Worldwide greenhouse gas emissions of green hydrogen production and transport

Kiane Kleijne (), Mark A. J. Huijbregts, Florian Knobloch, Rosalie Zelm, Jelle P. Hilbers, Heleen Coninck and Steef V. Hanssen ()
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Kiane Kleijne: Radboud University
Mark A. J. Huijbregts: Radboud University
Florian Knobloch: University of Cambridge
Rosalie Zelm: Radboud University
Jelle P. Hilbers: Radboud University
Heleen Coninck: Radboud University
Steef V. Hanssen: Radboud University

Nature Energy, 2024, vol. 9, issue 9, 1139-1152

Abstract: Abstract Large-scale introduction of green hydrogen is envisioned to play an important role in reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. The production and transport of green hydrogen itself is, however, not free from emissions. Here we assess the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions for 1,025 planned green hydrogen facilities, covering different electrolyser technologies and renewable electricity sources in 72 countries. We demonstrate that the current exclusion of life-cycle emissions of renewables, component manufacturing and hydrogen leakage in regulations gives a false impression that green hydrogen can easily meet emission thresholds. Evaluating different hydrogen production configurations, we find median production emissions in the most optimistic configuration of 2.9 kg CO2 equivalents (CO2e) kg H2−1 (0.8–4.6 kgCO2e kg H2−1, 95% confidence interval). Including 1,000 km transport via pipeline or liquid hydrogen shipping adds another 1.5 or 1.8 kgCO2e kg H2−1, respectively. We conclude that achieving low-emission green hydrogen at scale requires well-chosen production configurations with substantial emission reductions along the supply chain.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41560-024-01563-1

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