A Review of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Studies for Hydrogen Production Technologies through Water Electrolysis: Recent Advances

Negar Shaya and Simon Glöser-Chahoud ()
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Negar Shaya: Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Management, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg (TU BAF), 09599 Freiberg, Germany
Simon Glöser-Chahoud: Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Management, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg (TU BAF), 09599 Freiberg, Germany

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-21

Abstract: Climate change is a major concern for the sustainable development of global energy systems. Hydrogen produced through water electrolysis offers a crucial solution by storing and generating renewable energy with minimal environmental impact, thereby reducing carbon emissions in the energy sector. Our research evaluates current hydrogen production technologies, such as alkaline water electrolysis (AWE), proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE), solid oxide electrolysis (SOEC), and anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE). We systematically review life cycle assessments (LCA) for these technologies, analyzing their environmental impacts and recent technological advancements. This study fills essential gaps by providing detailed LCAs for emerging technologies and evaluating their scalability and environmental footprints. Our analysis outlines the strengths and weaknesses of each technology, guiding future research and assisting stakeholders in making informed decisions about integrating hydrogen production into the global energy mix. Our approach highlights operational efficiencies and potential sustainability enhancements by employing comparative analyses and reviewing advancements in membrane technology and electrocatalysts. A significant finding is that PEMWE when integrated with renewable energy sources, offers rapid response capabilities that are vital for adaptive energy systems and reducing carbon footprints.

Keywords: hydrogen production; electrolysis; LCA; PEMWE; AWE; SOEC; AEMWE (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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