Charting green hydrogen for heavy industry
https://cecc.ANU.edu.au/green-hydroge...
Researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) School of Engineering, in partnership with the Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC), have unveiled an interactive web tool that calculates the cost of green hydrogen as a replacement for fossil fuels in heavy industry, and examines how the reliability of hydrogen supply impacts its cost.
At present, the industrial sector is responsible for 34 per cent of global carbon emissions.
Green hydrogen has the potential to be an important part of achieving Australia's emissions reduction target of 43 per cent and net zero emissions by 2050. In particular, a focus on use of hydrogen for decarbonising existing export industries, and enabling new ones, is likely to bring strong emissions reduction benefit.
But with large capital investment requirements and little differentiation between products, industry leaders are reluctant to take the leap.
“There is a perception that, when you add the cost of storing hydrogen, it is not economical anymore,” said Dr Ahmad Mojiri. “The industry needs to have an understanding of the expected price and then see whether it is justifiable.”
“One of the most surprising findings from the study was that the cost of hydrogen doesn't dramatically increase as you go up to 100 per cent capacity factor, as long as you have a fairly cheap form of energy storage,” said Dr Joe Coventry.
This means that it is possible to power heavy industry with green hydrogen continuously, day and night, throughout the year even during periods of cloud cover and/or low winds — a prerequisite for the green hydrogen transition.
MORE: https://cecc.anu.edu.au/green-hydroge...