The_Catalyst_Review_November_2023 - 10

SPECIAL FEATURE
Electrolysis
CO2
Fermentation
*
Electrolysis
CO2
eRenewable
electricity
$0.03/kWh
Figure
30. Future ethanol production using water electrolysis. Based on A. Hauch et al (2020)
* C1 scenario see Fig. 25
CO2
$859.3/Ton
$2.54/gal
O2 Credit
RM
C1 scenario *
Catalyst
CO2
Utilities Fixed
costs
Capital
charges
Figure 31. Future ethanol production at increased throughput.
7. Important Hydrogen Applications
Referring to Figure 32, we will briefly discus the use of hydrogen made by electrolysis.
7.1. Transportation
New markets are appearing for
passenger cars and trucks including
industrial forklifts powered by hydrogen
fuel cells. For the support of these
vehicles, hydrogen fueling stations are
being built already at certain locations
around the world. A hydrogen fuel cell
combines hydrogen with oxygen from
the air in an electrochemical reaction to
create electricity for an electric motor
that propels the vehicle. Fuel cells
are much more energy-efficient than
combustion engines, and only emit
heat and water without producing greenhouse gases. Several car companies have already demonstrated that their hydrogen cars can be
refueled very fast after 200 to 300 miles. The hydrogen used to power these cars and trucks can come from a variety of sources, including
renewable energy resources.
7.2. Petroleum Refining
Despite the emerging consensus among the largest and most prominent industry forecasters that by 2050 oil and gas demand will fall
below current levels, oil refining will remain one of the largest markets for hydrogen, accounting for about 32 Mtpa or 30 to 35% of global
hydrogen demand in 2020. Hydrotreating and hydrocracking are the major refinery processes consuming over 90% of hydrogen in the
refining sector, and they are used to reduce sulfur from finished products, and to increase yield of transport fuels, respectively. A real
significant change could be using hydrogen made by electrolysis to replace fossil fuels in combustion to generate heat and steam. This
10
The Catalyst Review
November 2023
Figure 32. The growing role of electrolysis in the future. Based on T.Kato et al. (2005) ** and h2tools.org/bestpractices.
hydrogen-applications.
$/Ton

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