Summary of the Challenge
Green hydrogen production holds paramount importance in the global pursuit of a sustainable and low-carbon future.
As an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional hydrogen production methods, green hydrogen is generated through electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar power. This process produces hydrogen without emitting carbon dioxide, mitigating the environmental impact associated with conventional hydrogen production.
Green hydrogen serves as a versatile and clean energy carrier with applications across diverse sectors, including industry, transportation, and energy storage. Its significance lies in its potential to decarbonise various industries and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with global climate goals.
By fostering the transition to green hydrogen, societies can advance their efforts toward achieving carbon neutrality, enhance energy security, and foster a more sustainable and resilient energy ecosystem.
However, as an emerging industry, its supply chain is not yet well understood. More research is needed to understand how we can enable sustainable and resilient transitions from fossil fuels to green hydrogen in key sectors, particularly industry and transport.
Our Response
This project will compare five different hydrogen production technologies, three using electrolysis (Alkaline, Proton Exchange Membrane and Solid Oxide Electrolysis) and two using bio-mass (biomass gasification and dark fermentation). Dark fermentation is important in hydrogen production and sustainability because it offers a unique and eco-friendly approach for harnessing hydrogen gas from organic waste materials. This microbial process occurs in the absence of light, utilising certain anaerobic bacteria to break down complex organic compounds, such as agricultural residues or wastewater, into simpler molecules.
All technologies will undergo evaluation based on their environmental impact. Furthermore, diverse supply chain scenarios for each technology will be elaborated upon for comparative analysis, aiming to identify the most sustainable hydrogen supply chain. These formulated supply chain scenarios are constructed considering the predominant companies and countries actively participating in the hydrogen economy.
A predictive life cycle assessment will be conducted for all technologies, aligning with the net-zero plans of prominent countries in the hydrogen economy. This assessment aims to understand the anticipated reduction in environmental impact that these technologies could achieve against the net-zero targets set by leading nations in the hydrogen sector.
