Green Hydrogen Cost-Potentials for Global Trade

RWTH Publications (RWTH Aachen)

Abstract

Green hydrogen is expected to be traded globally in future greenhouse gas neutral energy systems. However, there is still a lack of temporally- and spatially-explicit cost-potentials for green hydrogen considering the full process chain, which are necessary for creating effective global strategies. Therefore, this study provides such detailed cost-potential-curves for 28 selected countries worldwide until 2050, using an optimizing energy systems approach based on open-field photovoltaics (PV) and onshore wind. The results reveal huge hydrogen potentials (>1,500 PWhLHV/a) and 79 PWhLHV/a at costs below 2.30 EUR/kg in 2050, dominated by solar-rich countries in Africa and the Middle East. Decentralized PV-based hydrogen production, even in wind-rich countries, is always preferred. Supplying sustainable water for hydrogen production is needed while having minor impact on hydrogen cost. Additional costs for imports from democratic regions are only total 7% higher. Hence, such regions could boost the geostrategic security of supply for greenhouse gas neutral energy systems.

Authors 9

1. David Franzmann Aachen Chair for Fuel Cells Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH , Institute of Energy and Climate Research -Techno- economic Systems Analysis ( IEK-3) , 52425 Jülich , Germany

   RWTH Aachen University , Chair for Fuel Cells , Faculty of Mechanical Engineering , 52062 Aachen , German

2. Heidi Heinrichs

   Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH , Institute of Energy and Climate Research -Techno- economic Systems Analysis ( IEK-3) , 52425 Jülich , Germany

3. Felix Lippkau

   University of Stuttgart

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Energy Use (IER) , University of Stuttgart , 70565 Stuttgart , Germany

4. Thushara Addanki

   Renewable Energy Systems (United States) · Sustainable Energy Systems (United Kingdom)

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems - TU Munich ;

5. Patrick Buchenberg

   Renewable Energy Systems (United States) · Sustainable Energy Systems (United Kingdom)

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems - TU Munich ;

6. Thomas Hamacher

   Renewable Energy Systems (United States) · Sustainable Energy Systems (United Kingdom)

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems - TU Munich ;

7. Markus Blesl

   University of Stuttgart

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Energy Use (IER) , University of Stuttgart , 70565 Stuttgart , Germany

8. Jochen Linßen
9. Detlef Stolten Aachen Chair for Fuel Cells Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH , Institute of Energy and Climate Research -Techno- economic Systems Analysis ( IEK-3) , 52425 Jülich , Germany

   RWTH Aachen University , Chair for Fuel Cells , Faculty of Mechanical Engineering , 52062 Aachen , German