WEMO24-Compiled Report-Interactive compressed (002) 4154-7882-8116 v.1 - Flipbook - Page 23
Global
Outlook
• Creating a large enough market demand: Increasing
hydrogen production only makes sense if there is sufficient
demand. Thus, there is a need to develop hydrogen usages.
For example, the replacement natural gas by green hydrogen
allows to decarbonize industries that are otherwise difficult
to decarbonize, such as chemistry, steel and fertilizers.
Research on hydrogen transportation in Zeolite has been
pursued for years.96 Also, new technologies are emerging
as the one developed by Hydrogen Storage Research
Group in Australia to transport this very small molecule as a
powder, which is safer and cheaper than other methods.97
This is not yet available at an industrial scale.
• Mid distances hydrogen transportation by pipeline is
possible. Gas network operators that are aware that natural
gas consumption is falling, are getting ready to transport
hydrogen in their existing pipes. We can cite the Hydrogen
European Backbone initiative, a network of 5 corridors
for the import of hydrogen into Europe and its transport
within Europe.
95 To obtain 1l of liquid hydrogen containing 2.4 kWh, it is necessary to spend 4.8 kWh https://
www.h2-mobile.fr/dossiers/lh2-hydrogene-liquide-definition/#:~:text=Un%20litre%20
d'hydrog%C3%A8ne%20liquide,au%20total%204%2C8%20kWh.
96 https://www.researchgate.net/
publication/269478417_Zeolite_as_material_for_hydrogen_storage_in_transport_applications
97 https://www.mining.com/project-to-turn-hydrogen-into-a-powder-for-easy-export-getsa5-million-in-funding/#:~:text=The%20HSRG%20research%20team%20is,be%20reused%20
to%20transport%20hydrogen.
Using gas pipelines dedicated to natural gas to transport
hydrogen, requires adaptations because hydrogen is a
smaller molecule than methane with different physical
and chemical properties. The concerns are related to the
weakening of the tubes by hydrogen if the operating
conditions lead to a large amplitude of pressure. It is also
necessary to ensure the tightness of the infrastructures.
Ultimately the objective is to circulate in the pipes 10% of
the consumption planned for 2030, or 10 million tonnes.
Let’s cite the two European projects initiated by
InnoEnergy:
On one hand, GravitHy dedicated to speeding up the
decarbonization of the steel industry (responsible for
approximately 8% of the global CO₂ emissions),98 and on
the other hand FertigHy99 that aims to produce, low-carbon
fertilisers for European farmers.100
However, these usages are probably not sufficient for green
hydrogen production mass development. The transportation
market (car, lorries or ships) conversion to hydrogen
would significantly increase the demand. However, green
hydrogen fuelled vehicles must be competitive compared
to electrical vehicles whose costs are decreasing thanks to
batteries improvements.
WEMO 2024
• Long distances hydrogen transportation as liquid at very low
temperature (-273.15°C) has a very poor energy efficiency.95
It is possible to transform green hydrogen in green
ammonia and transport it. At destination, ammonia would
be reconverted into hydrogen. However, ammonia is a
corrosive molecule, and two conversions processes are
inefficient.
98 https://gravithy.eu/
99 https://fertighy.com/
100 The agriculture sector alone is responsible for 10% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions
23
• Solving transportation issues: Hydrogen is the smallest
molecule and very inflammable in contact with air. Hydrogen
transportation security has to be carefully assessed.
HOME
NEXT
ARTICLE
