Water consumption from electrolytic hydrogen in a carbon-neutral US energy system

Grubert, Emily

doi:10.1016/j.clpl.2023.100037

Cited by 11 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…For the United States alone, our findings are based on a scenario of hydrogen demand of 74 Mt/y in 2050. Compared to other work 95 considering a wide range of hydrogen demand in a net-zero system (2.5 -150 Mt/y), our findings correspond to a central case. Accordingly, we quantify a water demand for electrolytic hydrogen production, independent of water for electricity production, equal to 1.7 billion m 3 , approximately 13% of the freshwater consumption of the entire 2014 US energy system 95 .…”

Section: S4 Water Usecontrasting

confidence: 48%

Global land and water limits to electrolytic hydrogen production using wind and solar resources

Tonelli¹,

Rosa

Gabrielli

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Scale up of electrolytic production of hydrogen has been proposed as key to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. This poses technical, economic, and environmental challenges. One challenge concerns the use of wind and solar resources to power water electrolyzers for low-carbon hydrogen production, which results in additional demand for already scarce land and water resources. Here, we quantify the land and water scarcity induced by large-scale hydrogen production from electrolysis of water using wind and solar electricity. First, we develop a reference scenario for hydrogen demand in a 2050 net-zero economy by country and by sector. We then estimate land and water demands associated with future hydrogen production, and compare such demands with the respective country-specific land and water availability. Results highlight that land and water availability may constrain the production of electrolytic hydrogen in Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. In our reference scenario, less than half of 2050 hydrogen demand could be satisfied by domestic production with no constraints in land and water resources. Our findings identify potential importers and exporters of hydrogen based on domestic land and water resources.

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Section: S4 Water Usecontrasting

confidence: 48%

Global land and water limits to electrolytic hydrogen production using wind and solar resources

Tonelli¹,

Rosa

Gabrielli

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…China has made a pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, indicating a rapid energy transition toward mainly renewables including wind and solar power, hydrogen energy, and bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration (BECCS). − While wind and solar resources are a no-regret option for some cities, hydrogen and BECCS for other cities without good wind or solar resources , can consume large amounts of freshwater. , The final scale of both technologies is uncertain given various disadvantages (land occupation, freshwater consumption, thermodynamic efficiency, high costs, etc. ), − but they are likely to expand to some extent in the coming decades. The heterogeneity in freshwater consumption is likely to increase under these dynamics.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virtual Water Embodied in Interregional Energy Trade in China: A City-Level Analysis

Jin,

Feng,

Yuan

et al. 2024

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Large volumes of water are used in energy production for both primary (e.g., fuel extraction) and secondary energy (e.g., electricity). In countries such as China, with a large internal trade in fuels and long-distance transmission grids, this can result in considerable water inequalities. Previous research focused on the water impacts of energy production at the national and provincial levels, which is too coarse to identify the spatial differences and make specific case studies. Here, we take the next step toward a spatially explicit economically integrated water-use for energy assessment by combining a bottom-up assessment approach with a city-level multiregional input−output model. Specifically, we examine the water consumption of energy production in China, distinguishing between water for primary and secondary energy at the level of coal mines, oil and gas fields, and power plants for the first time. Of the total energy-related freshwater consumption of 4.9 Gm 3 in 2017, primary energy accounted for 19% (940 Mm 3 ) and secondary energy accounted for 81% (3955 Mm 3 ). Coal was the largest water consumer for both primary and secondary energy (540 and 3880 Mm 3 , respectively), with both oil (361, and 0.5 Mm 3 , respectively) and gas (7 and 69 Mm 3 , respectively) also consuming large amounts. Intercity virtual water, that is, water embodied in energy trade across cities, reached 54% (2.6 Gm 3 ) of energy-related freshwater consumption. Across China, 32% of cities see a bilateral trade in secondary-and primary-energy-related virtual water (e.g., Daqing city exports virtual water embodied in primary fuel to other cities that is then used to produce electricity in those cities, part of which is used back in Daqing via transmission). For these 32% of cities, 73% export more virtual water than import and 27% import more virtual water than export. This study reveals significant differences in city-level virtual water patterns (e.g., scale and direction) between primary and secondary energy to provide information for cities about their virtual water inflow and outflow and the potential collaboration partners for water management.

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“…Transitioning to CCU in the chemical industry requires a significant increase in electricity supply, preferably sourced from renewable or nuclear energy, to ensure a low-carbon footprint (Kätelhön et al 2019). Additional challenges include resource intensity, such as the water footprint associated with hydrogen production (Grubert 2023). Moreover, the rising demand for green hydrogen in various sectors poses a constraint, as this limits its availability for production of green methanol, a crucial component in CCU technologies (Odenweller et al 2022).…”

Section: Feasibilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Impacts of Plastics: Global Actions to Stem Climate Change and End Plastic Pollution

Rucevska,

Skripnikova,

Thomassen

et al. 2024

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Science provides convincing evidence that greenhouse gas emissions generated across the plastics life cycle are estimated to be between 3.8 and 4.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is set to grow with a projected increase in primary plastic production. This report presents the synthesis of an extensive literature review of the plastics life cycle. It analyses the countries’ submissions to the UNFCCC, the Paris Agreement, and the Intergovernmental Committee on plastic pollution. It also suggests measures that co-benefit addressing plastic pollution and achieving the global climate goals. This report reveals critical gaps in the current reporting practice for accounting plastics impacts on climate under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement and points out the role of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, (the instrument) in stemming climate change. The report argues that the development and the implementation of the plastics instrument provides a unique opportunity to strengthen global efforts in addressing climate change across the plastics life cycle, complementing the broader decarbonisation activities of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. To combat climate change alongside the plastics life cycle, the primary focus must be on reducing the production of plastics and focusing on low-carbon design as well as improving waste management and remediation. Additionally, the report draws attention to the lack of internationally agreed definitions used for the assessment of the impacts of plastics on climate, which would guide research, national reporting, and policy interventions in the future.

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Water consumption from electrolytic hydrogen in a carbon-neutral US energy system

Cited by 11 publications

References 46 publications

Global land and water limits to electrolytic hydrogen production using wind and solar resources

Global land and water limits to electrolytic hydrogen production using wind and solar resources

Virtual Water Embodied in Interregional Energy Trade in China: A City-Level Analysis

Climate Impacts of Plastics: Global Actions to Stem Climate Change and End Plastic Pollution

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