Estimating Long-Term Global Supply Costs for Low-Carbon Hydrogen

Gregor Brändle, Max Schönfisch (max.schoenfisch@ewi.uni-koeln.de) and Simon Schulte
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Gregor Brändle: Energiewirtschaftliches Institut an der Universitaet zu Koeln (EWI)
Max Schönfisch: Energiewirtschaftliches Institut an der Universitaet zu Koeln (EWI)
Simon Schulte: Energiewirtschaftliches Institut an der Universitaet zu Koeln (EWI)

No 2020-4, EWI Working Papers from Energiewirtschaftliches Institut an der Universitaet zu Koeln (EWI)

Abstract: As part of the decarbonisation of the global economy, low-carbon hydrogen is expected to play a central role in future energy systems. This article presents a comprehensive approach for estimating the development of global production and supply costs of low-carbon hydrogen from renewable energy sources (RES) and natural gas until 2050. For hydrogen from RES, globally distributed wind and solar photovoltaics (PV) potentials are taken as inputs for low or high temperature electrolysers. A linear optimisation model minimises hydrogen production costs by determining optimal capacity ratios for each RES and electrolyser combination, based on hourly RES electricity generation profiles. For low-carbon hydrogen from natural gas, natural gas reforming with carbon capture and storage (CCS) and pyrolysis are considered. In addition to production costs, this analysis assesses the costs associated with the transportation of hydrogen by ship or pipeline. The combination of production and transportation costs yields a ranking of cost-optimal supply sources for individual countries. Estimation results suggest that natural gas reforming with CCS will be the most cost-efficient low-carbon hydrogen production pathway in the medium term (2020-2030). Production of hydrogen from RES could become competitive in the long run (2030-2050) if capital costs decrease significantly. Optimal long-term hydrogen supply routes depend on regional characteristics, such as RES conditions and gas prices. Imports are cost-effective where domestic production potential is small and/or cost-intensive. Additionally, good import conditions exist for countries which are connected to prospective low-cost exporters via existing natural gas pipelines that can be retrofitted to transport hydrogen. Due to high costs for seaborne transport, hydrogen trade will most likely be concentrated regionally, and markets with different provision schemes could emerge. The results are highly sensitive to capital cost assumptions and natural gas prices.

Keywords: Low-Carbon Hydrogen; Hydrogen Production; Hydrogen Transportation; Levelised Cost (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q40 Q42 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 70 pages
Date: 2020-11-11, Revised 2021-08-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-env, nep-reg and nep-tre
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (34)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ris:ewikln:2020_004

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