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Site-Dependent Environmental Impacts of Industrial Hydrogen Production by Alkaline Water Electrolysis

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  • Jan Christian Koj

    (Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Energy and Climate Research–Systems Analysis and Technology Evaluation (IEK-STE), D-52425 Jülich, Germany)

  • Christina Wulf

    (Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Energy and Climate Research–Systems Analysis and Technology Evaluation (IEK-STE), D-52425 Jülich, Germany)

  • Andrea Schreiber

    (Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Energy and Climate Research–Systems Analysis and Technology Evaluation (IEK-STE), D-52425 Jülich, Germany)

  • Petra Zapp

    (Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Energy and Climate Research–Systems Analysis and Technology Evaluation (IEK-STE), D-52425 Jülich, Germany)

Abstract

Industrial hydrogen production via alkaline water electrolysis (AEL) is a mature hydrogen production method. One argument in favor of AEL when supplied with renewable energy is its environmental superiority against conventional fossil-based hydrogen production. However, today electricity from the national grid is widely utilized for industrial applications of AEL. Also, the ban on asbestos membranes led to a change in performance patterns, making a detailed assessment necessary. This study presents a comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) using the GaBi software (version 6.115, thinkstep, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany), revealing inventory data and environmental impacts for industrial hydrogen production by latest AELs (6 MW, Zirfon membranes) in three different countries (Austria, Germany and Spain) with corresponding grid mixes. The results confirm the dependence of most environmental effects from the operation phase and specifically the site-dependent electricity mix. Construction of system components and the replacement of cell stacks make a minor contribution. At present, considering the three countries, AEL can be operated in the most environmentally friendly fashion in Austria. Concerning the construction of AEL plants the materials nickel and polytetrafluoroethylene in particular, used for cell manufacturing, revealed significant contributions to the environmental burden.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan Christian Koj & Christina Wulf & Andrea Schreiber & Petra Zapp, 2017. "Site-Dependent Environmental Impacts of Industrial Hydrogen Production by Alkaline Water Electrolysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:7:p:860-:d:102896
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Seck, Gondia Sokhna & Hache, Emmanuel & D'Herbemont, Vincent & Guyot, Mathis & Malbec, Louis-Marie, 2023. "Hydrogen development in Europe: Estimating material consumption in net zero emissions scenarios," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
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    7. Levin Matz & Boris Bensmann & Richard Hanke-Rauschenbach & Christine Minke, 2024. "Resource-Efficient Gigawatt Water Electrolysis in Germany—A Circular Economy Potential Analysis," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 1153-1182, June.
    8. Roberta Olindo & Joost G. Vogtländer, 2019. "The Role of Hydrogen in the Ecological Benefits of Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel Production and Use: An LCA Benchmark," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-17, April.
    9. Koj, Jan Christian & Wulf, Christina & Zapp, Petra, 2019. "Environmental impacts of power-to-X systems - A review of technological and methodological choices in Life Cycle Assessments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 865-879.
    10. Boguslaw Pierozynski & Tomasz Mikolajczyk & Boguslaw Wojciechowski & Mateusz Luba, 2021. "An Innovative 500 W Alkaline Water Electrolyser System for the Production of Ultra-Pure Hydrogen and Oxygen Gases," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-11, January.
    11. Zhang, Cong & Greenblatt, Jeffery B. & Wei, Max & Eichman, Josh & Saxena, Samveg & Muratori, Matteo & Guerra, Omar J., 2020. "Flexible grid-based electrolysis hydrogen production for fuel cell vehicles reduces costs and greenhouse gas emissions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    12. Hren, Robert & Vujanović, Annamaria & Van Fan, Yee & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír & Krajnc, Damjan & Čuček, Lidija, 2023. "Hydrogen production, storage and transport for renewable energy and chemicals: An environmental footprint assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    13. Christina Wulf & Petra Zapp & Andrea Schreiber & Wilhelm Kuckshinrichs, 2021. "Setting Thresholds to Define Indifferences and Preferences in PROMETHEE for Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of European Hydrogen Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-21, June.
    14. Blanco, Herib & Codina, Victor & Laurent, Alexis & Nijs, Wouter & Maréchal, François & Faaij, André, 2020. "Life cycle assessment integration into energy system models: An application for Power-to-Methane in the EU," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    15. Wei Feng & Qingyuan Wang & Xiaodong Zhu & Qingquan Kong & Jiejie Wu & Peipei Tu, 2018. "Influence of Hydrogen Sulfide and Redox Reactions on the Surface Properties and Hydrogen Permeability of Pd Membranes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-10, May.
    16. Gerhardt-Mörsdorf, Janis & Incer-Valverde, Jimena & Morosuk, Tatiana & Minke, Christine, 2024. "Exergetic life cycle assessment for green hydrogen production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    17. Tobias Junne & Karl-Kiên Cao & Kim Kira Miskiw & Heidi Hottenroth & Tobias Naegler, 2021. "Considering Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Power System Expansion Planning for Europe and North Africa Using Multi-Objective Optimization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-26, February.
    18. Franziska Hönig & Ganesh Deepak Rupakula & Diana Duque-Gonzalez & Matthias Ebert & Ulrich Blum, 2023. "Enhancing the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen with the Usage of the Byproduct Oxygen in a Wastewater Treatment Plant," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-23, June.
    19. Orlando Corigliano & Leonardo Pagnotta & Petronilla Fragiacomo, 2022. "On the Technology of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Energy Systems for Stationary Power Generation: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-73, November.
    20. Roberta Olindo & Nathalie Schmitt & Joost Vogtländer, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessments on Battery Electric Vehicles and Electrolytic Hydrogen: The Need for Calculation Rules and Better Databases on Electricity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-22, May.

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