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Production of hydrogen from offshore wind in China and cost-competitive supply to Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Shaojie Song

    (Harvard University)

  • Haiyang Lin

    (Harvard University
    Shandong University)

  • Peter Sherman

    (Harvard University)

  • Xi Yang

    (Harvard University
    China University of Petroleum Beijing)

  • Chris P. Nielsen

    (Harvard University)

  • Xinyu Chen

    (Harvard University
    Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Michael B. McElroy

    (Harvard University
    Harvard University)

Abstract

The Japanese government has announced a commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It envisages an important role for hydrogen in the nation’s future energy economy. This paper explores the possibility that a significant source for this hydrogen could be produced by electrolysis fueled by power generated from offshore wind in China. Hydrogen could be delivered to Japan either as liquid, or bound to a chemical carrier such as toluene, or as a component of ammonia. The paper presents an analysis of factors determining the ultimate cost for this hydrogen, including expenses for production, storage, conversion, transport, and treatment at the destination. It concludes that the Chinese source could be delivered at a volume and cost consistent with Japan’s idealized future projections.

Suggested Citation

  • Shaojie Song & Haiyang Lin & Peter Sherman & Xi Yang & Chris P. Nielsen & Xinyu Chen & Michael B. McElroy, 2021. "Production of hydrogen from offshore wind in China and cost-competitive supply to Japan," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-27214-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27214-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yan Zhang & Yanming Wan & Yanan Dong & Ruoyi Dong & Xiaoran Yin & Chen Fu & Yue Wang & Qingwei Li & Haoran Meng & Chuanbo Xu, 2025. "Economic Analysis of Supply Chain for Offshore Wind Hydrogen Production for Offshore Hydrogen Refueling Stations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-18, January.
    2. Klaudia Ligęza & Mariusz Łaciak & Bartłomiej Ligęza, 2023. "Centralized Offshore Hydrogen Production from Wind Farms in the Baltic Sea Area—A Study Case for Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-24, August.
    3. Fuquan Zhao & Fanlong Bai & Xinglong Liu & Zongwei Liu, 2022. "A Review on Renewable Energy Transition under China’s Carbon Neutrality Target," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-27, November.
    4. Zhou, Zhou & Cai, Guotian & Huang, Yuping & Bai, Ruxue & Nie, Shuai & Chen, Xiaoyu, 2024. "Spatial and temporal evolution of cost-competitive offshore hydrogen in China: A techno-economic analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    5. Song, Hongqing & Lao, Junming & Zhang, Liyuan & Xie, Chiyu & Wang, Yuhe, 2023. "Underground hydrogen storage in reservoirs: pore-scale mechanisms and optimization of storage capacity and efficiency," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 337(C).
    6. Chen Fu & Li Lan & Su Chen & Mingxing Guo & Xiaojing Jiang & Xiaoran Yin & Chuanbo Xu, 2024. "Site Selection Decision-Making for Offshore Wind-to-Hydrogen Production Bases Based on the Two-Dimensional Linguistic Cloud Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-17, October.
    7. Kourougianni, Fanourios & Arsalis, Alexandros & Olympios, Andreas V. & Yiasoumas, Georgios & Konstantinou, Charalampos & Papanastasiou, Panos & Georghiou, George E., 2024. "A comprehensive review of green hydrogen energy systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    8. Si Huang & Yinping Li & Xilin Shi & Weizheng Bai & Yashuai Huang & Yang Hong & Xiaoyi Liu & Hongling Ma & Peng Li & Mingnan Xu & Tianfu Xue, 2024. "The Role of Underground Salt Caverns in Renewable Energy Peaking: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-23, November.
    9. Ma, Huan & Sun, Qinghan & Chen, Lei & Chen, Qun & Zhao, Tian & He, Kelun & Xu, Fei & Min, Yong & Wang, Shunjiang & Zhou, Guiping, 2023. "Cogeneration transition for energy system decarbonization: From basic to flexible and complementary multi-energy sources," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    10. Lifeng Du & Yanmei Yang & Luli Zhou & Min Liu, 2024. "Greenhouse Gas Reduction Potential and Economics of Green Hydrogen via Water Electrolysis: A Systematic Review of Value-Chain-Wide Decarbonization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-37, May.
    11. Adam Stock & Matthew Cole & Mathieu Kervyn & Fulin Fan & James Ferguson & Anup Nambiar & Benjamin Pepper & Michael Smailes & David Campos-Gaona, 2023. "Wind Farm Control for Improved Battery Lifetime in Green Hydrogen Systems without a Grid Connection," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-19, July.
    12. Yingying Du & Hui Huang & Haibin Liu & Jingying Zhao & Qingzhou Yang, 2024. "Life Cycle Assessment of Abandonment of Onshore Wind Power for Hydrogen Production in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-25, July.

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