Charting the Development of a Global Market for Low-Carbon Hydrogen

This paper analyses the impact of supply technology choices and costs on structures and prices on the emerging low-carbon hydrogen market using a novel, integrated natural gas and hydrogen market model. It shows that natural gas-based low-carbon hydrogen production pathways predominate in technology-neutral scenarios in 2050. In scenarios where hydrogen production is gas-based, hydrogen is produced close to the point of consumption. Natural gas prices determine local hydrogen prices. In scenarios characterised by high shares of RES-based low-carbon hydrogen production, long-distance, cross-border trade in pure hydrogen becomes an economically viable proposition due to the heterogeneous distribution of low-cost RES potentials and significant hydrogen price spreads between countries with high hydrogen demand but poor RES potentials, and countries that are well endowed with cost-competitive RES. Trade is conducted almost exclusively via pipeline. The analysis finds the most significant potential for cross-border trade in and around Europe. It suggests that it would be economical for Europe to import substantial quantities of low-carbon hydrogen from North Africa.