at risk of missing its new interim target of a 56% reduction in emissions by 2020. Setting a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target for 2045 represents a step-change in ambition for Scotland. The Scottish Parliament’s 2030 target to reduce emissions by 75% will be extremely challenging to meet. It must be backed up by steps to drive meaningful emissions reductions immediately.<br/>Scotland’s Programme for Government 2019-20 alongside other recent policies sent a clear signal that the Scottish Government is taking its more ambitious targets seriously but there is much more to do.Scotland’s ability to deliver its net-zero target is contingent on action taken in the UK and vice versa.
Next Steps for UK Heat Policy
Oct 2016
Publication
Heating and hot water for UK buildings make up 40% of our energy consumption and 20% of our greenhouse gas emissions. It will be necessary to largely eliminate these emissions by around 2050 to meet the targets in the Climate Change Act and to maintain the UK contribution to international action under the Paris Agreement.<br/>Progress to date has stalled. The Government needs a credible new strategy and a much stronger policy framework for buildings decarbonisation over the next three decades. Many of the changes that will reduce emissions will also contribute toward modern affordable comfortable homes and workplaces and can be delivered alongside a major expansion in the number of homes. This report considers that challenge and sets out possible steps to meet it.
Scenarios for Deployment of Hydrogen in Meeting Carbon Budgets (E4tech)
Nov 2015
Publication
This research considers the potential role of hydrogen in meeting the UK’s carbon budgets. It was written by consultancy E4tech.<br/>The CCC develops scenarios for the UK’s future energy system to assess routes to decarbonisation and to advise UK Government on policy options. Uncertainty to 2050 is considerable and so different scenarios are needed to assess different trajectories targets and technology combinations. Some of these scenarios assess specific technologies or fuels which have the potential to make a significant contribution to future decarbonisation.<br/>Hydrogen is one such fuel. It has been included in limited quantities in some CCC scenarios but not extensively examined in part due to perceived or anticipated higher costs than some other options. But as hydrogen technology is developed and deployed the cost projections and other performance indicators have become more favourable.
Energy Modeling Approach to the Global Energy-mineral Nexus: Exploring Metal Requirements and the Well-below 2 °C Target with 100 Percent Renewable Energy
Jun 2018
Publication
Detailed analysis of pathways to future sustainable energy systems is important in order to identify and overcome potential constraints and negative impacts and to increase the utility and speed of this transition. A key aspect of a shift to renewable energy technologies is their relatively higher metal intensities. In this study a bottom-up cost-minimizing energy model is used to calculate aggregate metal requirements in different energy technology including hydrogen and climate policy scenarios and under a range of assumptions reflecting uncertainty in future metal intensities recycling rate and life time of energy technologies. Metal requirements are then compared to current production rates and resource estimates to identify potentially “critical” metals. Three technology pathways are investigated: 100 percent renewables coal & nuclear and gas & renewables each under the two different climate policies: net zero emissions satisfying the well-below 2 °C target and business as usual without carbon constraints resulting together in six scenarios. The results suggest that the three different technology pathways lead to an almost identical degree of warming without any climate policy while emissions peaks within a few decades with a 2 °C policy. The amount of metals required varies significantly in the different scenarios and under the various uncertainty assumptions. However some can be deemed “critical” in all outcomes including Vanadium. The originality of this study lies in the specific findings and in the employment of an energy model for the energy-mineral nexus study to provide better understanding for decision making and policy development.
Can the Current EU Regulatory Framework Deliver Decarbonisation of Gas?
Jun 2020
Publication
This Energy Insight examines the current regulatory framework and challenges facing the natural gas industry (producers transporters suppliers and consumers) during the transition to a zero-carbon economy. The EU has declared its intention to be climate neutral by 2050 which means that the current level of natural gas usage will no longer be possible. However natural gas is a crucial component of energy supply representing 24 per cent of primary energy supply for the EU27+UK and 36 per cent of residential energy consumption. In some countries the use of natural gas is much higher – around 40 per cent of primary energy supply in Netherlands UK and Italy. The current framework impacting gas addresses two different market failures – natural monopolies for gas transportation and the externalities of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The framework will not deliver decarbonisation of gas as it does not stimulate either supply or demand for alternatives such as hydrogen nor create the conditions to enable gas networks to transition to a decarbonised future. Policy makers need to prioritise their objectives to take account of the trade-offs involved in designing a new framework. Exclusion of certain low carbon technologies risks driving away investors and reduces the chances of targets being met whilst “picking winners” involves risks because of the many uncertainties involved such as future costs and time required to build new value chains.
Link to Document on Oxford Institute for Energy Studies website
Link to Document on Oxford Institute for Energy Studies website
Role of batteries and fuel cells in achieving Net Zero- Session 3
Mar 2021
Publication
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee will hear from officials research funders and leading research consortia about the UK’s strategy for research and development of batteries and fuel cells to help meet the net-zero target.
The Committee will question officials from government departments and research councils about the UK’s increased support for battery development and how the initiatives and funding will evolve. The Committee will compare the support given to fuel cell research and ask how this technology will be developed for applications such as heavy transport. For both technologies it will ask how training will be delivered to provide a skilled workforce.
The Committee will also hear from leaders of research consortia asking them about support for their research sectors and how this compares with countries leading the development of the technologies. The Committee will explore coordination between research into batteries fuel cells and wider strategies such as for hydrogen and whether research for transport can be transferred to applications in other sectors such as power grids and heating.
At 10.00am: Oral evidence
Mr Tony Harper Industrial Strategy Challenge Director Faraday Battery Challenge at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) at University of Central Lancashire
Dr Lucy Martin Deputy Director of Cross-Council Programmes and lead for Net Zero at University of Central Lancashire
Dr Bob Moran Deputy Director Head of Environment Strategy at University of Central Lancashire
Professor Paul Monks Chief Scientific Adviser at University of Central Lancashire
At 11.00am: Oral evidence
Professor Philip Taylor Director at EPSRC Supergen Energy Networks Hub and Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at University of Bristol
Professor David Greenwood CEO High Value Manufacturing Catapult at University of Central Lancashire Director Industrial Engagement at University of Central Lancashire and Professor of Advanced Propulsion Systems at University of Warwick
Professor Paul Dodds Professor of Energy Systems at University of Central Lancashire
Possible questions
Parliament TV video of the meeting
This is part three of a three part enquiry.
Part one can be found here and part two can be found here.
The Committee will question officials from government departments and research councils about the UK’s increased support for battery development and how the initiatives and funding will evolve. The Committee will compare the support given to fuel cell research and ask how this technology will be developed for applications such as heavy transport. For both technologies it will ask how training will be delivered to provide a skilled workforce.
The Committee will also hear from leaders of research consortia asking them about support for their research sectors and how this compares with countries leading the development of the technologies. The Committee will explore coordination between research into batteries fuel cells and wider strategies such as for hydrogen and whether research for transport can be transferred to applications in other sectors such as power grids and heating.
At 10.00am: Oral evidence
Mr Tony Harper Industrial Strategy Challenge Director Faraday Battery Challenge at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) at University of Central Lancashire
Dr Lucy Martin Deputy Director of Cross-Council Programmes and lead for Net Zero at University of Central Lancashire
Dr Bob Moran Deputy Director Head of Environment Strategy at University of Central Lancashire
Professor Paul Monks Chief Scientific Adviser at University of Central Lancashire
At 11.00am: Oral evidence
Professor Philip Taylor Director at EPSRC Supergen Energy Networks Hub and Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at University of Bristol
Professor David Greenwood CEO High Value Manufacturing Catapult at University of Central Lancashire Director Industrial Engagement at University of Central Lancashire and Professor of Advanced Propulsion Systems at University of Warwick
Professor Paul Dodds Professor of Energy Systems at University of Central Lancashire
Possible questions
- On which aspects of battery and fuel cell research and development is the UK focusing and why?
- How successful have the UK’s new research initiatives been in advancing battery science and application?
- Does battery research receive greater public funding than fuel cell research? If so why?
- What technologies are seen as the most likely options for heavy transport i.e. HGVs buses and trains?
- What is the Government’s strategy for supporting the growth of skilled workers for battery and fuel cell research and development?
- To what extent is battery and fuel cell research and development coordinated in the UK? If so who is responsible for this coordination?
Parliament TV video of the meeting
This is part three of a three part enquiry.
Part one can be found here and part two can be found here.
A Decarbonization Roadmap for Singapore and Its Energy Policy Implications
Oct 2021
Publication
As a signatory to the Paris Agreement Singapore is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions in the second half of the century. In this paper we propose a decarbonization roadmap for Singapore based on an analysis of Singapore’s energy landscape and a technology mapping exercise. This roadmap consists of four major components. The first component which also underpins the other three components is using centralized post-combustion carbon capture technology to capture and compress CO2 emitted from multiple industrial sources in Jurong Island. The captured CO2 is then transported by ship or an existing natural gas pipeline to a neighboring country where it will be stored permanently in a subsurface reservoir. Important to the success of this first-of-a-kind cross-border carbon capture and storage (CCS) project is the establishment of a regional CCS corridor which makes use of economies of scale to reduce the cost of CO2 capture transport and injection. The second component of the roadmap is the production of hydrogen in a methane steam reforming plant which is integrated with the carbon capture plant. The third component is the modernizing of the refining sector by introducing biorefineries increasing output to petrochemical plants and employing post-combustion carbon capture. The fourth component is refueling the transport sector by introducing electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles using biofuels for aviation and hydrogen for marine vessels. The implications of this roadmap on Singapore’s energy policies are also discussed.
Contrasting European Hydrogen Pathways: An Analysis of Differing Approaches in Key Markets
Mar 2021
Publication
European countries approach the market ramp-up of hydrogen very differently. In some cases the economic and political starting points differ significantly. While the probability is high that some countries such as Germany or Italy will import hydrogen in the long term other countries such as United Kingdom France or Spain could become hydrogen exporters. The reasons for this are the higher potential for renewable energies but also a technology-neutral approach on the supply side.
Role of Batteries and Fuel Cells in Achieving Net Zero- Session 1
Mar 2021
Publication
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee will question experts on the role of batteries and fuel cells for decarbonisation and how much they can contribute to meeting the net-zero target.
Tuesday’s evidence session will be the first of the committee’s new decarbonisation inquiry which was launched on Wednesday 3 March and is currently accepting written evidence submissions.
The session will give an overview of battery and fuel cell technologies and their applications in transport and other sectors. The Committee will ask how battery manufacture can be scaled up to meet wide-scale deployment of electric vehicles and whether technical challenges can be overcome to allow batteries and fuel cells to be used in HGVs and trains. The Committee will also investigate the wider use of batteries and fuel cells in various sectors including integration into power grids and heating systems.
Inquiry Role of batteries and fuel cells in achieving Net Zero
Professor Nigel Brandon Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Imperial College London
Professor Mauro Pasta Associate Professor of Materials at University of Oxford
Professor Pam Thomas CEO at Faraday Institution and Pro Vice Chancellor for Research at University of Warwick
Mr Amer Gaffar Director of Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre at Manchester Metropolitan University
Possible questions
What contribution are battery and fuel cell technologies currently making towards decarbonization in the UK?
What advances do we expect to see in battery and fuel cell technologies and over what timeframes?
How quickly can UK battery and fuel cell manufacture be scaled up to meet electrification demands?
What are the challenges facing technological innovation and deployment in heavy transport?
Are there any sectors where battery and fuel cell technologies are not currently used but could contribute to decarbonisation?
What are the life cycle environmental impacts of batteries and fuel cells?
Parliament TV video of the meeting
This is part one of a three part enquiry.
Part two can be found here and part three can be found here.
Tuesday’s evidence session will be the first of the committee’s new decarbonisation inquiry which was launched on Wednesday 3 March and is currently accepting written evidence submissions.
The session will give an overview of battery and fuel cell technologies and their applications in transport and other sectors. The Committee will ask how battery manufacture can be scaled up to meet wide-scale deployment of electric vehicles and whether technical challenges can be overcome to allow batteries and fuel cells to be used in HGVs and trains. The Committee will also investigate the wider use of batteries and fuel cells in various sectors including integration into power grids and heating systems.
Inquiry Role of batteries and fuel cells in achieving Net Zero
Professor Nigel Brandon Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Imperial College London
Professor Mauro Pasta Associate Professor of Materials at University of Oxford
Professor Pam Thomas CEO at Faraday Institution and Pro Vice Chancellor for Research at University of Warwick
Mr Amer Gaffar Director of Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre at Manchester Metropolitan University
Possible questions
What contribution are battery and fuel cell technologies currently making towards decarbonization in the UK?
What advances do we expect to see in battery and fuel cell technologies and over what timeframes?
How quickly can UK battery and fuel cell manufacture be scaled up to meet electrification demands?
What are the challenges facing technological innovation and deployment in heavy transport?
Are there any sectors where battery and fuel cell technologies are not currently used but could contribute to decarbonisation?
What are the life cycle environmental impacts of batteries and fuel cells?
Parliament TV video of the meeting
This is part one of a three part enquiry.
Part two can be found here and part three can be found here.
Delivering Net-zero Carbon Heat: Technoeconomic and Whole-system Comparisons of Domestic Electricity- and Hydrogen-driven Technologies in the UK
Apr 2022
Publication
Proposed sustainable transition pathways for moving away from natural gas in domestic heating focus on two main energy vectors: electricity and hydrogen. Electrification would be implemented by using vapourcompression heat pumps which are currently experiencing market growth in many countries. On the other hand hydrogen could substitute natural gas in boilers or be used in thermally–driven absorption heat pumps. In this paper a consistent thermodynamic and economic methodology is developed to assess the competitiveness of these options. The three technologies along with the option of district heating are for the first time compared for different weather/ambient conditions and fuel-price scenarios first from a homeowner’s and then from a wholeenergy system perspective. For the former two-dimensional decision maps are generated to identify the most cost-effective technologies for different combinations of fuel prices. It is shown that in the UK hydrogen technologies are economically favourable if hydrogen is supplied to domestic end-users at a price below half of the electricity price. Otherwise electrification and the use of conventional electric heat pumps will be preferred. From a whole-energy system perspective the total system cost per household (which accounts for upstream generation and storage as well as technology investment installation and maintenance) associated with electric heat pumps varies between 790 and 880 £/year for different scenarios making it the least-cost decarbonisation pathway. If hydrogen is produced by electrolysis the total system cost associated with hydrogen technologies is notably higher varying between 1410 and 1880 £/year. However this total system cost drops to 1150 £/year with hydrogen produced cost-effectively by methane reforming and carbon capture and storage thus reducing the gap between electricity- and hydrogen-driven technologies.
Lessons Learned from Australian Infrastructure Upgrades
Feb 2020
Publication
This report fulfils Deliverable Five for Research Project 2.1-01 of the Future Fuels CRC. The aims of this project Crystallising lessons learned from major infrastructure upgrades are to provide a report on lessons learned from earlier infrastructure upgrades and fuel transitions and identify tools that can be used to develop consistent messaging around the proposed transition to hydrogen and/or other low-carbon fuels. In both the report and the toolkit there are recommendations on how to apply lessons learned and shape messaging throughout the value chain based on prior infrastructure upgrades.
This report presents three Australian case studies that that are relevant to the development of future fuels: the transition from town gas to natural gas the use of ethanol and LPG as motor fuels and the development of coal seam gas resources. Drawing on published information each case study provides an account of the issues that arose during the upgrade or transition and of the approaches through which industry and government stakeholders managed these issues. From these accounts lessons are identified that can guide stakeholder engagement in future infrastructure upgrades and fuel transitions. The findings from the case studies and academic literature have been used to develop an accompanying draft toolkit for use by FFCRC stakeholders.
The report also distils applicable lessons and frameworks from academic literature about stakeholder analysis megaprojects and the social acceptance of industries and technologies. This report is meant to be used in conjunction with a companion toolkit that provides a framework for making coordinated decisions across the fuel value chain.
You can read the full report on the Future Fuels CRC website here
This report presents three Australian case studies that that are relevant to the development of future fuels: the transition from town gas to natural gas the use of ethanol and LPG as motor fuels and the development of coal seam gas resources. Drawing on published information each case study provides an account of the issues that arose during the upgrade or transition and of the approaches through which industry and government stakeholders managed these issues. From these accounts lessons are identified that can guide stakeholder engagement in future infrastructure upgrades and fuel transitions. The findings from the case studies and academic literature have been used to develop an accompanying draft toolkit for use by FFCRC stakeholders.
The report also distils applicable lessons and frameworks from academic literature about stakeholder analysis megaprojects and the social acceptance of industries and technologies. This report is meant to be used in conjunction with a companion toolkit that provides a framework for making coordinated decisions across the fuel value chain.
You can read the full report on the Future Fuels CRC website here
Pathway to Net Zero Emissions
Oct 2021
Publication
A feasible path to limit planetary warming to 1.5°C requires certain countries and sectors to go below net zero and to do so well before the middle of the century according to new analysis from the authors of the Energy Transition Outlook. DNV’s pathway to net zero says North America and Europe must be carbon neutral by 2042 whereas Indian Subcontinent is set to be a net emitter by 2050 Net zero report says carbon capture storage and use is required as energy production will not be carbon neutral by 2050 Aim to halve emissions by 2030 is out of reach but massive early action is needed if we are to have any chance of reaching a 1.5°C future DNV’s new report “Pathway to Net Zero Emissions” describes a feasible way to limit global warming to 1.5°C Policy makers are set to meet in Glasgow for the COP 26 summit with an eye on achieving zero emissions by 2050. For this to happen North America and Europe must be carbon neutral by 2042 and then carbon negative thereafter according to DNV’s pathway to net zero. The pathway also finds that Greater China must reduce emissions by 98% from 2019 levels by 2050. There are regions that cannot realistically transition completely away from fossil fuels in the same timeframe such as the Indian Subcontinent which will reduce emissions by 64%. Pathway to Net Zero Emissions also lays out the pace at which different industry sectors need to decarbonize. The so-called hard-to-abate sectors will take longer to decarbonize and even if sectors like maritime (-90% CO2 emissions in 2050) and iron and steel production (-82%) scale up the introduction of greener technologies they will still be net emitters by 2050.
Towards Global Cleaner Energy and Hydrogen Production: A Review and Application ORC Integrality with Multigeneration Systems
Apr 2022
Publication
The current evidential effect of carbon emissions has become a societal challenge and the need to transition to cleaner energy sources/technologies has attracted wide research attention. Technologies that utilize low-grade heat like the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) and Kalina cycle have been proposed as viable approaches for fossil reduction/carbon mitigation. The development of renewable energy-based multigeneration systems is another alternative solution to this global challenge. Hence it is important to monitor the development of multigeneration energy systems based on low-grade heat. In this study a review of the ORC’s application in multigeneration systems is presented to highlight the recent development in ORC integrality/application. Beyond this a new ORC-CPVT (concentrated photovoltaic/thermal) integrated multigeneration system is also modeled and analyzed using the thermodynamics approach. Since most CPVT systems integrate hot water production in the thermal stem the proposed multigeneration system is designed to utilize part of the thermal energy to generate electricity and hydrogen. Although the CPVT system can achieve high energetic and exergetic efficiencies while producing thermal energy and electricity these efficiencies are 47.9% and 37.88% respectively for the CPVT-ORC multigeneration configuration. However it is noteworthy that the electricity generation from the CPVT-ORC configuration in this study is increased by 16%. In addition the hot water cooling effect and hydrogen generated from the multigeneration system are 0.4363 L/s 161 kW and 1.515 L/s respectively. The environmental analysis of the system also shows that the carbon emissions reduction potential is enormous.
Inefficient Investments as a Key to Narrowing Regional Economic Imbalances
Feb 2022
Publication
Policy led decisions aiming at decarbonizing the economy may well exacerbate existing regional economic imbalances. These effects are seldomly recognised in spatially aggregated top-down and techno-economic decarbonization strategies. Here we present a spatial economic framework that quantifies the gross value added associated with low carbon hydrogen investments while accounting for region-specific factors such as the industrial specialization of regions their relative size and their economic interdependencies. In our case study which uses low carbon hydrogen produced via autothermal reforming combined with carbon capture and storage to decarbonize the energy intensive industries in Europe and in the UK we demonstrate that interregional economic interdependencies drive the overall economic benefits of the decarbonization. Policies intended to concurrently transition to net zero and address existing regional imbalances as in the case of the UK Industrial Decarbonization Challenge should take these local factors into account.
The Future of Gas in Decarbonising European Energy Markets – The Need for a New Approach
Sep 2017
Publication
The European gas industry has argued that gas can be a bridging fuel in the transition to decarbonised energy markets because of the advantages of switching from coal to gas and the role of gas in backing up intermittent renewable power generation. While this remains a logical approach for some countries in others it has proved either not relevant or generally unsuccessful in gaining acceptance with either policymakers or the environmental community. Policy decisions will be taken in the next 5-10 years which will irreversibly impact the future of gas in the period 2030-50. A paradigm shift in commercial time horizons and gas value chain cooperation will be necessary for the industry to embrace decarbonisation technologies (such as carbon capture and storage) which will eventually be necessary if gas is to prolong its future in European energy markets. To ensure a post-2030 future in European energy balances the gas community will be obliged to adopt a new message: `Gas can Decarbonise’ (and remain competitive with other low/zero carbon energy supplies). It will need to back up this message with a strategy which will lead to the decarbonisation of methane starting no later than 2030. Failure to do so will be to accept a future of decline albeit on a scale of decades and to risk that by the time the community engages with decarbonisation non-methane policy options will have been adopted which will make that decline irreversible.
UK Hydrogen Economy: Debate Pack
Dec 2020
Publication
A Westminster Hall debate on the UK hydrogen economy has been scheduled for Thursday 17 December 2020 at 3.00pm. The debate will be led by Alexander Stafford MP. This House of Commons Library debate pack provides background information and press and parliamentary coverage of the issues.<br/><br/>The Government has legally binding targets under the Climate Change Act 2008 to reach ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2050. Background information is available from the Library webpage on Climate Change: an overview.<br/><br/>In order to meet the net zero target the use of fossil fuels (without abatement such as carbon capture usage and storage) across the economy will need to be almost entirely phased out by 2050. Hydrogen gas is regarded as an energy option to help decarbonisation especially in relation to applications that may be more challenging to decarbonise. These applications include heating transport (including heavy goods shipping and aviation) and some industrial processes.<br/><br/>The Government has legally binding targets under the Climate Change Act 2008 to reach ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2050. Background information is available from the Library webpage on Climate Change: an overview.<br/><br/>In order to meet the net zero target the use of fossil fuels (without abatement such as carbon capture usage and storage) across the economy will need to be almost entirely phased out by 2050. Hydrogen gas is regarded as an energy option to help decarbonisation especially in relation to applications that may be more challenging to decarbonise. These applications include heating transport (including heavy goods shipping and aviation) and some industrial processes.
Oxford Energy Podcast – Hydrogen in Europe
Apr 2021
Publication
The EU and a number of its member states have now published hydrogen strategies and Europe continues to lead the way in the decarbonisation of its gas sector. In this latest OIES Energy Podcast James Henderson talks with Martin Lambert and Simon Schulte about their latest paper entitled “Contrasting European Hydrogen Pathways” which examines the plans in six major EU countries. They discuss the outlook for various forms of hydrogen supply contrasting the potential for green hydrogen from renewable energy with the outlook for blue hydrogen using steam-reforming of methane as well as hydrogen generated from surplus nuclear energy. They also examine the potential sources of demand considering existing use of hydrogen in industrial processes as well as the potential for hydrogen to displace hydrocarbons in the steel and cement industries. Finally the podcast also looks at the potential for imports of hydrogen and its distribution within Europe while also considering some key milestones that can provide indicators of how the region’s hydrogen plans are playing out.
The podcast can be found on their website
The podcast can be found on their website
Offshore Wind and Hydrogen: Solving the Integration Challenge
Sep 2020
Publication
The combination of offshore wind and green hydrogen provides major opportunities for job creation economic growth and regional regeneration as well as attracting inward investment alongside delivering the emission reductions needed to achieve climate neutrality. In order to get to Net Zero emissions in 2050 the UK is likely to need a minimum of 75GW of offshore wind (OSW) and modelling of the energy system indicates that hydrogen will play a major role in integrating the high levels of OSW on the electricity grid.<br/><br/>Some of the key findings from report are listed below:<br/><br/>The UK has vast resources of offshore wind with the potential for over 600GW in UK waters and potentially up to 1000GW. This is well above the he figure of 75-100GW likely to be needed for UK electricity generation by 2050.<br/>The universities in the UK provide the underpinning science and engineering for electrolysers fuel cells and hydrogen and are home to world-leading capability in these areas.<br/>In order to achieve cost reduction and growing a significant manufacturing and export industry it will be crucial to develop green hydrogen in the next 5 years<br/>By 2050 green hydrogen can be cheaper than blue hydrogen. With accelerated deployment green hydrogen costs can be competitive with blue hydrogen by the eary 2030s.<br/>The combination of additional OSW deployment and electrolyser manufacture alone could generate over 120000 new jobs. These are are expected to be based mainly in manufacturing OSW-related activity shipping and mobility<br/>By 2050 it is estimated that the cumulative gross value added (GVA) from supply of electrolysers and additional OSW farm could be up to £320bn where the majority will come from exports of electrolysers to overseas markets.<br/>The report also calls for immediate government intervention and a new national strategy to support the creation of supply and demand in the new industry.<br/><br/>This study was jointly supported by the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) and ORE Catapult.
Biogas: Pathways to 2030
Mar 2021
Publication
Humans directly or indirectly generate over 105 billion tonnes of organic wastes globally each year all of which release harmful methane and other greenhouse gas emissions directly into the atmosphere as they decompose. These organic wastes include food waste sewage and garden wastes food and drink processing wastes and farm and agricultural wastes. Today only 2% of these are treated and recycled.
By simply managing these important bioresources more effectively we can cut global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 10% by 2030. This report maps out how the global biogas industry can enable countries to deliver a 10% reduction in global GHG emissions by 2030. The pathways put humanity back on track to deliver by 2030 on the ambitions of both the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The report and the executive summary can be downloaded at this link
By simply managing these important bioresources more effectively we can cut global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 10% by 2030. This report maps out how the global biogas industry can enable countries to deliver a 10% reduction in global GHG emissions by 2030. The pathways put humanity back on track to deliver by 2030 on the ambitions of both the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The report and the executive summary can be downloaded at this link
Business Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee Inquiry into Decarbonising Heat in Homes
Dec 2020
Publication
The Hydrogen Taskforce welcomes the opportunity to submit evidence to the Business Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee’s inquiry into decarbonising heat in homes. It is the Taskforce’s view that:
In March 2020 the Taskforce has defined a set of policy recommendations for Government which are designed to ensure that hydrogen can scale to meet the future demands of a net zero energy system: • Development of a cross departmental UK Hydrogen Strategy within UK Government;• Commit £1bn of capex funding over the next spending review period to hydrogen production storage and distribution projects;• Develop a financial support scheme for the production of hydrogen in blending industry power and transport.• Amend Gas Safety Management Regulations (GSMR) to enable hydrogen blending and take the next steps towards 100% hydrogen heating through supporting public trials and mandating 100% hydrogen-ready boilers by 2025; and• Commit to the support of 100 Hydrogen Refuelling Stations (HRS) by 2025 to support the rollout of hydrogen transport.
You can download the whole document from the Hydrogen Taskforce website here
- Decarbonising heat is one of the biggest challenges that the UK faces in meeting Net Zero and several solutions will be required;
- Hydrogen can play a valuable role in reducing the cost of decarbonising heat. Its high energy density enables it to be stored cost effectively at scale providing system resilience;
- Hydrogen heating can be implemented at minimal disruption to the consumer;
- The UK holds world-class advantages in hydrogen production distribution and application; and
- Other economies are moving ahead in the development of this sector and the UK must respond.
In March 2020 the Taskforce has defined a set of policy recommendations for Government which are designed to ensure that hydrogen can scale to meet the future demands of a net zero energy system: • Development of a cross departmental UK Hydrogen Strategy within UK Government;• Commit £1bn of capex funding over the next spending review period to hydrogen production storage and distribution projects;• Develop a financial support scheme for the production of hydrogen in blending industry power and transport.• Amend Gas Safety Management Regulations (GSMR) to enable hydrogen blending and take the next steps towards 100% hydrogen heating through supporting public trials and mandating 100% hydrogen-ready boilers by 2025; and• Commit to the support of 100 Hydrogen Refuelling Stations (HRS) by 2025 to support the rollout of hydrogen transport.
You can download the whole document from the Hydrogen Taskforce website here
Pathways toward a Decarbonized Future—Impact on Security of Supply and System Stability in a Sustainable German Energy System
Jan 2021
Publication
Pathways leading to a carbon neutral future for the German energy system have to deal with the expected phase-out of coal-fired power generation in addition to the shutdown of nuclear power plants and the rapid ramp-up of photovoltaics and wind power generation. An analysis of the expected impact on electricity market security of supply and system stability must consider the European context because of the strong coupling—both from an economic and a system operation point of view—through the cross-border power exchange of Germany with its neighbors. This analysis complemented by options to improve the existing development plans is the purpose of this paper. We propose a multilevel energy system modeling including electricity market network congestion management and system stability to identify challenges for the years 2023 and 2035. Out of the results we would like to highlight the positive role of innovative combined heat and power (CHP) solutions securing power and heat supply the importance of a network congestion management utilizing flexibility from sector coupling and the essential network extension plans. Network congestion and reduced security margins will become the new normal. We conclude that future energy systems require expanded flexibilities in combination with forward planning of operation.
Optimal Hydrogen Production in a Wind-dominated Zero-emission Energy System
May 2021
Publication
The role of hydrogen in future energy systems is widely acknowledged: from fuel for difficult-to-decarbonize applications to feedstock for chemicals synthesis to energy storage for high penetration of undispatchable renewable electricity. While several literature studies investigate such energy systems the details of how electrolysers and renewable technologies optimally behave and interact remain an open question. With this work we study the interplay between (i) renewable electricity generation through wind and solar (ii) electricity storage in batteries (iii) electricity storage via Power-to-H2 and (iv) hydrogen commodity demand. We do so by designing a cost-optimal zero-emission energy system and use the Netherlands as a case study in a mixed integer linear model with hourly resolution for a time horizon of one year. To account for the significant role of wind we also provide an elaborate approach to model broad portfolios of wind turbines. The results show that if electrolyzers can operate flexibly batteries and power-to-H2-to-power are complementary with the latter using renewable power peaks and the former using lower renewable power outputs. If the operating modes of the power-to-H2-to-power system are limited - artificially or technically - the competitive advantage over batteries decreases. The preference of electrolyzers for power peaks also leads to an increase in renewable energy utilization for increased levels of operation flexibility highlighting the importance of capturing this feature both from a technical and a modeling perspective. When adding a commodity hydrogen demand the amount of hydrogen converted to electricity decreases hence decreasing its role as electricity storage medium.
Engineering a Sustainable Gas Future
Nov 2021
Publication
The Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers (IGEM) is the UK’s Professional Engineering Institution supporting individuals and businesses working in the global gas industry. IGEM was founded in 1863 with the purpose of advancing the science and relevant knowledge of gas engineering for the benefit of the public.
As a not-for-profit independent organisation IGEM acts as a trusted source of technical information guidance and services for the gas sector. In today’s net zero context IGEM is focused on engineering a sustainable gas future – we do this by:
This document outlines the current UK gas policy landscape our stance and what contribution we are making as an organisation.
As a not-for-profit independent organisation IGEM acts as a trusted source of technical information guidance and services for the gas sector. In today’s net zero context IGEM is focused on engineering a sustainable gas future – we do this by:
- Helping our members achieve and uphold the highest standards of professional competence to ensure the safety of the public
- Supporting our members in achieving their career goals by providing high quality products services and personal and professional development opportunities
- Acting as the voice of the gas industry when working with stakeholders to develop and improve gas policy.
This document outlines the current UK gas policy landscape our stance and what contribution we are making as an organisation.
Impacts of Variation Management on Cost-optimal Investments in Wind Power and Solar Photovoltaics
Dec 2019
Publication
This work investigates the impacts of variation management on the cost-optimal electricity system compositions in four regions with different pre-requisites for wind and solar generation. Five variation management strategies involving electric boilers batteries hydrogen storage low-cost biomass and demand-side management are integrated into a regional investment model that is designed to account for variability. The variation management strategies are considered one at a time as well as combined in four different system contexts. By investigating how the variation management strategies interact with each other as well as with different electricity generation technologies in a large number of cases this work support policy-makers in identifying variation management portfolios relevant to their context. It is found that electric boilers demand-side management and hydrogen storage increase the cost-optimal variable renewable electricity (VRE) investments if the VRE share is sufficiently large to reduce its marginal system value. However low-cost biomass and hydrogen storage are found to increase cost-optimal investments in wind power in systems with a low initial wind power share. In systems with low solar PV share variation management reduce the cost-optimal solar PV investments. In two of the regions investigated a combination of variation management strategies results in a stronger increase in VRE capacity than the sum of the single variation management efforts.
Alberta Hydrogen Roadmap
Nov 2021
Publication
Alberta is preparing for a lower emission future. The Hydrogen Roadmap is a key part of that future and Alberta's Recovery Plan. The roadmap is our path to building a provincial hydrogen economy and accessing global markets. It contains several policy actions that will be introduced in the coming months and years and it provides support to the sector as technology and markets develop.<br/>Alberta is already the largest hydrogen producer in Canada. We have all the resources expertise and technology needed to quickly become a global supplier of clean low-cost hydrogen. With a worldwide market estimated to be worth over $2.5 trillion a year by 2050 hydrogen can be the next great energy export that fuels jobs investment and economic opportunity across our province.
Interaction of Hydrogen Infrastructures with other Sector Coupling Options Towards a Zero-emission Energy System in Germany
Aug 2021
Publication
The flexible coupling of sectors in the energy system for example via battery electric vehicles electric heating or electric fuel production can contribute significantly to the integration of variable renewable electricity generation. For the implementation of the energy system transformation however there are numerous options for the design of sector coupling each of which is accompanied by different infrastructure requirements. This paper presents the extension of the REMix energy system modelling framework to include the gas sector and its application for investigating the cost-optimal design of sector coupling in Germany's energy system. Considering an integrated optimisation of all relevant technologies in their capacities and hourly use a path to a climate-neutral system in 2050 is analysed. We show that the different options for flexible sector coupling are all needed and perform different functions. Even though flexible electrolytic production of hydrogen takes on a very dominant role in 2050 it does not displace other technologies. Hydrogen also plays a central role in the seasonal balancing of generation and demand. Thus large-scale underground storage is part of the optimal system in addition to a hydrogen transport network. These results provide valuable guidance for the implementation of the energy system transformation in Germany.
H2 Green Hydrogen Discussion Paper: Victorian Hydrogen Investment Program
Nov 2019
Publication
This discussion paper is for stakeholders who would like to shape the development of Victoria’s emerging green hydrogen sector identifying competitive advantages and priority focus areas for industry and the Victorian Government.<br/>The Victorian Government is using this paper to focus on the economic growth and sector development opportunities emerging for a Victorian hydrogen industry powered by renewable energy also known as ‘green’ hydrogen. In addition this paper seeks input from all stakeholders on how where and when the Victorian Government can act to establish a thriving green hydrogen economy.<br/>Although green hydrogen is the only type of hydrogen production within the scope of this discussion paper the development of the VHIP aligns with the policies projects and initiatives which support these other forms of hydrogen production. The VHIP is considering the broad policy landscape and actively coordinating with related hydrogen programs policies and strategies under development including the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council’s National Hydrogen Strategy to ensure a complementary approach. In Victoria there are several programs and strategies in development and underway that have linkages with hydrogen and the VHIP.
Which way to Net Zero? A Comparative Analysis of Seven UK 2050 Decarbonisation Pathways
Dec 2021
Publication
Since the UK’s Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions target was set in 2019 organisations across the energy systems community have released pathways on how we might get there – which end-use technologies are deployed across each sector of demand how our fossil fuel-based energy supply would be transferred to low carbon vectors and to what extent society must change the way it demands energy services. This paper presents a comparative analysis between seven published Net Zero pathways for the UK energy system collected from Energy Systems Catapult National Grid ESO Centre for Alternative Technology and the Climate Change Committee. The key findings reported are that (i) pathways that rely on less stringent behavioural changes require more ambitious technology development (and vice versa); (ii) electricity generation will increase by 51-160% to facilitate large-scale fuel-switching in heating and transport the vast majority of which is likely to be generated from variable renewable sources; (iii) hydrogen is an important energy vector in meeting Net Zero for all pathways providing 100-591 TWh annually by 2050 though the growth in demand is heavily dependent on the extent to which it is used in supplying heating and transport demand. This paper also presents a re-visited analysis of the potential renewable electricity generation resource in the UK. It was found that the resource for renewable electricity generation outstrips the UK’s projected 2050 electricity demand by a factor 12-20 depending on the pathway. As made clear in all seven pathways large-scale deployment of flexibility and storage is required to match this abundant resource to our energy demand.
Powering a climate-neutral economy: An EU Strategy for Energy System Integration
Jul 2020
Publication
To become climate-neutral by 2050 Europe needs to transform its energy system which accounts for 75% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions. The EU strategies for energy system integration and hydrogen adopted today will pave the way towards a more efficient and interconnected energy sector driven by the twin goals of a cleaner planet and a stronger economy.<br/><br/>The two strategies present a new clean energy investment agenda in line with the Commission's Next Generation EU recovery package and the European Green Deal. The planned investments have the potential to stimulate the economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis. They create European jobs and boost our leadership and competitiveness in strategic industries which are crucial to Europe's resilience.
Green Hydrogen in the UK: Progress and Prospects
Apr 2022
Publication
Green hydrogen has been known in the UK since Robert Boyle described flammable air in 1671. This paper describes how green hydrogen has become a new priority for the UK in 2021 beginning to replace fossil hydrogen production exceeding 1 Mte in 2021 when the British Government started to inject significant funding into green hydrogen sources though much less than the USA Germany Japan and China. Recent progress in the UK was initiated in 2008 when the first UK green hydrogen station opened in Birmingham University refuelling 5 hydrogen fuel cell battery electric vehicles (HFCBEVs) for the 50 PhD chemical engineering students that arrived in 2009. Only 10 kg/day were required in contrast to the first large green ITM power station delivering almost 600 kg/day of green hydrogen that opened in the UK in Tyseley in July 2021. The first question asked in this paper is: ‘What do you mean Green?’. Then the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in Birmingham is described with the key innovations defined. Progress in UK green hydrogen and fuel cell introduction is then recounted. The remarks of Elon Musk about this ‘Fool Cell; Mind bogglingly stupid’ technology are analysed to show that he is incorrect. The immediate deployment of green hydrogen stations around the UK has been planned. Another century may be needed to make green hydrogen dominant across the country yet we will be on the correct path once a profitable supply chain is established in 2022.
An Innovative Approach for Energy Transition in China? Chinese National Hydrogen Policies from 2001 to 2020
Jan 2023
Publication
To accelerate clean energy transition China has explored the potential of hydrogen as an energy carrier since 2001. Until 2020 49 national hydrogen policies were enacted. This paper explores the relevance of these policies to the development of the hydrogen industry and energy transition in China. We examine the reasons impacts and challenges of Chinese national hydrogen policies through the conceptual framework of Thomas Dye’s policy analysis method and the European Training Foundation’s policy analysis guide. This research provides an ex‐post analysis for previous policies and an ex‐ante analysis for future options. We argue that the energy supply revolution and energy technology revolution highlight the importance of hydrogen development in China. Particularly the pressure of the automobile industry transition leads to experimentation concerning the application of hydrogen in the transportation sector. This paper also reveals that hydro‐ gen policy development coincides with an increase in resource input and has positive spill over effects. Furthermore we note that two challenges have impeded progress: a lack of regulations for the industry threshold and holistic planning. To address these challenges the Chinese government can design a national hydrogen roadmap and work closely with other countries through the Belt and Road Initiative.
Hydrogen Recovery from Waste Gas Streams to Feed (High-Temperature PEM) Fuel Cells: Environmental Performance under a Life-Cycle Thinking Approach
Oct 2020
Publication
Fossil fuels are being progressively substituted by a cleaner and more environmentally friendly form of energy where hydrogen fuel cells stand out. However the implementation of a competitive hydrogen economy still presents several challenges related to economic costs required infrastructures and environmental performance. In this context the objective of this work is to determine the environmental performance of the recovery of hydrogen from industrial waste gas streams to feed high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells for stationary applications. The life-cycle assessment (LCA) analyzed alternative scenarios with different process configurations considering as functional unit 1 kg of hydrogen produced 1 kWh of energy obtained and 1 kg of inlet flow. The results make the recovery of hydrogen from waste streams environmentally preferable over alternative processes like methane reforming or coal gasification. The production of the fuel cell device resulted in high contributions in the abiotic depletion potential and acidification potential mainly due to the presence of platinum metal in the anode and cathode. The design and operation conditions that defined a more favorable scenario are the availability of a pressurized waste gas stream the use of photovoltaic electricity and the implementation of an energy recovery system for the residual methane stream.
World Energy Issues Monitor 2020: Decoding New Signals of Change
Oct 2020
Publication
ISSUES MONITOR 2020: DECODING NEW SIGNALS OF CHANGE
The annual World Energy Issues Monitor provides unique insight into what energy policymakers CEOs and leading experts identify as Critical Uncertainties and Action Priorities. New this year the Issues Monitor also provides readers with the views of the individual customer detailing their perceptions of their role in the overall energy system. The Issues Monitor report includes a global issues map 58 country maps and six regional maps as well as perspectives from Future Energy Leaders (FEL) and energy innovators.
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
The 2020 global map incorporates all survey responses representing the views of over 3000 energy leaders from 104 countries. In this era of transition defined by decentralisation digitalisation and decarbonisation energy leaders must pay attention to many different signals of change and distinguish key issues from the noise. The Issues Monitor identifies shifting patterns of connected issues shaping energy transitions.
A NEW PULSE
The focus for the 2010s was about trying to automate and upgrade the energy system and set targets to move the energy transition forward. Digitalisation accelerated the transition of all sectors towards a more customer-centric environment. New policies and regulations were introduced to facilitate this transition and empower consumers. As a result the 2020s may very well be about realising those targets through a transition from activism to action.
TREND TRACKING: CCS
In comparing response from the Oil & Gas sector in 2015 with 2019 we found that almost half of respondents identified Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) as a high impact issue in 2019 up from about a third in 2015. CCS is increasingly being viewed as an essential option for continued hydrocarbon use although governmental support is needed to enable scalability and cost effectiveness.
A DIFFERENCE IN OPINION: NUCLEAR
Opinions remain polarised but in many European countries nuclear power is increasingly recognised as a carbon-free energy source and potentially an integral part of the future energy mix. In December 2019 the European Commission set a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. There is qualified support among energy leaders to include nuclear energy to help create a carbon neutral continent and enable a just energy transition.
The annual World Energy Issues Monitor provides unique insight into what energy policymakers CEOs and leading experts identify as Critical Uncertainties and Action Priorities. New this year the Issues Monitor also provides readers with the views of the individual customer detailing their perceptions of their role in the overall energy system. The Issues Monitor report includes a global issues map 58 country maps and six regional maps as well as perspectives from Future Energy Leaders (FEL) and energy innovators.
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
The 2020 global map incorporates all survey responses representing the views of over 3000 energy leaders from 104 countries. In this era of transition defined by decentralisation digitalisation and decarbonisation energy leaders must pay attention to many different signals of change and distinguish key issues from the noise. The Issues Monitor identifies shifting patterns of connected issues shaping energy transitions.
A NEW PULSE
The focus for the 2010s was about trying to automate and upgrade the energy system and set targets to move the energy transition forward. Digitalisation accelerated the transition of all sectors towards a more customer-centric environment. New policies and regulations were introduced to facilitate this transition and empower consumers. As a result the 2020s may very well be about realising those targets through a transition from activism to action.
TREND TRACKING: CCS
In comparing response from the Oil & Gas sector in 2015 with 2019 we found that almost half of respondents identified Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) as a high impact issue in 2019 up from about a third in 2015. CCS is increasingly being viewed as an essential option for continued hydrocarbon use although governmental support is needed to enable scalability and cost effectiveness.
A DIFFERENCE IN OPINION: NUCLEAR
Opinions remain polarised but in many European countries nuclear power is increasingly recognised as a carbon-free energy source and potentially an integral part of the future energy mix. In December 2019 the European Commission set a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. There is qualified support among energy leaders to include nuclear energy to help create a carbon neutral continent and enable a just energy transition.
Timmermans’ Dream: An Electricity and Hydrogen Partnership Between Europe and North Africa
Oct 2021
Publication
Because of differences in irradiation levels it could be more efficient to produce solar electricity and hydrogen in North Africa and import these energy carriers to Europe rather than generating them at higher costs domestically in Europe. From a global climate change mitigation point of view exploiting such efficiencies can be profitable since they reduce overall renewable electricity capacity requirements. Yet the construction of this capacity in North Africa would imply costs associated with the infrastructure needed to transport electricity and hydrogen. The ensuing geopolitical dependencies may also raise energy security concerns. With the integrated assessment model TIAM-ECN we quantify the trade-off between costs and benefits emanating from establishing import-export links between Europe and North Africa for electricity and hydrogen. We show that for Europe a net price may have to be paid for exploiting such interlinkages even while they reduce the domestic investments for renewable electricity capacity needed to implement the EU’s Green Deal. For North African countries the potential net benefits thanks to trade revenues may build up to 50 billion €/yr in 2050. Despite fears over costs and security Europe should seriously consider an energy partnership with North Africa because trade revenues are likely to lead to positive employment income and stability effects in North Africa. Europe can indirectly benefit from such impacts.
Decarbonization of Cement Production in a Hydrogen Economy
Apr 2022
Publication
The transition to net-zero emission energy systems creates synergistic opportunities across sectors. For example fuel hydrogen production from water electrolysis generates by-product oxygen that could be used to reduce the cost of carbon capture and storage (CCS) essential in the decarbonization of clinker production in cement making. To assess this opportunity a techno-economic assessment was carried out for the production of clinker using oxy-combustion in a natural gas-fueled plant coupled to CCS. Material and energy flows were assessed in a reference case for clinker production (oxygen from air no CCS) and compared to oxy-combustion clinker production from either an air separation unit (ASU 95% O2) or water electrolysis (100% O2) both coupled to CCS. Compared to the reference air-combusted clinker plant oxy-combustion increases thermal energy demand by 7% and electricity demand by 137% for ASU and 67% for electrolytic oxygen. The levelized cost of oxygen supply ranges from $49/tO2 for an on-site ASU to pipelined electrolytic O2 at $35/tO2 (200 km) or $13/t O2 (20 km). The cost of clinker for the reference plant without CCS increases linearly from $84/t clinker to $193/t clinker at a carbon price of $0/tCO2 to $150/tCO2 respectively. With oxy-combustion and CCS the clinker production cost ranges from $119 to $122/t clinker reflecting a breakeven carbon price of $39 to $53/tCO2 compared to the reference case. The lower cost for the electrolytic supply of by-product oxygen compared to ASU oxygen must be balanced against the reliability of supply the pipeline transport distance and the charges that may be added by the hydrogen producer.
Investing in Hydrogen: Ready, Set, Net Zero
Sep 2020
Publication
Achieving the UK's net zero target by 2050 will be a challenge. Hydrogen can make a substantial contribution but it needs investment and policy support to establish demand increase the scale of deployment and reduce costs. The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution confirms the government’s commitment to drive the growth of low carbon hydrogen in the UK through a range of measures. This includes publishing its hydrogen strategy and setting out revenue mechanisms to attract private investment as well as allocating further support for hydrogen production and hydrogen applications in heating.
We have created a bespoke model to help understand the cost of hydrogen in the UK across the value chain under different pathways. Our analysis highlights areas for cost reduction and identifies factors that could make hydrogen more attractive to investors.
You can read the full report on the Deloitte website at this link
We have created a bespoke model to help understand the cost of hydrogen in the UK across the value chain under different pathways. Our analysis highlights areas for cost reduction and identifies factors that could make hydrogen more attractive to investors.
You can read the full report on the Deloitte website at this link
The Clean Growth Strategy: Leading the Way to a Low Carbon Future
Oct 2017
Publication
Seizing the clean growth opportunity. The move to cleaner economic growth is one of the greatest industrial opportunities of our time. This Strategy will ensure Britain is ready to seize that opportunity. Our modern Industrial Strategy is about increasing the earning power of people in every part of the country. We need to do that while not just protecting but improving the environment on which our economic success depends. In short we need higher growth with lower carbon emissions. This approach is at the heart of our Strategy for clean growth. The opportunity for people and business across the country is huge. The low carbon economy could grow 11 per cent per year between 2015 and 2030 four times faster than the projected growth of the economy as a whole. This is spread across a large number of sectors: from low cost low carbon power generators to more efficient farms; from innovators creating better batteries to the factories putting them in less polluting cars; from builders improving our homes so they are cheaper to run to helping businesses become more productive. This growth will not just be seen in the UK. Following the success of the Paris Agreement where Britain played such an important role in securing the landmark deal the transition to a global low carbon economy is gathering momentum. We want the UK to capture every economic opportunity it can from this global shift in technologies and services.<br/>Our approach to clean growth is an important element of our modern Industrial Strategy: building on the UK’s strengths; improving productivity across the country; and ensuring we are the best place for innovators and new businesses to start up and grow. A good example of this is offshore wind where costs have halved in just a few years. A combination of sustained commitment – across different Governments – and targeted public sector innovation support harnessing the expertise of UK engineers working in offshore conditions and private sector ingenuity has created the conditions for a new industry to flourish while cutting emissions. We need to replicate this success in sectors across our economy. This Strategy delivers on the challenge that Britain embraced when Parliament passed the Climate Change Act. If we get it right we will not just deliver reduced emissions but also cleaner air lower energy bills for households and businesses an enhanced natural environment good jobs and industrial opportunity. It is an opportunity we will seize.
Net Zero Review: Interim Report
Dec 2020
Publication
Climate change is an existential threat to humanity. Without global action to limit greenhouse gas emissions the climate will change catastrophically with almost unimaginable consequences for societies across the world. In recognition of the risks to the UK and other countries the UK became in 2019 the first major economy to implement a legally binding net zero target.<br/>The UK has made significant progress in decarbonising its economy but needs to go much further to achieve net zero. This will be a collective effort requiring changes from households businesses and government. It will require substantial investment and significant changes to how people live their lives.<br/>This transformation will also create opportunities for the UK economy. New industries and jobs will emerge as existing sectors decarbonise or give way to lowcarbon equivalents. The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution and Energy White Paper start to set out how the UK can make the most of these opportunities with new investment in sectors like offshore wind and hydrogen.1 The transition will also have distributional and competitiveness impacts that the government will need to consider as it designs policy.<br/>This interim report sets out the analysis so far from the Treasury’s Net Zero Review and seeks feedback on the approach ahead of the final report due to be published next year.
Reducing Emissions in Scotland 2020 Progress Report to the Scottish Parliament
Oct 2020
Publication
Outline
This is the eighth annual Progress Report to the Scottish Parliament required by Scottish Ministers under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. It assesses Scotland’s progress in achieving its legislated targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Overall greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 3% in 2017 compared to a 10% fall in 2016. The fall was again led by the power sector due in large part to Scotland’s first full year of coal-free electricity generation. Recent performance in other sectors shows only incremental improvement at best and unless emissions reductions are delivered economy-wide Scotland is at risk of missing its new interim target of a 56% reduction in emissions by 2020.
Key findings
Setting a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target for 2045 represents a step-change in ambition for Scotland.
The Scottish Parliament’s 2030 target to reduce emissions by 75% will be extremely challenging to meet. It must be backed up by steps to drive meaningful emissions reductions immediately.
Scotland’s Programme for Government 2019-20 alongside other recent policies sent a clear signal that the Scottish Government is taking its more ambitious targets seriously but there is much more to do.
Scotland’s ability to deliver its net-zero target is contingent on action taken in the UK and vice versa.
This is the eighth annual Progress Report to the Scottish Parliament required by Scottish Ministers under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. It assesses Scotland’s progress in achieving its legislated targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Overall greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 3% in 2017 compared to a 10% fall in 2016. The fall was again led by the power sector due in large part to Scotland’s first full year of coal-free electricity generation. Recent performance in other sectors shows only incremental improvement at best and unless emissions reductions are delivered economy-wide Scotland is at risk of missing its new interim target of a 56% reduction in emissions by 2020.
Key findings
Setting a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target for 2045 represents a step-change in ambition for Scotland.
The Scottish Parliament’s 2030 target to reduce emissions by 75% will be extremely challenging to meet. It must be backed up by steps to drive meaningful emissions reductions immediately.
Scotland’s Programme for Government 2019-20 alongside other recent policies sent a clear signal that the Scottish Government is taking its more ambitious targets seriously but there is much more to do.
Scotland’s ability to deliver its net-zero target is contingent on action taken in the UK and vice versa.
2x40GW Green Hydrogen Initiative
Mar 2020
Publication
Hydrogen will play a pivotal role in achieving an affordable clean and prosperous economy. Hydrogen allows for cost-efficient bulk transport and storage of renewable energy and can decarbonise energy use in all sectors.
The European Union together with North Africa Ukraine and other neighbouring countries have a unique opportunity to realise a green hydrogen system. Europe including Ukraine has good renewable energy resources while North Africa has outstanding and abundant resources. Europe can re-use its gas infrastructure with interconnections to North-Africa and other countries to transport and store hydrogen. And Europe has a globally leading industry for clean hydrogen production especially in electrolyser manufacturing.
If the European Union in close cooperation with its neighbouring countries wants to build on these unique assets and create a world leading industry for renewable hydrogen production the time to act is now. Dedicated and integrated multi GW green hydrogen production plants will thereby unlock the vast renewable energy potential.
We the European hydrogen industry are committed to maintaining a strong and world-leading electrolyser industry and market and to producing renewable hydrogen at equal and eventually lower cost than low-carbon (blue) hydrogen. A prerequisite is that a 2x40 GW electrolyser market in the European Union and its neighbouring countries (e.g. North Africa and Ukraine) will develop as soon as possible.
A roadmap for 40 GW electrolyser capacity in the EU by 2030 shows a 6 GW captive market (hydrogen production at the demand location) and 34 GW hydrogen market (hydrogen production near the resource). A roadmap for 40 GW electrolyser capacity in North Africa and Ukraine by 2030 includes 7.5 GW hydrogen production for the domestic market and a 32.5 GW hydrogen production capacity for export.
If a 2x40 GW electrolyser market in 2030 is realised alongside the required additional renewable energy capacity renewable hydrogen will become cost competitive with fossil (grey) hydrogen. GW-scale electrolysers at wind and solar hydrogen production sites will produce renewable hydrogen cost competitively with low-carbon hydrogen production (1.5-2.0 €/kg) in 2025 and with grey hydrogen (1.0-1.5 €/kg) in 2030.
By realizing 2x40 GW electrolyser capacity producing green hydrogen about 82 million ton CO2 emissions per year could be avoided in the EU. The total investments in electrolyser capacity will be 25-30 billion Euro creating 140000- 170000 jobs in manufacturing and maintenance of 2x40 GW electrolysers.
The industry needs the European Union and its member states to design create and facilitate a hydrogen market infrastructure and economy. Crucial is the design and realisation of new unique and long-lasting mutual co-operation mechanisms on political societal and economic levels between the EU and North Africa Ukraine and other neighbouring countries.
The unique opportunity for the EU and its neighbouring countries to develop a green hydrogen economy will contribute to economic growth the creation of jobs and a sustainable affordable and fair energy system. Building on this position Europe and its neighbours can become world market leaders for green hydrogen production technologies.
The European Union together with North Africa Ukraine and other neighbouring countries have a unique opportunity to realise a green hydrogen system. Europe including Ukraine has good renewable energy resources while North Africa has outstanding and abundant resources. Europe can re-use its gas infrastructure with interconnections to North-Africa and other countries to transport and store hydrogen. And Europe has a globally leading industry for clean hydrogen production especially in electrolyser manufacturing.
If the European Union in close cooperation with its neighbouring countries wants to build on these unique assets and create a world leading industry for renewable hydrogen production the time to act is now. Dedicated and integrated multi GW green hydrogen production plants will thereby unlock the vast renewable energy potential.
We the European hydrogen industry are committed to maintaining a strong and world-leading electrolyser industry and market and to producing renewable hydrogen at equal and eventually lower cost than low-carbon (blue) hydrogen. A prerequisite is that a 2x40 GW electrolyser market in the European Union and its neighbouring countries (e.g. North Africa and Ukraine) will develop as soon as possible.
A roadmap for 40 GW electrolyser capacity in the EU by 2030 shows a 6 GW captive market (hydrogen production at the demand location) and 34 GW hydrogen market (hydrogen production near the resource). A roadmap for 40 GW electrolyser capacity in North Africa and Ukraine by 2030 includes 7.5 GW hydrogen production for the domestic market and a 32.5 GW hydrogen production capacity for export.
If a 2x40 GW electrolyser market in 2030 is realised alongside the required additional renewable energy capacity renewable hydrogen will become cost competitive with fossil (grey) hydrogen. GW-scale electrolysers at wind and solar hydrogen production sites will produce renewable hydrogen cost competitively with low-carbon hydrogen production (1.5-2.0 €/kg) in 2025 and with grey hydrogen (1.0-1.5 €/kg) in 2030.
By realizing 2x40 GW electrolyser capacity producing green hydrogen about 82 million ton CO2 emissions per year could be avoided in the EU. The total investments in electrolyser capacity will be 25-30 billion Euro creating 140000- 170000 jobs in manufacturing and maintenance of 2x40 GW electrolysers.
The industry needs the European Union and its member states to design create and facilitate a hydrogen market infrastructure and economy. Crucial is the design and realisation of new unique and long-lasting mutual co-operation mechanisms on political societal and economic levels between the EU and North Africa Ukraine and other neighbouring countries.
The unique opportunity for the EU and its neighbouring countries to develop a green hydrogen economy will contribute to economic growth the creation of jobs and a sustainable affordable and fair energy system. Building on this position Europe and its neighbours can become world market leaders for green hydrogen production technologies.
The Decarbonisation of Heat
Mar 2020
Publication
This paper proposes that whilst the exact pathway to decarbonising heat in the UK is not yet clear there are a range of actions that could be taken in the next ten years to shift heat onto the right route to meet our 2050 net zero obligation. We already possess many of the skills and technologies required but there are a number of significant barriers preventing a spontaneous movement towards low carbon heat on the scale required – a starting impulse is needed.<br/><br/>Energy efficiency and low carbon heating have the potential to radically improve the quality of life of not just the poorest in our society but all residents of the United Kingdom. With the right approach the decarbonisation of heat can improve health outcomes for millions create new jobs in manufacturing and construction reduce air pollution in our cities and reduce the burden on our health service. This in addition to leading the world in mitigating the climate emergency.
Egypt’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Development Prospects
Nov 2021
Publication
Egypt has one of the largest economies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and several of its industries are large sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As part of its contribution to mitigate GHG emissions within the framework of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change Egypt is focusing on the development of an ambitious renewable energy programme.
Some of Egypt’s main industries are big consumers of hydrogen which is produced locally using indigenous natural gas without abatement of the CO2 emissions resulting from this production process. In the long-term the production and consumption of this unabated hydrogen known as grey hydrogen could become a serious challenge for Egypt’s exports of manufactured products. Thus the Egyptian government is planning to develop low carbon hydrogen alternatives and has set up an inter-ministerial committee to prepare a national hydrogen strategy for Egypt.
This paper explores the prospects for low carbon hydrogen (blue and green hydrogen) developments in Egypt focusing on the potential replacement of Egypt’s large domestic production of grey hydrogen with cleaner low carbon hydrogen alternatives.
The research paper can be found on their website
Some of Egypt’s main industries are big consumers of hydrogen which is produced locally using indigenous natural gas without abatement of the CO2 emissions resulting from this production process. In the long-term the production and consumption of this unabated hydrogen known as grey hydrogen could become a serious challenge for Egypt’s exports of manufactured products. Thus the Egyptian government is planning to develop low carbon hydrogen alternatives and has set up an inter-ministerial committee to prepare a national hydrogen strategy for Egypt.
This paper explores the prospects for low carbon hydrogen (blue and green hydrogen) developments in Egypt focusing on the potential replacement of Egypt’s large domestic production of grey hydrogen with cleaner low carbon hydrogen alternatives.
The research paper can be found on their website
Establishing a Regional Hydrogen Economy: Accelerating the Carbon Transition in South Yorkshire, UK
May 2019
Publication
The establishment of a strong hydrogen economy nationally and locally is a very real opportunity and one that is rapidly becoming within reach.<br/>This report presents a vision for the role that hydrogen could play specifically in South Yorkshire (UK) to help meet carbon reduction targets and contribute to the health and economic prosperity of the region.<br/>It also highlights five themes as levers of growth and explores potential actions and collaborations as well as a list of ambitions for future hydrogen projects. Hydrogen can be used in transport industry and heating. Synergies need exploring for example the by-product of oxygen from hydrogen production can be used by industry. Aggregating opportunities is important in developing a hydrogen economy.<br/>The report concludes with a call to action to build momentum for the South Yorkshire hydrogen economy and accelerate the drive to net zero emissions particularly in the most challenging sectors.<br/>This South Yorkshire specific report supports our global thought piece Establishing a Hydrogen Economy: The future of energy 2035
Hydrogen - A Pipeline to the Future
Sep 2020
Publication
Scotland’s Achievements and Ambitions for Clean Hydrogen - a joint webinar between the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association and the Pipeline Industries Guild (Scottish branch).
Nigel Holmes. CEO Scottish Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Association provides an update on Scotland’s ambitions backed up by progress in key areas. This will show the potential for hydrogen at scale to support the delivery of policy targets highlighting areas of key strengths for Scotland.
You will also hear about the need to build up scale for hydrogen production and supply in tandem with hydrogen pipeline and distribution networks in order to meet demand for low carbon energy and achieve key milestones on the pathway to Net Zero by 2045.
Nigel Holmes. CEO Scottish Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Association provides an update on Scotland’s ambitions backed up by progress in key areas. This will show the potential for hydrogen at scale to support the delivery of policy targets highlighting areas of key strengths for Scotland.
You will also hear about the need to build up scale for hydrogen production and supply in tandem with hydrogen pipeline and distribution networks in order to meet demand for low carbon energy and achieve key milestones on the pathway to Net Zero by 2045.
Meeting Net Zero with Decarbonised Gas
Aug 2019
Publication
Although the UK has done a great job of decarbonising electricity generation to get to net zero we need to tackle harder-to-decarbonise sectors like heat transport and industry. Decarbonised gas – biogases hydrogen and the deployment of carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS) – can make our manufacturing more sustainable minimise disruption to families and deliver negative emissions.
The Path to Carbon Neutrality in China: A Paradigm Shift in Fossil Resource Utilization
Jan 2022
Publication
The Paris Agreement has set the goal of carbon neutrality to cope with global climate change. China has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 which will strategically change everything in our society. As the main source of carbon emissions the consumption of fossil energy is the most profoundly affected by carbon neutrality. This work presents an analysis of how China can achieve its goal of carbon neutrality based on its status of fossil energy utilization. The significance of transforming fossils from energy to resource utilization in the future is addressed while the development direction and key technologies are discussed.
Decarbonisation of Heat in Great Britain
Oct 2021
Publication
This study was conducted for a group of 15 clients in the public and private sectors interested in potential pathways for decarbonising residential heating and the impact of these pathways on the energy system. The ambition for all new heating installations to be low carbon from 2035 is essential to meeting the net zero target in 2050 and our study found that electricity demand for home heating is set to quadruple by 2050 as part of the shift away from gas-fired boilers.
The key findings from the study include:
The key findings from the study include:
- Phasing out natural gas boiler installations by 2035 is crucial for eliminating CO2 from home heating; delaying to 2040 could leave us with ¼ of today’s home heat emissions in 2050
- Achieving deployment of 600k heat pumps per year by 2028 will require policy intervention both to lower costs and to inform and protect consumers Almost £40bn could be saved in cumulative system costs by 2050 through adoption of more efficient and flexible electric heating technologies like networked heat pumps and storage
- Electricity demand from heating could quadruple by 2050 to over 100TWh per year almost a third of Great Britain’s current total annual electricity demand Using hydrogen for a share of heating could lower peak power demand although producing most of this hydrogen from electrolysis would raise overall power demand.
H2FC SUPERGEN- Opportunities for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies to Contribute to Clean Growth in the UK
May 2020
Publication
Hydrogen is expected to have an important role in decarbonising several parts of the UK energy system. This white paper examines the opportunities for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies (H2FC) to contribute to clean growth in the UK.
We assess the strength of the sector by surveying 196 companies working in the area and using other key metrics (for example publication citations and patents). There is already a nascent fuel cell industry working at the cutting edge of global innovation. The UK has an opportunity to grow this industry and to develop an export-focused hydrogen industry over the next few decades. However this will require public nurturing and support. We make a series of recommendations that include:
We assess the strength of the sector by surveying 196 companies working in the area and using other key metrics (for example publication citations and patents). There is already a nascent fuel cell industry working at the cutting edge of global innovation. The UK has an opportunity to grow this industry and to develop an export-focused hydrogen industry over the next few decades. However this will require public nurturing and support. We make a series of recommendations that include:
- Creating separate national fuel cell and hydrogen strategies. These should take UK energy needs capabilities and export opportunities into account. There is a need to coordinate public R&D support and to manage the consequences if European funding and collaboration opportunities become unavailable due to Brexit.
- Creating a public–private “Hydrogen Partnership” to accelerate a shift to hydrogen energy systems in the UK and to stimulate opportunities for businesses.
- Putting in place infrastructure to underpin nascent fuel cell and hydrogen markets including a national refuelling station network and a green hydrogen standard scheme.
- Study what would constitute critical mass in the hydrogen and fuel cell sectors in terms of industry and academic capacity and the skills and knowledge base and consider how critical mass could be achieved most efficiently.
- Consider creating a “Hydrogen Institute” and an “Electrochemical Centre” to coordinate and underpin national innovation over the next decade.
World Energy Transitions Outlook: 1.5°C Pathway
Mar 2021
Publication
Dolf Gielen,
Ricardo Gorini,
Rodrigo Leme,
Gayathri Prakash,
Nicholas Wagner,
Luis Janeiro,
Sean Collins,
Maisarah Kadir,
Elisa Asmelash,
Rabia Ferroukhi,
Ulrike Lehr,
Xavier Garcia Casals,
Diala Hawila,
Bishal Parajuli,
Elizabeth Press,
Paul Durrant,
Seungwoo Kang,
Martina Lyons,
Carlos Ruiz,
Trish Mkutchwa,
Emanuele Taibi,
Herib Blanco,
Francisco Boshell,
Arina Anise,
Elena Ocenic,
Roland Roesch,
Gabriel Castellanos,
Gayathri Nair,
Barbara Jinks,
Asami Miketa,
Michael Taylor,
Costanza Strinati,
Michael Renner and
Deger Saygin
The World Energy Transitions Outlook preview outlines a pathway for the world to achieve the Paris Agreement goals and halt the pace of climate change by transforming the global energy landscape. This preview presents options to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C and bring CO2 emissions closer to net zero by mid-century offering high-level insights on technology choices investment needs and the socio-economic contexts of achieving a sustainable resilient and inclusive energy future.
Meeting CO2 reduction targets by 2050 will require a combination of: technology and innovation to advance the energy transition and improve carbon management; supportive and proactive policies; associated job creation and socio-economic improvements; and international co-operation to guarantee energy availability and access.
Among key findings:
This preview identifies opportunities to support informed policy and decision making to establish a new global energy system. Following this preview and aligned with the UN High-Level Dialogue process the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) will release the full report which will provide a comprehensive vision and accompanying policy measures for the transition.
Meeting CO2 reduction targets by 2050 will require a combination of: technology and innovation to advance the energy transition and improve carbon management; supportive and proactive policies; associated job creation and socio-economic improvements; and international co-operation to guarantee energy availability and access.
Among key findings:
- Proven technologies for a net-zero energy system already largely exist today. Renewable power green hydrogen and modern bioenergy will dominate the world of energy of the future.
- A combination of technologies is needed to keep us on a 1.5°C climate pathway. These include increasingly efficient energy production to ensure economic growth; decarbonised power systems that are dominated by renewables; increased use of electricity in buildings industry and transport to support decarbonisation; expanded production and use of green hydrogen synthetic fuels and feedstocks; and targeted use of sustainably sourced biomass.
- In anticipation of the coming energy transition financial markets and investors are already directing capital away from fossil fuels and towards other energy technologies including renewables.
- Energy transition investment will have to increase by 30% over planned investment to a total of USD 131 trillion between now and 2050 corresponding to USD 4.4 trillion on average every year.
- National social and economic policies will play fundamental roles in delivering the energy transition at the speed required to restrict global warming to 1.5°C.
This preview identifies opportunities to support informed policy and decision making to establish a new global energy system. Following this preview and aligned with the UN High-Level Dialogue process the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) will release the full report which will provide a comprehensive vision and accompanying policy measures for the transition.
Energy Innovation Needs Assessment: Hydrogen & Fuel Cells
Nov 2019
Publication
The Energy Innovation Needs Assessment (EINA) aims to identify the key innovation needs across the UK’s energy system to inform the prioritisation of public sector investment in low-carbon innovation. Using an analytical methodology developed by the Department for Business Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) the EINA takes a system level approach and values innovations in a technology in terms of the system-level benefits a technology innovation provides. This whole system modelling in line with BEIS’s EINA methodology was delivered by the Energy Systems Catapult (ESC) using the Energy System Modelling Environment (ESMETM) as the primary modelling tool.
To support the overall prioritisation of innovation activity the EINA process analyses key technologies in more detail. These technologies are grouped together into sub-themes according to the primary role they fulfil in the energy system. For key technologies within a sub-theme innovations and business opportunities are identified. The main findings at the technology level are summarised in sub-theme reports. An overview report will combine the findings from each sub-theme to provide a broad system-level perspective and prioritisation.
This EINA analysis is based on a combination of desk research by a consortium of economic and engineering consultants and stakeholder engagement. The prioritisation of innovation and business opportunities presented is informed by a workshop organised for each sub-theme assembling key stakeholders from the academic community industry and government.
This report was commissioned prior to advice being received from the CCC on meeting a net zero target and reflects priorities to meet the previous 80% target in 2050. The newly legislated net zero target is not expected to change the set of innovation priorities rather it will make them all more valuable overall. Further work is required to assess detailed implications.
To support the overall prioritisation of innovation activity the EINA process analyses key technologies in more detail. These technologies are grouped together into sub-themes according to the primary role they fulfil in the energy system. For key technologies within a sub-theme innovations and business opportunities are identified. The main findings at the technology level are summarised in sub-theme reports. An overview report will combine the findings from each sub-theme to provide a broad system-level perspective and prioritisation.
This EINA analysis is based on a combination of desk research by a consortium of economic and engineering consultants and stakeholder engagement. The prioritisation of innovation and business opportunities presented is informed by a workshop organised for each sub-theme assembling key stakeholders from the academic community industry and government.
This report was commissioned prior to advice being received from the CCC on meeting a net zero target and reflects priorities to meet the previous 80% target in 2050. The newly legislated net zero target is not expected to change the set of innovation priorities rather it will make them all more valuable overall. Further work is required to assess detailed implications.
Scotland’s Energy Strategy Position Statement
Mar 2021
Publication
This policy statement provides:
An overview of our key priorities for the short to medium-term and then moves on to look at how we have continued to abide by the three key principles set out in Scotland's Energy Strategy published in 2017 in our policy design and delivery. Those principles are:
Separate sections have been included on Maximising Scotland's International Potential in the lead up to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) and on Consumers to reflect the challenging economic climate we currently face and to highlight the action being taken by the Scottish Government to ensure the cost of our energy transition does not fall unequally.
This statement provides an overview of our approach to supporting the energy sector in the lead up to COP26 and as we embark on a green economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It summarises how our recent policy publications such as our Hydrogen Policy Statement Local Energy Policy Statement and Offshore Wind Policy Statement collectively support the delivery of the Climate Change Plan update along with the future findings from our currently live consultations including our draft Heat in Buildings Strategy our Call for Evidence on the future development of the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) and our consultation on Scottish skills requirements for energy efficiency.
While this statement sets out our comprehensive programme of work across the energy sector the current Energy Strategy (2017) remains in place until any further Energy Strategy refresh is adopted by Ministers. It is at the stage of refreshing Scotland's Energy Strategy where we will embark on a series of stakeholder engagements and carry out the relevant impact assessments to inform our thinking on future policy development.
An overview of our key priorities for the short to medium-term and then moves on to look at how we have continued to abide by the three key principles set out in Scotland's Energy Strategy published in 2017 in our policy design and delivery. Those principles are:
- a whole-system view;
- an inclusive energy transition; and
- a smarter local energy model.
- Skills and Jobs;
- Supporting Local Communities:
- Investment; and
- Innovation
Separate sections have been included on Maximising Scotland's International Potential in the lead up to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) and on Consumers to reflect the challenging economic climate we currently face and to highlight the action being taken by the Scottish Government to ensure the cost of our energy transition does not fall unequally.
This statement provides an overview of our approach to supporting the energy sector in the lead up to COP26 and as we embark on a green economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It summarises how our recent policy publications such as our Hydrogen Policy Statement Local Energy Policy Statement and Offshore Wind Policy Statement collectively support the delivery of the Climate Change Plan update along with the future findings from our currently live consultations including our draft Heat in Buildings Strategy our Call for Evidence on the future development of the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) and our consultation on Scottish skills requirements for energy efficiency.
While this statement sets out our comprehensive programme of work across the energy sector the current Energy Strategy (2017) remains in place until any further Energy Strategy refresh is adopted by Ministers. It is at the stage of refreshing Scotland's Energy Strategy where we will embark on a series of stakeholder engagements and carry out the relevant impact assessments to inform our thinking on future policy development.
Hydrogen Economy and the Built Environment
Nov 2011
Publication
The hydrogen economy is a proposition for the distribution of energy by using hydrogen in order to potentially eliminate carbon emissions and end our reliance on fossil fuels. Some futuristic forecasters view the hydrogen economy as the ultimate carbon free economy. Hydrogen operated vehicles are on trial in many countries. The use of hydrogen as an energy source for buildings is in its infancy but research and development is evolving. Hydrogen is generally fed into devices called fuel cells to produce energy. A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that produces electricity and heat from a fuel (often hydrogen) and oxygen. Fuel cells have a number of advantages over other technologies for power generation. When fed with clean hydrogen they have the potential to use less fuel than competing technologies and to emit no pollution (the only bi-product being water). However hydrogen has to be produced and stored in the first instance. It is possible to generate hydrogen from renewable sources but the technology is still immature and the transformation is wasteful. The creation of a clean hydrogen production and distribution economy at a global level is very costly. Proponents of a world-scale hydrogen economy argue that hydrogen can be an environmentally cleaner source of energy to end-users particularly in transportation applications without release of pollutants (such as particulate matter) or greenhouse gases at the point of end use. Critics of a hydrogen economy argue that for many planned applications of hydrogen direct use of electricity or production of liquid synthetic fuels from locally-produced hydrogen and CO2 (e.g. methanol economy) might accomplish many of the same net goals of a hydrogen economy while requiring only a small fraction of the investment in new infrastructure. This paper reviews the hydrogen economy how it is produced and distributed. It then investigates the different types of fuel cells and identifies which types are relevant to the built environment both in residential and nonresidential sections. It concludes by examining what are the future plans in terms of implementing fuel cells in the built environment and discussing some of the needs of built environment sector.
Link to Document
Link to Document
Future Fuels Strategy: Discussion Paper Powering Choice
Feb 2021
Publication
New vehicle technologies and fuels will drive the future of road transport in Australia. Increased availability of battery electric vehicles hydrogen fuel cell vehicles biofuels and associated recharging and refuelling infrastructure will:
- give consumers more choice
- provide productivity emissions reduction fuel security and air quality benefits
Performing While Transforming: The Role of Transmission Companies in the Energy Transition
Jun 2020
Publication
As the world prepares to exit from the COVID-19 crisis the pace of the global power revolution is expected to accelerate. A new publication from the World Energy Council in collaboration with PwC underscores the imperative for electricity grid owners and operators to fundamentally transform themselves to secure a role in a more integrated flexible and smarter electricity system in the energy transition to a low carbon future.
“Performing While Transforming: The Role of Transmission Companies in the Energy Transition” is based on in-depth interviews with CEOs and senior leaders from 37 transmission companies representing 35 countries and over 4 million kilometres – near global coverage - of the transmission network. While their roles will evolve transmission companies will remain at the heart of the electricity grid and need to balance the challenges of keeping the lights on while transforming themselves for the future.
The publication explores the various challenges affecting how transmission companies prepare and re-think their operations and business models and leverages the insights from interviewees to highlight four recommendations for transmission companies to consider in their journey:
“Performing While Transforming: The Role of Transmission Companies in the Energy Transition” is based on in-depth interviews with CEOs and senior leaders from 37 transmission companies representing 35 countries and over 4 million kilometres – near global coverage - of the transmission network. While their roles will evolve transmission companies will remain at the heart of the electricity grid and need to balance the challenges of keeping the lights on while transforming themselves for the future.
The publication explores the various challenges affecting how transmission companies prepare and re-think their operations and business models and leverages the insights from interviewees to highlight four recommendations for transmission companies to consider in their journey:
- Focus on the future through enhanced forecasting and scenario planning
- Shape the ecosystem by collaborating with new actors and enhancing interconnectivity
- Embrace automation and technology to optimise processes and ensure digital delivery
- Transform organisation to attract new talent and maintain social licence with consumers
Accelerating Innovation Towards Net Zero Emissions
Apr 2019
Publication
This report Accelerating innovation towards net zero commissioned by the Aldersgate Group and co-authored with Vivid Economics identifies out how the government can achieve a net zero target cost-effectively in a way that enables the UK to capture competitive advantages.
The unique contribution of this report is to identify the lessons from successful and more rapid historical innovations and apply them to the challenge of meeting net zero emissions in the UK.
Achieving net zero emissions is likely to require accelerated innovation across research demonstration and early deployment of low carbon technologies. Researchers analysed five international case studies of relatively rapid innovations to draw key lessons for government on the conditions needed to move from a typical multi-decadal cycle to one that will deliver net zero emissions by mid-Century.
The case studies include:
Six key actions for government policy to accelerate low carbon innovation in the UK:
The unique contribution of this report is to identify the lessons from successful and more rapid historical innovations and apply them to the challenge of meeting net zero emissions in the UK.
Achieving net zero emissions is likely to require accelerated innovation across research demonstration and early deployment of low carbon technologies. Researchers analysed five international case studies of relatively rapid innovations to draw key lessons for government on the conditions needed to move from a typical multi-decadal cycle to one that will deliver net zero emissions by mid-Century.
The case studies include:
- The deployment of the ATM network and cash cards across the UK
- Roll out of a gas network and central heating in the UK
- The development of wind turbines in Denmark and then the UK
- Moving from late-stage adoption of steel technology in South Korea to being the world leading exporter; and
- The slower than expected development of commercial-scale CCUS to date across the world.
Six key actions for government policy to accelerate low carbon innovation in the UK:
- Increase ambition in demonstrating complex and high capital cost technologies and systems.
- Create new markets to catalyse early deployment and move towards widespread commercialisation.
- Use concurrent innovations such as digital technologies to improve system efficiency and make new products more accessible and attractive to customers.
- Use existing or new organisations (cross-industry associations or public-private collaborations) to accelerate innovation in critical areas and coordinate early stage deployment.
- Harness trusted voices to build consumer acceptance through information sharing and rapid responses to concerns.
- Align innovation policy in such a way that it strengthens the UK’s industrial advantages and increases knowledge spillovers between businesses and sectors.
Recovery Through Reform: Assessing the climate compatibility of Canada’s COVID-19 response in 2020
Feb 2021
Publication
Governments around the world are leveraging unprecedented amounts of capital to respond to the pandemic and bailing out struggling industries. Trends in energy-related spending indicate that despite the green push the world’s largest economies have still favoured fossil energy over clean energy.<br/><br/>We evaluate energy-related spending in Canada in 2020 (since the onset of COVID-19) using data from the Energy Policy Tracker. Trends in Canada are then compared to flagship policies in key jurisdictions with recent progressive climate policy announcements including France Germany and the United Kingdom. The brief ends with broad recommendations on how Canada can better align its recovery funding with climate action and fossil fuel subsidy reform.<br/><br/>This brief is one of three International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) policy briefs in its Recovery Through Reform series which assesses how efforts to achieve a green recovery from COVID-19 in Canada rely on—and can contribute to—fossil fuel subsidy reform.
Uncovering the True Cost of Hydrogen Production Routes Using Life Cycle Monetisation
Oct 2020
Publication
Hydrogen has been identified as a potential energy vector to decarbonise the transport and chemical sectors and achieve global greenhouse gas reduction targets. Despite ongoing efforts hydrogen technologies are often assessed focusing on their global warming potential while overlooking other impacts or at most including additional metrics that are not easily interpretable. Herein a wide range of alternative technologies have been assessed to determine the total cost of hydrogen production by coupling life-cycle assessments with an economic evaluation of the environmental externalities of production. By including monetised values of environmental impacts on human health ecosystem quality and resources on top of the levelised cost of hydrogen production an estimation of the “real” total cost of hydrogen was obtained to transparently rank the alternative technologies. The study herein covers steam methane reforming (SMR) coal and biomass gasification methane pyrolysis and electrolysis from renewable and nuclear technologies. Monetised externalities are found to represent a significant percentage of the total cost ultimately altering the standard ranking of technologies. SMR coupled with carbon capture and storage emerges as the cheapest option followed by methane pyrolysis and water electrolysis from wind and nuclear. The obtained results identify the “real” ranges for the cost of hydrogen compared to SMR (business as usual) by including environmental externalities thereby helping to pinpoint critical barriers for emerging and competing technologies to SMR.
A Hydrogen Strategy for a Climate-neutral Europe
Jul 2020
Publication
In an integrated energy system hydrogen can support the decarbonisation of industry transport power generation and buildings across Europe. The EU Hydrogen Strategy addresses how to transform this potential into reality through investments regulation market creation and research and innovation.
Hydrogen can power sectors that are not suitable for electrification and provide storage to balance variable renewable energy flows but this can only be achieved with coordinated action between the public and private sector at EU level. The priority is to develop renewable hydrogen produced using mainly wind and solar energy. However in the short and medium term other forms of low-carbon hydrogen are needed to rapidly reduce emissions and support the development of a viable market.
This gradual transition will require a phased approach:
Hydrogen can power sectors that are not suitable for electrification and provide storage to balance variable renewable energy flows but this can only be achieved with coordinated action between the public and private sector at EU level. The priority is to develop renewable hydrogen produced using mainly wind and solar energy. However in the short and medium term other forms of low-carbon hydrogen are needed to rapidly reduce emissions and support the development of a viable market.
This gradual transition will require a phased approach:
- From 2020 to 2024 we will support the installation of at least 6 gigawatts of renewable hydrogen electrolysers in the EU and the production of up to one million tonnes of renewable hydrogen.
- From 2025 to 2030 hydrogen needs to become an intrinsic part of our integrated energy system with at least 40 gigawatts of renewable hydrogen electrolysers and the production of up to ten million tonnes of renewable hydrogen in the EU.
- From 2030 to 2050 renewable hydrogen technologies should reach maturity and be deployed at large scale across all hard-to-decarbonise sectors.
- To help deliver on this Strategy the Commission is launched the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance with industry leaders civil society national and regional ministers and the European Investment Bank. The Alliance will build up an investment pipeline for scaled-up production and will support demand for clean hydrogen in the EU.
Can Industry Keep Gas Distribution Networks Alive? Future Development of the Gas Network in a Decarbonized World: A German Case Study
Dec 2022
Publication
With the growing need for decarbonization the future gas demand will decrease and the necessity of a gas distribution network is at stake. A remaining industrial gas demand on the distribution network level could lead to industry becoming the main gas consumer supplied by the gas distribution network leading to the question: can industry keep the gas distribution network alive? To answer this research question a three-stage analysis was conducted starting from a rough estimate of average gas demand per production site and then increasing the level of detail. This paper shows that about one third of the German industry sites investigated are currently supplied by the gas distribution network. While the steel industry offers new opportunities the food and tobacco industry alone cannot sustain the gas distribution network by itself.
Technical Feasibility of Low Carbon Heating in Domestic Buildings
Dec 2020
Publication
Scotland’s Climate Change Plan set an ambition for emissions from buildings to be near zero by 2050 and targets 35% of domestic and 70% of non-domestic buildings’ heat to be supplied using low carbon technologies by 2032. The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 set a new target for emissions to be net zero by 2045 with interim targets of 75% by 2030 and 90% by 2040. The update to the Climate Change Plan will be published at the end of 2020 to reflect these new targets. The Energy Efficient Scotland programme launched in May 2018 sets out a wide range of measures to promote low carbon heating alongside energy efficiency improvements in Scotland’s buildings. Meeting these targets will require almost all households in Scotland to change the way they heat their homes. It is therefore imperative to advance our understanding of the suitability of the available low carbon heating options across Scotland’s building stock.<br/><br/>The aim of this work is to assess the suitability of low carbon heating technologies in residential buildings in Scotland. The outputs generated through this work will form a key part of the evidence base on low carbon heat which the Scottish Government will use to further develop and strengthen Scotland’s low carbon heat policy in line with the increased level of ambition of achieving Net Zero by 2045.
Business Models for Low Carbon Hydrogen Production: A Report for BEIS
Aug 2020
Publication
Low carbon hydrogen could have a significant role to play in meeting the UK’s Net Zero target: the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) estimates that up to 270TWh of low carbon hydrogen could be needed in its ‘Further Ambition’ scenario. However at present there is no large-scale production of low carbon hydrogen in the UK not least as it is more costly than most high carbon alternatives. For hydrogen to be the viable option envisaged by the CCC projects may need to be deployed from the 2020s.<br/>BEIS has commissioned Frontier Economics to develop business models to support low carbon hydrogen production. This report builds on the earlier Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS) business models consultation2 and develops business models for BEIS to consider further. This report is a milestone in BEIS’ longer term process of developing hydrogen business models. It forms a part of BEIS’ wider research into a range of decarbonisation options across the economy.<br/>Further analysis will be required before a final decision is made.
A Pathway to Decarbonise the Shipping Sector by 2050
Oct 2021
Publication
Urgent action is needed to accelerate the pace of the global energy transition and the decarbonisation of the global economy. International shipping is a key sector of the economy as much as 90% of worldwide trade is transacted via ocean going vessels. The sector is also one of the most challenging to decarbonise.
In this context A Pathway to Decarbonise the Shipping Sector by 2050 by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) analyses the technology readiness of the renewable fuels suitable for international shipping. This report also explores the options and actions needed to progress towards a decarbonised maritime shipping sector by 2050 and seeks to identify a realistic mitigation pathway to reach the climate goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C and bringing CO2 emissions closer to net zero by mid-century.
Key messages:
In this context A Pathway to Decarbonise the Shipping Sector by 2050 by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) analyses the technology readiness of the renewable fuels suitable for international shipping. This report also explores the options and actions needed to progress towards a decarbonised maritime shipping sector by 2050 and seeks to identify a realistic mitigation pathway to reach the climate goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C and bringing CO2 emissions closer to net zero by mid-century.
Key messages:
- The sector’s decarbonisation strategy must involve a combination of energy efficiency and renewable fuels. Starting now the active adoption of energy efficiency measures will be critical to reduce energy demand and thus CO2 emissions in the immediate term.
- In the short term advanced biofuels will play a key role in the reduction of CO2 emissions. In the medium and long-term green hydrogen-based fuels are set to be the backbone for the sector’s decarbonisation.
- Renewable e-ammonia will play a pivotal role; where 183 million tonnes of renewable ammonia for international shipping alone will be needed by 2050 - a comparable amount to today’s ammonia global production.
- While renewable fuels production costs are currently high in the next decades renewable fuels will become cost competitive and can shield the shipping sector from the volatility that characterises the fossil fuels market.
- Taking early action is vital. Sector decarbonisation can be accelerated and ambition raised beyond the climate goals by fostering investment in the production of renewable fuels. Stakeholders need to develop broader business models and establish strategic partnerships involving energy-intensive industries as well as power suppliers and the petrochemical sector.
Department of Energy Hydrogen Program Plan
Nov 2020
Publication
The Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen Program Plan (the Program Plan or Plan) outlines the strategic high-level focus areas of DOE’s Hydrogen Program (the Program). The term Hydrogen Program refers not to any single office within DOE but rather to the cohesive and coordinated effort of multiple offices that conduct research development and demonstration (RD&D) activities on hydrogen technologies. This terminology and the coordinated efforts on hydrogen among relevant DOE offices have been in place since 2004 and provide an inclusive and strategic view of how the Department coordinates activities on hydrogen across applications and sectors. This version of the Plan updates and expands upon previous versions including the Hydrogen Posture Plan and the DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Plan and provides a coordinated high-level summary of hydrogen related activities across DOE.
The 2006 Hydrogen Posture Plan fulfilled the requirement in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005) that the Energy Secretary transmit to Congress a coordinated plan for DOE’s hydrogen and fuel cell activities. For historical context the original Posture Plan issued in 2004 outlined a coordinated plan for DOE and the U.S. Department of Transportation to meet the goals of the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative (HFI) and implement the 2002 National Hydrogen Energy Technology Roadmap. The HFI was launched in 2004 to accelerate research development and demonstration (RD&D) of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for use in transportation electricity generation and portable power applications. The Roadmap provided a blueprint for the public and private efforts required to fulfill a long-term national vision for hydrogen energy as outlined in A National Vision of America’s Transition to a Hydrogen Economy—to 2030 and Beyond. Both the Roadmap and the Vision were developed out of meetings involving DOE industry academia non-profit organizations and other stakeholders. The Roadmap the Vision the Posture Plans the 2011 Program Plan and the results of key stakeholder workshops continue to form the underlying basis for this current edition of the Program Plan.
This edition of the Program Plan reflects the Department’s focus on conducting coordinated RD&D activities to enable the adoption of hydrogen technologies across multiple applications and sectors. It includes content from the various plans and documents developed by individual offices within DOE working on hydrogen-related activities including: the Office of Fossil Energy's Hydrogen Strategy: Enabling a Low Carbon Economy the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office Multi-year RD&D Plan the Office of Nuclear Energy’s Integrated Energy Systems 2020 Roadmap and the Office of Science’s Basic Research Needs for the Hydrogen Economy. Many of these documents are also in the process of updates and revisions and will be posted online.
Through this overarching document the reader will gain information on the key RD&D needs to enable the largescale use of hydrogen and related technologies—such as fuel cells and turbines—in the economy and how the Department’s various offices are addressing those needs. The Program will continue to periodically revise the Plan along with all program office RD&D plans to reflect technological progress programmatic changes policy decisions and updates based on stakeholder input and reviews.
The 2006 Hydrogen Posture Plan fulfilled the requirement in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005) that the Energy Secretary transmit to Congress a coordinated plan for DOE’s hydrogen and fuel cell activities. For historical context the original Posture Plan issued in 2004 outlined a coordinated plan for DOE and the U.S. Department of Transportation to meet the goals of the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative (HFI) and implement the 2002 National Hydrogen Energy Technology Roadmap. The HFI was launched in 2004 to accelerate research development and demonstration (RD&D) of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for use in transportation electricity generation and portable power applications. The Roadmap provided a blueprint for the public and private efforts required to fulfill a long-term national vision for hydrogen energy as outlined in A National Vision of America’s Transition to a Hydrogen Economy—to 2030 and Beyond. Both the Roadmap and the Vision were developed out of meetings involving DOE industry academia non-profit organizations and other stakeholders. The Roadmap the Vision the Posture Plans the 2011 Program Plan and the results of key stakeholder workshops continue to form the underlying basis for this current edition of the Program Plan.
This edition of the Program Plan reflects the Department’s focus on conducting coordinated RD&D activities to enable the adoption of hydrogen technologies across multiple applications and sectors. It includes content from the various plans and documents developed by individual offices within DOE working on hydrogen-related activities including: the Office of Fossil Energy's Hydrogen Strategy: Enabling a Low Carbon Economy the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office Multi-year RD&D Plan the Office of Nuclear Energy’s Integrated Energy Systems 2020 Roadmap and the Office of Science’s Basic Research Needs for the Hydrogen Economy. Many of these documents are also in the process of updates and revisions and will be posted online.
Through this overarching document the reader will gain information on the key RD&D needs to enable the largescale use of hydrogen and related technologies—such as fuel cells and turbines—in the economy and how the Department’s various offices are addressing those needs. The Program will continue to periodically revise the Plan along with all program office RD&D plans to reflect technological progress programmatic changes policy decisions and updates based on stakeholder input and reviews.
Workshop Report: Summary & Outcomes, Putting Science into Standards Power-to-Hydrogen and HCNG
Oct 2014
Publication
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission together with the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO) the European Standards Organisations (ESO) CEN and CENELEC and the European Commission Directorate-General Enterprise and Industry (ENTR) have launched an initiative within the context of the European Forum on Science and Industry to bring the scientific and standardization communities closer together. The second and very successful workshop in a series entitled “Putting Science into Standards" was held in at the Institute for Energy and Transport of the JRC in Petten on 21-22 October 2014.<br/>The workshop focused on Power to Hydrogen (P2H) and Hydrogen Compressed Natural Gas (HCNG) which represent a promising and major contribution to the challenging management of increased integration of renewable energy sources in the overall energy system. The workshop offered a platform to exchange ideas on technologies policy and standardization issues. The participation of major stakeholders from both industry and research to this event proved fruitful in moving towards consensus on the relevant technical issues involved and at identifying a common way forward to increase the maturity and market visibility of P2H components and systems. Other outcomes include a clarification of expectations of industry of where and how policy and standardization can contribute to a competitive development of P2H and related issues. The workshop results will be used to devise a roadmap on "Opportunities for Power to Hydrogen and HCNG" by CEN/CENELEC outlining the next steps of standardization activities.
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