Session: 09-10-01: Hydrogen Production, Storage, and Integrated Hydrogen Energy Systems I

Paper Number: 163898

Environmental Analysis of the Production and Liquefaction of Green Hydrogen 

Climate change and the transition toward a clean energy sector are subjects of intensive discussion. Hydrogen is considered to be an energy vector for decarbonizing energy-intensive industries such as steel and cement production. However, establishing a hydrogen economy requires overcoming numerous technical, economic, and environmental challenges. One major issue is hydrogen's low volumetric density, which necessitates liquefaction for efficient transportation. This raises questions about the environmental impact of liquid hydrogen production and alternative transportation methods over long distances. Quantifying the environmental footprint of green hydrogen production and liquefaction is thus a crucial research and practical challenge.

 

This study conducts a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impact of producing green hydrogen via electrolysis and its subsequent liquefaction. The LCA model, powered by wind-based electricity, was developed using a cradle-to-gate system boundary. The assessment was conducted using GaBi version 9 software, incorporating indicators such as global warming potential, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, and water footprint.

 

The findings indicate that the environmental profile of hydrogen production is predominantly influenced by the electricity source used in the electrolysis stage. Renewable energy sources, such as wind power, significantly reduce the carbon footprint compared to fossil-based electricity. Furthermore, hydrogen liquefaction requires substantial energy input, adding to the overall environmental impact. The study highlights the importance of optimizing production and transportation methods to improve the sustainability of hydrogen as a viable, clean energy carrier.

 

This research contributes valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with green hydrogen production by providing a comprehensive environmental evaluation. Understanding the full impact of hydrogen's life cycle helps policymakers and industry stakeholders make informed decisions aligning with global decarbonization goals.

Climate change and energy transition towards the clean energy sector are under intensive discussion. Hydrogen is a key energy vector for decarbonizing energy-intensive industries, such as steel and cement production. However, many technical, economic, and environmental issues must be solved to establish a hydrogen economy. For instance, hydrogen, a chemical element with a very low volumetric density, can be liquefied for more efficient transportation. Questions arise about the environmental impact of liquid hydrogen production and other alternatives for hydrogen transportation over long distances. The quantification of the environmental impact of green hydrogen production and liquefaction chain represents a necessary research and practical question. This paper deals with a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impact of producing green hydrogen via electrolysis and its further liquefaction. An LCA model, with the supply of wind-based electricity, was developed using cradle-to-gate as the system boundary. The LCA models were created and simulated using the software GaBi version 9; global warming potential, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, and water footprint were included in the evaluation. The environmental profile is dominated by the source of electricity in the hydrogen production stage.

Presenting Author: George Tsatsaronis Technische Universität Berlin

Presenting Author Biography: George Tsatsaronis has been since 1994 the Bewag Professor of Energy Engineering and Environmental Protection at the Technische Universität Berlin, Germany. He received his Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (NTU Athens, Greece), and MBA, PhD, and Dr Habilitatus Degree, all from the RWTH Aachen University, Germany. In the time period 1982-1994 he worked in the USA. His areas of interest include the design, development, analysis and optimization of energy conversion systems. He contributed significantly to the fundamentals and terminology of exergy-based methods. He has published more than 500 papers, received several international honors and awards, and has served as Chairman or Co-chairman of 20 international conferences.

Authors:

Jimena Incer-Valverde University of Costa Rica
Sudheep Senthilkumar Technische Uiverisität Berlin
George Tsatsaronis Technische Universität Berlin
Tatiana Morosuk Technische Universitat Berlin