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Resource-Efficient Gigawatt Water Electrolysis in Germany—A Circular Economy Potential Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Levin Matz

    (Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Electric Power Systems)

  • Boris Bensmann

    (Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Electric Power Systems)

  • Richard Hanke-Rauschenbach

    (Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Electric Power Systems)

  • Christine Minke

    (TU Clausthal, Institute of Mineral and Waste Processing, Recycling and Circular Economy Systems)

Abstract

Green hydrogen will play a key role in the future energy system. For the production of green hydrogen, an installation of alkaline (AWE) and proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) of several gigawatts per year is projected in the upcoming decades. The development of the hydrogen economy is associated with a great demand for scarce and expensive resources. To reduce resource demand and avoid supply bottlenecks, actions toward a circular economy are required. In the present study, three circular economy actions (repair, reuse, and recycling) are analyzed with regard to AWE and PEMWE installation taking Germany as an example. It is found that, so far, only recycling is a viable strategy for a circular economy. For further analysis, a model is developed to assess the impact of recycling on resource demand for AWE and PEMWE scale-up. Mass flows from end-of-life recycling are intergrated into the model, and their economic value is estimated. The results imply that closed-loop recycling can reduce the cumulated primary resource demand by up to 50% in the long run. However, recycling will first be relevant after 2040, while water electrolysis capacities installed before still depend on primary materials. The outlook on the economic value of the recycling materials indicates a volume of up to 2.15 B € per decade for PEMWE and 0.98 B € per decade for AWE recycling. To realize the potential, a recycling industry specialized for those technolgies considering the whole value chain covering dismantling, collection, and recycling must be introduced.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:circec:v:4:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s43615-024-00345-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s43615-024-00345-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Christian Hagelüken & Daniel Goldmann, 2022. "Recycling and circular economy—towards a closed loop for metals in emerging clean technologies," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 35(3), pages 539-562, December.
    2. Christina Wulf & Martin Kaltschmitt, 2018. "Hydrogen Supply Chains for Mobility—Environmental and Economic Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-26, May.
    3. 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, June.
    4. Bareiß, Kay & de la Rua, Cristina & Möckl, Maximilian & Hamacher, Thomas, 2019. "Life cycle assessment of hydrogen from proton exchange membrane water electrolysis in future energy systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(C), pages 862-872.
    5. Burkhardt, Jörg & Patyk, Andreas & Tanguy, Philippe & Retzke, Carsten, 2016. "Hydrogen mobility from wind energy – A life cycle assessment focusing on the fuel supply," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 54-64.
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