The Role of Green and Blue Hydrogen in the Energy Transition - A Technological and Geopolitical Perspective

December 2020
Sustainability 13(1):298
DOI:10.3390/su13010298
Authors:

Michel Noussan
Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei


Pier Paolo Raimondi
Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei


Rossana Scita


Manfred Hafner
Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei


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Abstract and Figures

Hydrogen is currently enjoying a renewed and widespread momentum in many national and international climate strategies. This review paper is focused on analysing the challenges and opportunities that are related to green and blue hydrogen, which are at the basis of different perspectives of a potential hydrogen society. While many governments and private companies are putting significant resources on the development of hydrogen technologies, there still remains a high number of unsolved issues, including technical challenges, economic and geopolitical implications. The hydrogen supply chain includes a large number of steps, resulting in additional energy losses, and while much focus is put on hydrogen generation costs, its transport and storage should not be neglected. A low-carbon hydrogen economy offers promising opportunities not only to fight climate change, but also to enhance energy security and develop local industries in many countries. However, to face the huge challenges of a transition towards a zero-carbon energy system, all available technologies should be allowed to contribute based on measurable indicators, which require a strong international consensus based on transparent standards and targets.


Different hydrogen generation pathways divided by colour. SMR: steam methane reforming, ATR: autothermal reforming, CCS: carbon capture and sequestration.
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Estimation of future hydrogen costs for different pathways. Energy figures based on hydrogen lower heating value (LHV). Authors' elaboration on BNEF data, 2020 [14].
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Potential CO 2 savings for different H 2 volumetric blending ratios in the natural gas grid (considering pure methane).
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Hydrogen passenger cars stock in different countries. Authors' elaboration in References [64-66].
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Comparison of selected countries based on green hydrogen domestic consumption and production potential. GCC means Gulf Cooperation Council (including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates). Source: [123].
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