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Green hydrogen is far from being available in sufficient quantities

2021-11-16T13:33:18.851Z


In order to meet one percent of energy demand in the EU with domestic green hydrogen by 2030, production would have to increase by around 70 percent per year, researchers have calculated.


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Aircraft operated with green hydrogen could fly climate-neutrally

Photo: HORST GERLACH / iStockphoto / Getty Images

Green hydrogen is seen as a beacon of hope for the energy transition in the fight against the climate crisis.

But according to the assessment of female scientists from six research institutes, there is a crucial problem: Green hydrogen is not yet available in sufficient quantities, not even close.

To this end, the researchers published a paper for the Ariadne Kopernikus project on the energy transition, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

It says: For the time horizon up to 2030, hydrogen will only play a minor role.

On course for climate neutrality in 2045, the capacities of renewable energies should be tripled in a »decade of electrification«.

It must be encouraged that among the new car registrations, especially electric cars are to be found.

In addition, around five million heat pumps would have to be installed.

At the same time, it is important to pursue the expansion of the infrastructure for the production and use of green hydrogen with great political vigor.

For the time being, however, hydrogen should be reserved for applications in which direct electrification with green electricity is not possible - for example in industry for ammonia or steel production and for e-fuels in long-distance flight or shipping.

This applies as long as it is unclear what quantities of hydrogen will be realizable in the future - and at what price.

The capacities have to increase quickly

Falko Ueckerdt from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research explains: In order for only one percent of energy demand in the European Union to be met with domestic green hydrogen by 2030, its production must increase by around 70 percent annually from 2023.

And that is only possible if the European expansion target for electrolysis capacity for the production of hydrogen is achieved.

During electrolysis, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen with the help of electricity. According to the Federal Ministry of Research, one tonne of hydrogen chemically contains 33,330 kilowatt hours of energy. This corresponds to the annual electricity and energy consumption of eleven average three-person households in an apartment building. However, it is not possible to completely convert this chemical energy into usable energy.

Green hydrogen, which is obtained exclusively with renewable energy, can serve as the basis for fuels and fuels in order to replace the use of coal, oil and natural gas in industry and transport, for example. The federal government therefore wants to promote the expansion of renewable energies from wind and sun in Germany. However, it assumes that a large part of the required amount of hydrogen will be imported for the foreseeable future. The still insufficient amount of electricity that is generated from solar and wind energy is not the only obstacle. In addition, there was also a lack of production facilities for hydrogen.

It is true that significantly more production facilities are planned, said Ueckerdt.

However, there is still no final investment decision for 80 percent of the projects announced for 2023.

"So we see an industry that is basically ready to invest, but above all needs the political framework, the business case needs in order to really invest," said the scientist Ueckerdt.

more on the subject

SPIEGEL climate report: The (too beautiful) dream of green hydrogenBy Kurt Stukenberg, Deputy Head of Science

No reliable statements could be made about how quickly the production of hydrogen could grow.

After all, a political will to protect the climate and a great deal of interest from financially strong companies can be observed.

Ueckerdt considers national and international coordination of the expansion of the hydrogen infrastructure to be necessary.

»Hydrogen is a new energy carrier.

We are trying to do something that has never been there, namely to increase demand, infrastructure and supply at the same time. «The authors of the paper expressly recommend expanding the import of green hydrogen.

vki / dpa

Source: spiegel

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