Issue 7, 2018

An option for stranded renewables: electrolytic-hydrogen in future energy systems

Abstract

Future energy systems will likely be challenged by large quantities of stranded renewable electricity that cannot be used in the conventional electrical grid. Using surplus electricity for electrolysis and thereby producing hydrogen is seen as a valuable solution functioning as an energy storage and transport medium and providing other sectors, such as transport or industry, with required feedstocks at the same time. In this study, we suggest using a set of assessment tools to highlight the quantitative potential, cost and environmental performance of electrolytic hydrogen production, transmission and storage. Our approach employs power sector modeling for Germany with three sequential elements: (i) a market model, (ii) power flow modeling, and (iii) re-dispatch modeling. The results were then used to identify suitable locations for large scale electrolysis plants. Electrolysis, large-scale gas storage, a transmission pipeline and other system components were scaled-up and the total cost was calculated. In a final step, we looked at greenhouse gas emissions as one of the major aspects regarding the environmental performance of the hydrogen delivered. Based on our analysis, annual hydrogen production rates of up to 189 kilotons have been determined for the state of Schleswig-Holstein, which exhibits the largest potential for utilizing surplus power from renewables. The economic analysis reveals a hydrogen cost of 3.63–5.81€ kg−1, including installations, for large-scale storage and transmission. If surplus power from renewables is used for hydrogen production, the total greenhouse gas emissions of hydrogen provision were determined to be up to 435 gCO2-eq. kg−1. Using grid electricity, this value increased to some 17 000 gCO2-eq. kg−1.

Graphical abstract: An option for stranded renewables: electrolytic-hydrogen in future energy systems

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 1月 2018
Accepted
02 5月 2018
First published
21 5月 2018

Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2018,2, 1500-1515

An option for stranded renewables: electrolytic-hydrogen in future energy systems

T. Grube, L. Doré, A. Hoffrichter, L. E. Hombach, S. Raths, M. Robinius, M. Nobis, S. Schiebahn, V. Tietze, A. Schnettler, G. Walther and D. Stolten, Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2018, 2, 1500 DOI: 10.1039/C8SE00008E

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements