Life-cycle global warming impact of hydrogen transport through pipelines from Africa to Germany

Kanz, Olga; Brüggemann, Franka; Ding, Kaining; Bittkau, Karsten; Rau, Uwe; Reinders, Angèle

doi:10.1039/d3se00281k

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(42 reference statements)

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“…Hydrogen is transferred from the tanker to the pipeline infrastructure [45]. The pipeline design in Germany was selected following the proposal of the European Hydrogen Backbone.…”

Section: Domestic Distribution Per Pipelinementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fifty years of operation can be anticipated for the new hydrogen pipelines. The repurposed pipelines can be in service for hydrogen transportation for 30 years [45].…”

Section: Domestic Distribution Per Pipelinementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following the Frazer-Nash study, 0.5% losses per 1000 km were assumed for the hydrogen transportation [51]. Descriptions of the pipeline parameter can be found in Tables 6, A4 and A5 [45].…”

Section: Domestic Distribution Per Pipelinementioning

confidence: 99%

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Life Cycle Global Warming Impact of Long-Distance Liquid Hydrogen Transport from Africa to Germany

Kanz,

Bittkau,

Ding

et al. 2023

Hydrogen

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The global interest in hydrogen as an energy carrier is steadily increasing. In this study, multiple scenarios of liquid hydrogen exports from Africa to Germany are analyzed by life cycle assessment (LCA) to quantify the global warming potential (GWP) of 1 kg hydrogen. The investigation is driven by the promise that hydrogen can be sustainably and economically produced by photovoltaic (PV)-powered electrolysis in Africa, benefiting from the geographical location near the equator and, consequently, higher solar irradiation levels. Given the absence of a pipeline network, shipping hydrogen emerges as the most efficient short-term transportation option to Germany. In this paper, supply locations—Morocco, Senegal, and Nigeria—are evaluated by means of an LCA and compared to hydrogen supply from Germany. Results show that emissions from hydrogen production and transportation by ship from Morocco range from 3.32 to 3.41 kgCO2-eq/kgH2. From Senegal, the range is 3.88 to 3.99 kgCO2eq/kgH2, and from Nigeria, it falls between 4.38 and 4.27 kgCO2-eq/kgH2. These emission levels are influenced by factors such as the GWP of PV electricity, the efficiency of the electrolyzer, and the transportation distance. Interestingly, the analysis reveals that PV-powered electrolysis of hydrogen in Germany, including 300 km distribution, causes, in most scenarios, a lower GWP in the range of 3.48 to 3.61 kgCO2-eq/kgH2 than hydrogen from the analyzed African regions. Opting for grid electricity instead of PV (with a value of 0.420 kgCO2-eq/kWh) for hydrogen production in Germany yields a GWP ranging from 24.35 to 25.42 kgCO2-eq/kgH2. Hence, we can conclude that in any event, PV-powered hydrogen electrolysis has a low environmental impact not only within Africa but also in Germany. However, it is crucial to carefully consider the balance of the GWP of production versus transportation given the distance between a hydrogen production site and the location of consumption.

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“…Hydrogen is transferred from the tanker to the pipeline infrastructure [45]. The pipeline design in Germany was selected following the proposal of the European Hydrogen Backbone.…”

Section: Domestic Distribution Per Pipelinementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fifty years of operation can be anticipated for the new hydrogen pipelines. The repurposed pipelines can be in service for hydrogen transportation for 30 years [45].…”

Section: Domestic Distribution Per Pipelinementioning

confidence: 99%

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Life Cycle Global Warming Impact of Long-Distance Liquid Hydrogen Transport from Africa to Germany

Kanz,

Bittkau,

Ding

et al. 2023

Hydrogen

Self Cite

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It is not the same green: A comparative LCA study of green hydrogen supply network pathways

Alghool,

Haouari,

Trucco

2024

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

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An Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Electrolysis for Certifying Clean Hydrogen

Kim,

Min,

Lee

et al. 2024

Energies

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The drive for carbon neutrality has led to legislative measures targeting reduced greenhouse gas emissions across the transportation, construction, and industry sectors. Renewable energy sources, especially solar and wind power, play a pivotal role in this transition. However, their intermittent nature necessitates effective storage solutions. Green hydrogen and ammonia have gained attention for their potential to store renewable energy while producing minimal emissions. Despite their theoretical promise of zero greenhouse gas emissions during production, real-world emissions vary based on system configurations and lifecycle assessments, highlighting the need for detailed evaluations of their environmental impact. Therefore, in this study, calculations were performed for the actual amount of produced greenhouse gas emissions that are associated with the production of green hydrogen using electrolysis, from raw material extraction and processing to hydrogen production, with these assessed from well-to-gate emission estimates. Emissions were also evaluated based on various types of renewable energy sources in South Korea, as well as hydrogen production volumes, capacities, and types. Using these data, the following factors were examined in this study: carbon dioxide emissions from the manufacturing stage of electrolysis equipment production, the correlation between materials and carbon dioxide emissions, and process emissions. Current grades of clean hydrogen were verified, and the greenhouse gas reduction effects of green hydrogen were confirmed. These findings are significant against the backdrop of a country such as South Korea, where the proportion of renewable energy in total electricity production is very low at 5.51%. Based on the domestic greenhouse gas emission efficiency standard of 55 kWh/kgH2, it was found that producing 1 kg of hydrogen emits 0.076 kg of carbon dioxide for hydropower, 0.283 kg for wind power, and 0.924 kg for solar power. The carbon dioxide emissions for AWE and PEM stacks were 8434 kg CO2 and 3695 kg CO2, respectively, demonstrating that an alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) system emits about 2.3 times more greenhouse gasses than a proton exchange membrane (PEM) system. This indicates that the total carbon dioxide emissions of green hydrogen are significantly influenced by the type of renewable energy and the type of electrolysis used.

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Life-cycle global warming impact of hydrogen transport through pipelines from Africa to Germany

Abstract: A unique life cycle assessment highlights the potential of photovoltaics to limit the global warming potential of hydrogen imports, using Germany's domestic supply as a reference.

Cited by 4 publications

References 24 publications

Life Cycle Global Warming Impact of Long-Distance Liquid Hydrogen Transport from Africa to Germany

Life Cycle Global Warming Impact of Long-Distance Liquid Hydrogen Transport from Africa to Germany

It is not the same green: A comparative LCA study of green hydrogen supply network pathways

An Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Electrolysis for Certifying Clean Hydrogen

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