Costs of making hydrogen available in supply systems based on renewables

Abstract

A complementary supply system consisting of electric power and hydrogen can solve the challenge of integrating renewable power into various economic sectors. In the transportation sector, direct-hydrogen fuel cell systems allow for highly efficient and clean transport systems, thus significantly reducing the demand for crude oil-based transportation fuels. One of the key factors for market success of hydrogen technologies is the cost of hydrogen at refueling stations, another key factor is the introduction of fuel-cell vehicles into the market. On the basis of a literature study, the following chapter will show that particularly in the transport sector, it is possible to achieve competitive cost levels compared to today’s transportation fuels. Information about individual elements of the various hydrogen value chains under consideration as well as the results from studies that focus on integrating hydrogen into future energy systems were analyzed with respect to greenhouse gas emissions and cost.