Policy & Socio-Economics

The main results highlighted in this article underline the critical significance of hydrogen technologies in the move towards carbon neutrality. This research focuses on several key areas including the production storage safety and usage of hydrogen alongside innovative approaches for assessing hydrogen purity and production-related technologies. This study emphasizes the vital role of hydrogen storage technology for the future utilization of hydrogen as an energy carrier and the advancement of technologies that facilitate effective safe and cost-efficient hydrogen storage. Furthermore bibliometric analysis has been instrumental in identifying primary research fields such as hydrogen storage hydrogen production efficient electrocatalysts rotary engines utilizing hydrogen as fuel and underground hydrogen storage. Each domain is essential for realizing a sustainable hydrogen economy reflecting the significant research and development efforts in hydrogen technologies. Recent trends have shown an increased interest in underground hydrogen storage as a method to enhance energy security and assist in the transition towards sustainable energy systems. This research delves into the technical economic and environmental facets of employing geological formations for large-scale seasonal and long-term hydrogen storage. Ultimately the development of hydrogen technologies is deemed crucial for meeting sustainable development goals particularly in terms of addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen serves as an energy carrier that could substantially lessen reliance on fossil fuels while encouraging the adoption of renewable energy sources aiding in the decarbonization of transport industry and energy production sectors. This in turn supports worldwide efforts to curb global warming and achieve carbon neutrality.

National hydrogen strategies are emerging as a critical pillar of climate change policy. For homes connected to the gas grid hydrogen may offer an alternative decarbonisation pathway to electrification. Hydrogen production pathways in countries such as the UK will involve both the gas network and the electricity grid with related policy choices and investment decisions impacting the potential configuration of consumer acceptance for hydrogen homes. Despite the risk of public resistance be it on environmental economic or social grounds few studies have explored the emerging contours of domestic hydrogen acceptance. To date there is scarce evidence on public perceptions of national hydrogen policy and the extent to which attitudes may be rooted in prior knowledge and awareness or open to change following information provision and engagement. In response this study evaluates consumer preferences for a low-carbon energy future wherein parts of the UK housing stock may adopt low-carbon hydrogen boilers and hobs. Drawing on data from online focus groups we examine consumer perceptions of the government's twin-track approach which envisions important roles for both ‘blue’ and ‘green’ hydrogen to meet net zero ambitions. Through a mixed-methods multigroup analysis the underlying motivation is to explore whether the twin-track approach appears compatible with hydrogen acceptance. Moving forward hydrogen policy should ensure greater transparency concerning the benefits costs and risks of the transition with clearer communication about the justification for supporting respective hydrogen production pathways.

Countries such as China are facing a bottleneck in their paths to carbon neutrality: abating emissions in heavy industries and heavy-duty transport. There are few in-depth studies of the prospective role for clean hydrogen in these ‘hard-to-abate’ (HTA) sectors. Here we carry out an integrated dynamic least-cost modelling analysis. Results show that first clean hydrogen can be both a major energy carrier and feedstock that can significantly reduce carbon emissions of heavy industry. It can also fuel up to 50% of China’s heavy-duty truck and bus fleets by 2060 and significant shares of shipping. Second a realistic clean hydrogen scenario that reaches 65.7 Mt of production in 2060 could avoid US$1.72 trillion of new investment compared with a no-hydrogen scenario. This study provides evidence of the value of clean hydrogen in HTA sectors for China and countries facing similar challenges in reducing emissions to achieve net-zero goals.

The growth of population gross domestic product (GDP) and urbanization have led to an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The leading GHG-emitting sectors are electricity generation road transportation cement chemicals refinery iron and steel. However the KSA is working to lead the global energy sustainability campaign to reach net zero GHG emissions by 2060. In addition the country is working to establish a framework for the circular carbon economy (CCE) in which hydrogen acts as a transversal facilitator. To cut down on greenhouse gas emissions the Kingdom is also building several facilities such as the NEOM green hydrogen project. The main objective of the article is to critically review the current GHG emission dynamics of the KSA including major GHG emission driving forces and prominent emission sectors. Then the role of hydrogen in GHG emission reduction will be explored. Finally the researchers and decision makers will find the helpful discussions and recommendations in deciding on appropriate mitigation measures and technologies.

This paper presents an eco-technoeconomic analysis (eTEA) of hydrogen production via solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) aimed at identifying the economically optimal size and operating trajectories for these cells. Notably degradation effects were accounted by employing a data-driven degradationbased model previously developed by our group for the analysis of SOECs. This model enabled the identification of the optimal trajectories under which SOECs can be economically operated over extended periods of time with reduced degradation rate. The findings indicated that the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) produced by SOECs (ranging from 2.78 to 11.67 $/kg H2) is higher compared to gray hydrogen generated via steam methane reforming (SMR) (varying from 1.03 to 2.16 $ per kg H2) which is currently the dominant commercial process for large-scale hydrogen production. Additionally SOECs generally had lower life cycle CO2 emissions per kilogram of produced hydrogen (from 1.62 to 3.6 kg CO2 per kg H2) compared to SMR (10.72–15.86 kg CO2 per kg H2). However SOEC life cycle CO2 emissions are highly dependent on the CO2 emissions produced by its power source as SOECs powered by high-CO2-emission sources can produce as much as 32.22 kg CO2 per kg H2. Finally the findings of a sensitivity analysis indicated that the price of electricity has a greater influence on the LCOH than the capital cost.

The Philippines is exploring different alternative sources of energy to become energy-independent while significantly reducing the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. Green hydrogen from renewable energy is one of the most sustainable alternatives with its application as an energy carrier and as a source of clean and sustainable energy as well as raw material for various industrial processes. As a preliminary study in the country this paper aims to explore different production and utilization routes for a green hydrogen economy in the Philippines. Production from electrolysis includes various available renewable sources consisting of geothermal hydropower wind solar and biomass as well as ocean technology and nuclear energy when they become available in the future. Different utilization routes include the application of green hydrogen in the transportation power generation industry and utility sectors. The results of this study can be incorporated in the development of the pathways for hydrogen economy in the Philippines and can be applied in other emerging economies.

This paper evaluates the economic viability of a combined wind-based green-hydrogen facility from an investor’s viewpoint. The paper introduces a theoretical model and demonstrates it by example. The valuation model assumes that both the spot price of electricity and wind capacity factor evolve stochastically over time; these state variables can in principle be correlated. Besides it explicitly considers the possibility to use curtailed wind energy for producing hydrogen. The model derives the investment project’s net present value (NPV) as a function of hydrogen price and conversion capacity. Thus the NPV is computed for a given price and a range of capacities. The one that leads to the maximum NPV is the ‘optimal’ capacity (for the given price). Next the authors estimate the parameters underlying the two stochastic processes from Spanish hourly data. These numerical estimates allow simulate hourly paths of both variables over the facility’s expected useful lifetime (30 years). According to the results green hydrogen production starts becoming economically viable above 3 €/kg. Besides it takes a hydrogen price of 4.7 €/kg to reach an optimal conversion capacity half the capacity of the wind park. The authors develop sensitivity analyses with respect to wind capacity factor curtailment rate and discount rate.

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Under the requirements of China's strategic goal of "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality" as a renewable clean and efficient secondary energy source hydrogen benefits from abundant resources a wide variety of sources a high combustion calorific value clean and non-polluting various forms of utilization energy storage mediums and good security etc. It will become a realistic way to help energy transportation petrochemical and other fields to achieve deep decarbonization and will turn into an important replacement energy source for China to build a modern clean energy system. It is clear that accelerating the development of hydrogen energy has become a global consensus. In order to provide a theoretical support for the accelerated transformation of hydrogen-related industries and energy companies and provide a basis and reference for the construction of "Hydrogen Energy China" this paper describes main key technological progresses in the hydrogen industry chain such as hydrogen production storage transportation and application. The status and development trends of hydrogen industrialization are analyzed and then the challenges faced by the development of the hydrogen industry are discussed. At last the development and future of the hydrogen industry are prospected. The following conclusions are achieved. (1) Hydrogen technologies of our country will become mature and enter the road of industrialization. The whole industry chain system of the hydrogen industry is gradually being formed and will realize the leap-forward development from gray hydrogen blue hydrogen to green hydrogen. (2) The overall development of the entire hydrogen industry chain such as hydrogen production storage and transportation fuel cells hydrogen refueling stations and other scenarios should be accelerated. Besides in-depth integration and coordination with the oil and gas industry needs more attention which will rapidly promote the high-quality development of the hydrogen industry system. (3) The promotion and implementation of major projects such as "north-east hydrogen transmission" "west-east hydrogen transmission" "sea hydrogen landing" and utilization of infrastructures such as gas filling stations can give full play to the innate advantages of oil and gas companies in industrial chain nodes such as hydrogen production and refueling etc. which can help to achieve the application of "oil gas hydrogen and electricity" four-station joint construction form a nationwide hydrogen resource guarantee system and accelerate the planning and promotion of the "Hydrogen Energy China" strategy.

This paper delves into the critical role of tax credits specifically Sections 45Q and 45V in the financing and economic feasibility of low-carbon-intensity hydrogen projects with a focus on natural-gas-based hydrogen production plants integrated with carbon capture and storage (CCS). This study covers the current clean energy landscape underscoring the importance of low-carbon hydrogen as a key component in the transition to a sustainable energy future and then explicates the mechanics of the 45Q and 45V tax credits illustrating their direct impact on enhancing the economic attractiveness of such projects through a detailed net present value (NPV) model analysis. Our analysis reveals that the application of 45Q and 45V tax credits significantly reduces the levelized cost of hydrogen production with scenarios indicating a reduction in cost ranging from USD 0.41/kg to USD 0.81/kg of hydrogen. Specifically the 45Q tax credit demonstrates a slightly more advantageous impact on reducing costs compared to the 45V tax credit underpinning the critical role of these fiscal measures in enhancing project returns and feasibility. Furthermore this paper addresses the inherent limitations of utilizing tax credits primarily the challenge posed by the mismatch between the scale of tax credits and the tax liability of the project developers. The concept and role of tax equity investments are discussed in response to this challenge. These findings contribute to the broader dialogue on the financing of sustainable energy projects providing valuable insights for policymakers investors and developers in the hydrogen energy sector. By quantifying the economic benefits of tax credits and elucidating the role of tax equity investments our research supports informed decision-making and strategic planning in the pursuit of a sustainable energy future.