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8 - Hydrogen today
- Edited by Michael Ball, Martin Wietschel
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- Book:
- The Hydrogen Economy
- Published online:
- 22 January 2010
- Print publication:
- 24 September 2009, pp 254-270
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- Chapter
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Summary
Worldwide, the number of attempts and efforts to develop and test hydrogen-related technology in vehicles and implement the necessary hydrogen supply infrastructure has been increasing tremendously in recent years, resulting in numerous hydrogen demonstration and lighthouse projects around the globe. In this chapter, first a brief summary of this development is presented, while recognising that this can only be a snapshot, as development is very quick and the information provided here can rapidly become outdated. Next, international roadmapping activities that show possible developments towards the introduction of hydrogen are described. Finally, the issue of social acceptance of hydrogen technology and the need for regulations and standards, are briefly discussed, since these are important factors for the hydrogen penetration and infrastructure transition process.
Hydrogen in the transport sector
With a share of more than 80% in total energy use in the transport sector, the automotive sector is the driving force for the introduction of hydrogen as fuel. Hence, the focus of hydrogen-vehicle manufacturing is on passenger cars and buses. Heavy-goods vehicles are not in the spotlight, as neither fuel cells nor hydrogen combustion engines are likely to manage a breakthrough in this market segment any time soon, because of the dominance and high performance of the diesel engines for long-transport applications.
18 - Macroeconomic impacts of hydrogen
- Edited by Michael Ball, Martin Wietschel
-
- Book:
- The Hydrogen Economy
- Published online:
- 22 January 2010
- Print publication:
- 24 September 2009, pp 529-562
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Summary
Often only technical aspects are considered when looking at hydrogen as an energy carrier. However, the introduction of hydrogen could have relevant implications for GDP, welfare and job developments in a nation or region. The competitiveness of a nation could be one major driver for hydrogen use as an energy carrier. These issues are discussed in the following. Among other things, possible economic effects are shown on the basis of a quantitative model analysis and assessed for relevant EU member states.
Introduction
A lot of research in the hydrogen and fuel-cell field has a strong technology focus (e.g., technology research, application of technologies, technology roadmap and infrastructure build-up). The analysis of economic impacts tends to concentrate on the necessary investments for hydrogen infrastructure build-up (see Chapters 14 and 15). Other very important impacts of hydrogen as an energy fuel, such as those on employment, gross domestic product (GDP), international competitiveness or welfare, are often mentioned as important benefits of a hydrogen use as an energy vector but they are usually not well analysed.
For such kinds of analysis, four different methodological approaches are normally used for analysis in the energy sector: input–output, general equilibrium, system dynamics and econometric models.
Such kinds of model, emphasising an aggregate description of the overall economy, are general economic models with a rather rudimentary treatment of the energy system. Following the top-down approach, they describe the energy system (similar to the other sectors) in a highly aggregated way.
14 - Hydrogen-infrastructure build-up in Europe
- Edited by Michael Ball, Martin Wietschel
-
- Book:
- The Hydrogen Economy
- Published online:
- 22 January 2010
- Print publication:
- 24 September 2009, pp 385-453
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Summary
If a mass-market roll-out of hydrogen vehicles in the European Union takes place in the next 10 to 15 years, as promoted by the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform (HFP), then infrastructure strategies will be crucial. At the core of any infrastructure analysis is the question of how the infrastructure should be developed over time and how the needs of both consumers and suppliers can be met. At the same time, such an analysis must also take into account the characteristics of different national energy systems (such as the availability of primary energy sources or competition for end uses), as well as national energy policies. What this infrastructure build-up could look like and what it might cost is shown in a case study for Germany as well as at the European level. On this basis, more general infrastructure strategies are derived with respect to roll-out strategies, production mix and distribution options, and their impacts on supply costs and CO2 emissions. The chapter finishes with an outlook on global hydrogen scenarios.
The need for a hydrogen-infrastructure analysis
The potential benefits of a hydrogen economy are recognised to differing degrees by national governments and supranational institutions, although the pathways and timeframes to achieve such a transition remain highly contended. The development of hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles that are economically and technologically competitive with conventional vehicles is a crucial prerequisite for the successful introduction of hydrogen as an automotive fuel.
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