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Assessing the Life-Cycle Performance of Hydrogen Production via Biofuel Reforming in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Susmozas

    (Systems Analysis Unit, Instituto IMDEA Energía, Av. Ramón de la Sagra 3, Móstoles E-28935, Spain
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Diego Iribarren

    (Systems Analysis Unit, Instituto IMDEA Energía, Av. Ramón de la Sagra 3, Móstoles E-28935, Spain
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Javier Dufour

    (Systems Analysis Unit, Instituto IMDEA Energía, Av. Ramón de la Sagra 3, Móstoles E-28935, Spain
    Department of Chemical and Energy Technology, Rey Juan Carlos University, St. Tulipán s/n, Móstoles E-28933, Spain)

Abstract

Currently, hydrogen is mainly produced through steam reforming of natural gas. However, this conventional process involves environmental and energy security concerns. This has led to the development of alternative technologies for (potentially) green hydrogen production. In this work, the environmental and energy performance of biohydrogen produced in Europe via steam reforming of glycerol and bio-oil is evaluated from a life-cycle perspective, and contrasted with that of conventional hydrogen from steam methane reforming. Glycerol as a by-product from the production of rapeseed biodiesel and bio-oil from the fast pyrolysis of poplar biomass are considered. The processing plants are simulated in Aspen Plus ® to provide inventory data for the life cycle assessment. The environmental impact potentials evaluated include abiotic depletion, global warming, ozone layer depletion, photochemical oxidant formation, land competition, acidification and eutrophication. Furthermore, the cumulative (total and non-renewable) energy demand is calculated, as well as the corresponding renewability scores and life-cycle energy balances and efficiencies of the biohydrogen products. In addition to quantitative evidence of the (expected) relevance of the feedstock and impact categories considered, results show that poplar-derived bio-oil could be a suitable feedstock for steam reforming, in contrast to first-generation bioglycerol.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Susmozas & Diego Iribarren & Javier Dufour, 2015. "Assessing the Life-Cycle Performance of Hydrogen Production via Biofuel Reforming in Europe," Resources, MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:4:y:2015:i:2:p:398-411:d:51321
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ana Donke & Alex Nogueira & Patricia Matai & Luiz Kulay, 2016. "Environmental and Energy Performance of Ethanol Production from the Integration of Sugarcane, Corn, and Grain Sorghum in a Multipurpose Plant," Resources, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-19, December.
    2. 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).

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