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Renewable Hydrogen from Biomass: Technological Pathways and Economic Perspectives

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  • José Ramón Copa Rey

    (VALORIZA—Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, Campus Politécnico 10, 7300-555 Portalegre, Portugal)

  • Cecilia Mateos-Pedrero

    (VALORIZA—Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, Campus Politécnico 10, 7300-555 Portalegre, Portugal)

  • Andrei Longo

    (VALORIZA—Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, Campus Politécnico 10, 7300-555 Portalegre, Portugal)

  • Bruna Rijo

    (VALORIZA—Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, Campus Politécnico 10, 7300-555 Portalegre, Portugal)

  • Paulo Brito

    (VALORIZA—Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, Campus Politécnico 10, 7300-555 Portalegre, Portugal)

  • Paulo Ferreira

    (VALORIZA—Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, Campus Politécnico 10, 7300-555 Portalegre, Portugal)

  • Catarina Nobre

    (VALORIZA—Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, Campus Politécnico 10, 7300-555 Portalegre, Portugal)

Abstract

Hydrogen is undeniably one of the most promising options for producing energy with minimal environmental impact. However, current hydrogen production is still derived from carbon-intensive processes relying on fossil fuels. Biomass is a sustainable and versatile resource that can be converted into hydrogen through biological and thermochemical pathways from a large variety of feedstocks and technologies. This work reviews and compares existing biomass-to-hydrogen technologies, focusing on their characteristics, maturity level, benefits, limitations, and techno-economic and lifecycle environmental impacts. Less-developed biological conversion methods are characterized by low efficiencies and hydrogen productivity. More mature thermochemical routes enable higher efficiencies and hydrogen yields. Overall, while thermochemical processes suit centralized large-scale hydrogen production, biological pathways offer decentralized options, necessitating continued innovation for integration into future energy strategies. Some of these technologies, such as anaerobic digestion (best-case: 1.28 EUR/kgH 2 ) and conventional gasification (best-case: 1.79 EUR/kgH 2 ), emerge as promising, sustainable, and affordable alternatives for renewable hydrogen generation, offering production costs comparable to those of natural gas steam reforming (0.92–2.8 EUR/kgH 2 ).

Suggested Citation

  • José Ramón Copa Rey & Cecilia Mateos-Pedrero & Andrei Longo & Bruna Rijo & Paulo Brito & Paulo Ferreira & Catarina Nobre, 2024. "Renewable Hydrogen from Biomass: Technological Pathways and Economic Perspectives," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-36, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:14:p:3530-:d:1437876
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    References listed on IDEAS

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