{"id":10797,"date":"2024-04-30T10:34:03","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T08:34:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/energy-saxony.net\/news\/what-infrastructure-will-the-hydrogen-economy-need-by-2050\/"},"modified":"2024-05-27T05:54:15","modified_gmt":"2024-05-27T03:54:15","slug":"what-infrastructure-will-the-hydrogen-economy-need-by-2050","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/energy-saxony.net\/en\/news\/what-infrastructure-will-the-hydrogen-economy-need-by-2050\/","title":{"rendered":"What infrastructure will the hydrogen economy need by 2050?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The researchers looked at demand from industry, households and the transportation sector. After 2030, they expect significant cost reductions for green energy sources, but these would not be enough to generate low-temperature, heating and process heat economically. Overall, the researchers have calculated a minimum requirement of 700 TWh of gaseous hydrogen for Europe and the UK in 2050. Hydrogen is only conducive to the implementation of the energy transition if its availability in terms of time and space corresponds to the respective requirements. Hydrogen is therefore primarily required for high-temperature and energy-intensive process heat applications, as well as a raw material in industry and centralized electricity and district heating generation.<\/p>\n\n

Steel and chemical production with high hydrogen demand<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

In the industrial sector, it is primarily steel production and the associated high-temperature processes that account for 200 to 300 TWh of hydrogen demand alone. Advantage: The steel industry requires large quantities of climate-neutral hydrogen, but can also flexibly switch to mixtures of hydrogen with natural gas, which supports a continuous transformation.<\/p>\n\n

The chemical industry could also be an important driving force for the expansion of the European hydrogen infrastructure. This is because the production of green ammonia or high-quality chemicals requires large quantities of hydrogen. Co-coordinator Mario Ragwitz, Institute Director at the Fraunhofer IEG: “However, it is uncertain whether the entire value chain from solar and wind power to hydrogen production and the production of various chemicals can be realized in Europe. Imports of intermediate products such as green methanol or ammonia could reduce the demand for hydrogen in the European industrial sector. These sensitivities were therefore considered as part of TransHyDE.”<\/p>\n\n

Transportation as the second most important customer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The second most important consumer of hydrogen is the transportation sector. Co-author Christoph Nolden, Business Unit Manager Networks, Energy & Process Engineering at Fraunhofer IEG: “International air and shipping traffic is dependent on synthetic fuels based on hydrogen. This will generate a total hydrogen demand of 450 TWh for green fuels in 2050. The biggest uncertainty factor in the transportation sector is the competition between direct electrification and hydrogen propulsion using fuel cells in heavy-duty trucks. Various scenarios show an additional demand of up to 380 TWh in 2050 if 40% of heavy goods vehicles were equipped with fuel cells.”<\/p>\n\n

Production of hydrogen in Europe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

According to the researchers, the production of hydrogen in Europe depends on whether the ambitious targets for the expansion of European wind and solar power plants are achieved.<\/p>\n\n

According to co-coordinator Florian Ausfelder, Head of Energy and Climate at DECHEMA e.V., the role of electrolysis in sector coupling will develop considerably during the market ramp-up: “Initially, electrolysers will be integrated into clusters to ensure the safe and continuous supply of hydrogen for industrial use. Once the hydrogen infrastructure is established, electrolysers can feed into the grid while providing flexibility in the electricity network: In this way, grid operators can use electrolysers to reduce the need to expand the electricity grid and thus reduce costs.” It should be noted that there may be a shortage of green hydrogen to meet demand, especially at the beginning of the market ramp-up. During this phase, alternatives such as blue hydrogen would have to cover the existing demand.<\/p>\n\n

Transportation and storage of hydrogen and its derivatives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Co-author Tobias Fleiter, head of the Demand Analyses and Projections business unit at Fraunhofer ISI: “Security of supply and the transformation to a hydrogen economy also depend on the expansion of the corresponding transportation and storage infrastructure. The modeling results show that a suitably dimensioned hydrogen core network enables the supply of hydrogen demand at minimal overall system costs.” The core network could connect the potential producers of renewable energies, especially in the north and south of Europe, with the underground storage facilities and industrial centers in Central Europe.<\/p>\n\n

Co-author My Yen F\u00f6rster, DECHEMA e.V.: “The conversion of former natural gas pipelines plays a decisive role in the transformation of the German and European energy system. The research results confirm that this conversion can meet the supply requirements in various scenarios. Imports from non-EU countries appear to be particularly competitive when they are linked to pipelines.” Pipeline-linked imports could take place via the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). Imports of hydrogen derivatives or intermediate products, such as ammonia or sponge iron, are likely to be cheaper than their production in Europe.<\/p>\n\n

Partners involved<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

In addition to the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Energy IEG and DECHEMA Gesellschaft f\u00fcr Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.V., the white paper was also contributed to by employees of: Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung GmbH, Forschungsstelle f\u00fcr Energiewirtschaft FfE, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, VNG AG, Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF, DVGW Research Center at the Engler-Bunte Institute, Institut f\u00fcr Zukunftsenergie- und Stoffstromsysteme gGmbH, Technische Universit\u00e4t Berlin, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. The TransHyDE flagship project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.<\/p>\n\n

Press contact:<\/h4>\n\n

Fraunhofer IEG<\/strong>Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal SystemsAm Hochschulcampus 1| 44801 Bochum | GermanyKerstin Griese<\/strong>Senior Communicator H2Raum\/Science Communication and PressE Kerstin.Griese@ieg.fraunhofer.de<\/a>T +49 (0) 234 33858-229Website: www.ieg.fraunhofer.de<\/a><\/p>\n\n

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