H2Tech - Q3 2021 - 27

SPECIAL FOCUS: HYDROGEN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
The complete cycle of low-carbon H2
-Part 1
K. GUPTA, M. ETHAKOTA and P. KUHIKAR,
Technip Energies, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Hydrogen enjoys enormous attention and acceptance as an
energy carrier and a carbon-free solution for the different sectors.
The increasing cost of fossil fuels due to depleting resources and
growing concerns for climate change require an immediate solution,
and H2
Affordable and sustainable H2
foremost challenge. " Blue " H2
is a feasible, clean, affordable and promising one.
production is the first and
from steam methane reforming,
" green " H2 from electrolysis and H2 from biomass [classified by
H2Tech as " red " H2] are the three most appropriate methods
of low-carbon H2
H2 economy. Each technology has a place in the H2
production and are key for establishing the
economy,
and the simultaneous integration of all three may prove to be a
holistic solution.
H2 production background. Conventionally, most H2
is produced
through steam methane reforming (SMR) for refinery,
fertilizer and petrochemical use. Due to recent technology advances,
a number of new pathways have been identified for the
production of H2
, for applications like fuel for transportation,
the decarbonization of industrial sectors such as steel and cement,
alternative production methods for ammonia and methanol,
and heat and power generation and backup energy storage.
SMR, a fossil fuel-dependent production route, can encourage
the establishment of centralized or distributed H2
units to decarbonize
various sectors when combined with carbon capture.
Due to the benefit of the scale of production, technology maturity
and affordable price, SMR with carbon capture bridges the gap
in the H2
economy. SMR is more attractive in areas where natural
gas is available at a cheaper price and significant production scale.
Biomass conversion through thermochemical and chemical
routes is a critical thermal process with an abundance of benefits.
As biomass is a carbon-neutral feed, it helps in offsetting
carbon emissions. Biomass is more attractive for decentralized
production and where steady biomass supply is available at an
optimum price. The biomass route has enormous social benefits,
as it can boost the agriculture sector and rural economy.
Technology proof at a commercial scale is one of the critical
challenges of the biomass-based production of H2
.
Electrolysis is the most environmentally friendly process
when integrated with a renewable energy source. At present,
electrolysis has a high cost of production. In the future, however,
capital cost and associated costs for electrolyzers will decrease.
Electrolysis is a carbon-free solution, but it has a large
water footprint, which is a challenge for the process. Another
concern is that the production route is entirely dependent on
Storage
Transport
H2 price as fuel
the surplus availability of renewable electricity, which could be
a challenge for energy-deficient countries.
The most prominent end use for H2
is as a fuel in the transproduction
unit
fueling chain is preportation
sector. Purification, compression, storage, dispensing
and control are needed downstream of the H2
to reach the consumer. The complete H2
sented in a later case study.
H2
sumption. The real potential recognizes H2
is a versatile component in production as well as conas
an energy carrier
for the decarbonization of the transport sector and the fertilizer,
iron and steel, and power sectors (TABLE 1).
Globally, H2
production is 120 MMtpy, and H2
(FIG. 1) and for India (FIG. 2).
TABLE 1. Summary of H2
Present production
Demand by 2050
Form
Current use
Present production
route
demand is
predicted to be 1.37 Btpy by 2050 for a complete energy transition.3
H2
demand for different sectors is depicted for worldwide
production status
120 MMtpy (global), 6 MMtpy (India)
187 MMtpy-1.37 Btpy (global), 41 MMtpy
(U.S.), 28 MMtpy (India)
75% is pure H2, 25% is in mixed form
75% in refinery, ammonia and methanol
95% of fossil fuel, 5% from electrolysis (as
byproduct from the chlor-alkali industry)
Future production route Fossil fuel, biomass, electrolysis
Color1,2
Feedstock
Production costc
Future use
Emission
Gray, brown, blue, green, red,a turquoiseb
Fossil fuel (natural gas/coal), biomass,
water/electricity
$1.5/kg-$2/kg (gray), $2/kg-$2.5/kg (blue),
$4/kg-$6/kg (green), $3.5/kg-$4/kg (red)
Transport, heating, iron and steel,
ammonia/methanol production,
cement, power integration
Gray (10-12 kg CO2/kg H2
), blue (2-3 kg CO2
kg H2), green (0.3 kg CO2/kg H2
Gaseous, liquid, solid
Truck/pipeline, ship
/
), red (neutral)
$9/kg-$10/kg (Japan), $13/kg-$16/kg (U.S.),
$10/kg-$15/kg (UK)
a H2 produced from biomass and waste
b H2 produced via methane pyrolysis
c Typical production cost for industrial-quality H2
; the actual price is dependent on various
factors including geographical location, feedstock availability, process configuration, etc.
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