How the hydrogen production from RES could change energy and fuel markets. A review of recent literature.

摘要

The goal that the international community has set itself is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the short / medium term, especially in Europe that committed itself to reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions to 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050. Renewable energies play a fundamental role in achieving this goal. In this context, the policy of the main industrialized countries of the world are being directed, all of which are oriented towards increasing the shares of electricity produced from renewable sources. In recent years, the production of renewable energy has increased considerably, but given the availability of these sources, there is a mismatch between production and demand. This arises some issues as balancing the electricity grid, and in particular the use of the energy surplus, as well as the need to strengthen the electricity grid. Among the various new solutions that are being evaluated, there are: the accumulation in batteries, the production of compressed air and the production of hydrogen that appear to be the most suitable to associate with the water accumulation (pumped hydro). Concernig the hydrogen, recent research highlights that the efficiency hydrogen storage thechnologies have lower performance compared to advanced lead acid batteries on a DC to DC basis, but”...In contrast, according to the cost of Hydrogen storage is competitive with batteries and could be competitive with CAES and pumped hydro in locations that are not favorable for these technologies.” (4) This shows that, once the optimal efficiency rate is reached, the technologies concerning the production of hydrogen from renewable sources will be a viable and competitive solution. But what will be the impact on the energy and fuel markets The production of hydrogen through electrolysis will certainly have an important economic impact especially in the transport sector, leading to the creation of a new market and a new supply chain that will change the physiognomy of the entire energy market.