Green hydrogen could fail as a sustainable fuel option unless countries ‘rapidly decarbonise their energy grids’, researchers at the University of Sheffield have warned.
A new study, published in Nature Communications Sustainability, examined how national energy mixes and supply chain structures affect the environmental impact of hydrogen production.
Led by Professor Lenny Koh at the University of Sheffield’s management school, researchers evaluated 20 possible scenarios for producing and transporting green hydrogen across 14 countries (the UK, Japan, China, France, Norway, Canada, Germany, South Korea, the USA, Austria, Ireland, Poland, Italy, and the Netherlands) from 2023 through to 2050.
Production pathways
Five production pathways were analysed, including three electrolysis methods and two biomass-based systems. Recent research indicated that electrolysis technologies had the highest global warming impacts, given their energy-intensive operation, maintenance and manufacturing.
However, proton exchange membrane electrolysis could become one of the lowest-emission methods for producing hydrogen by 2050, the researchers state, provided that electricity grids shift to low-carbon sources.
“Green hydrogen is seen as the answer to the world’s energy crisis in terms of reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels, however at present, approximately 96% of hydrogen is made using fossil fuels,” Professor Koh stated. “We cannot be successful in using hydrogen to reach net zero, if fossil fuels are still playing such a huge role in the hydrogen supply chain.
“Our research suggests that hydrogen could still live up to its promise and play a vital role in the clean energy transition, but only if the electricity used to produce it comes from genuinely low-carbon sources and the full supply chain is designed with sustainability in mind. Aligning green hydrogen technology selection with regional decarbonisation trajectories is crucial for achieving sustainable and resilient international supply chains by 2050.”
‘Valuable insights’
The study’s co-author, Dr Moein Shamoushaki, research associate at the University of Sheffield’s Management School, added that delays in policy implementation or disruptions to renewable energy deployment could could “substantially alter the relative sustainability” of green hydrogen supply chains.
“Our findings offer valuable insights for governments and policymakers on shaping green hydrogen production, supply chains, and policies that align with global and national net-zero and sustainability goals,” he added. Read more here.
