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Cumulative Energy Demand of Hydrogen Energy Systems

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Energy Footprints of the Energy Sector

Abstract

Hydrogen energy systems are expected to play a significant role in achieving a sustainable energy sector. This requires that sustainable hydrogen options are actually available and implemented. In order to check the suitability of hydrogen under sustainability aspects, the life cycle assessment methodology is often used. In particular, global warming (i.e., carbon footprint) and cumulative energy demand (CED or energy footprint) are among the most common life-cycle indicators evaluated for hydrogen energy systems. This chapter provides a complete library of consistent (i.e., harmonised) CED values for a high number of hydrogen production options belonging to different technological categories (thermochemical, electrochemical, and biological). Overall, 71 case studies of renewable hydrogen are benchmarked—in terms of CED—against the reference case of conventional (fossil-based) hydrogen from steam reforming of natural gas. Furthermore, a correlation equation between CED and carbon footprint is calculated and applied for the estimation of harmonised CED values. The use of harmonised values allows sound comparisons by mitigating the risk of misinterpretation. The results show that electrochemical hydrogen generally performs better than thermochemical hydrogen, while biological systems show a high dispersion of values. Especially, the use of wind power as the driving energy for electrochemical hydrogen production tends to be associated with a favourable performance.

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Acknowledgements

This research has been partly supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (ENE2015-74607-JIN AEI/FEDER/UE) and the Regional Government of Madrid (S2013/MAE-2882 and S2013/ABI-2783). This work is framed within Task 36 of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Hydrogen Implementing Agreement (HIA).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Systems Analysis Unit, IMDEA Energy, 28935, Móstoles, Spain

    Antonio Valente, Diego Iribarren & Javier Dufour

  2. Chemical and Environmental Engineering Group, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28933, Móstoles, Spain

    Antonio Valente & Javier Dufour

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  1. Antonio Valente
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  2. Diego Iribarren
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Correspondence to Diego Iribarren .

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  1. SgT Group and API, Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Subramanian Senthilkannan Muthu

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Valente, A., Iribarren, D., Dufour, J. (2019). Cumulative Energy Demand of Hydrogen Energy Systems. In: Muthu, S. (eds) Energy Footprints of the Energy Sector. Environmental Footprints and Eco-design of Products and Processes. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2457-4_2

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