Green hydrogen in Europe – A regional assessment: Substituting existing production with electrolysis powered by renewables

• Published in: Energy conversion and management 2021-01, Vol.228, p.113649, Article 113649
• Main Authors: Kakoulaki, G., Kougias, I., Taylor, N., Dolci, F., Moya, J., Jäger-Waldau, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon; Decarburizing; Electric potential; Electric power demand; Electric power systems; Electricity; Electricity consumption; Electrolysis; Energy policy; Energy resources; Energy sources; Green hydrogen; Hydroelectric power; Hydrogen; Hydrogen production; Hydrogen strategy; Land use; Offshore operations; Parameter estimation; Photovoltaics; Regional analysis; Regions; Renewable energy; Renewable resources; Solar energy
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2020.113649

•Decarbonization of H2 production in EU27+UK at NUTS0 & NUTS2 level using green energy.•Green energy potential > total electr. demand & electrolysis’ requirements for H2.•H2 producing regions (84/109) have abundant renewable sources and > 50% excess energy.•The current study supports H2 strategies in harmony with renewable energy policies. The increasing ambition of climate targets creates a major role for hydrogen especially in achieving carbon-neutrality in sectors presently difficult to decarbonise. This work examines to what extent the currently carbon-intensive hydrogen production in Europe could be replaced by water electrolysis using electricity from renewable energy resources (RES) such as solar photovoltaic, onshore/offshore wind and hydropower (green hydrogen). The study assesses the technical potential of RES at regional and national levels considering environmental constraints, land use limitations and various techno-economic parameters. It estimates localised clean hydrogen production and examines the capacity to replace carbon-intensive hydrogen hubs with ones that use RES-based water electrolysis. Findings reveal that -at national level- the available RES electricity potential exceeds the total electricity demand and the part for hydrogen production from electrolysis in all analysed countries. At regional level, from the 109 regions associated with hydrogen production (EU27 and UK), 88 regions (81%) show an excess of potential RES generation after covering the annual electricity demand across all sectors and hydrogen production. Notably, 84 regions have over 50% excess RES electricity potential after covering the total electricity demand and that for water electrolysis. The study provides evidence on the option to decarbonize hydrogen production at regional level. It shows that such transformation is possible and compatible with the ongoing transition towards carbon–neutral power systems in the EU. Overall, this work aims to serve as a tool for designing hydrogen strategies in harmony with renewable energy policies.