Impact of fuel cells on hydrogen energy pathways in a sustainable energy economy

Abstract

The drive to decarbonise the electricity and transport industries when transitioning from a fossil fuel economy to a hydrogen economy requires careful consideration of techno-environmental implications. National and regional strategies for adopting hydrogen energy highlight an overarching objective to use hydrogen for electrification that requires a concomitant transition to fuel cell technologies. We therefore examine the impact of emergent fuel cell technologies on the sustainability of various hydrogen energy pathways. Using a technology neutral framework, we show that hydrogen derived from fossil fuels for use in fuel cells (i.e., blue hydrogen), is techno-environmentally unviable in a future economy. We propose that a narrative focused on a sustainable energy economy, rather than a hydrogen economy, shifts the debate to meet the requirements of national and regional strategies with key implications for the energy industry and policy maker.