Life cycle assessment of renewable hydrogen for fuel cell passenger vehicles in California

摘要

Renewable hydrogen (H-2) fuel cell vehicles provide a promising pathway for decarbonizing transportation, but achieving high renewable content in H-2 production presents a challenge when commercializing the technology. This problem is examined with case studies of potential renewable H-2 projects in California that utilize policy instruments (solar net-metering) and technology (solar-wind hybrid) to maximize renewable content in electrolytic H-2 production (100% and 75%, respectively). Based on life cycle assessment of the fuel and vehicle cycles, the life cycle carbon footprint of renewable fuel cell vehicles in these cases (105-149 g CO2-eq/vehicle km) is comparable to that of battery electric vehicles charged with California grid electricity (132 g CO2-eq/vehicle km), and about half that of compact internal combustion vehicles. The choice and integration of renewable electricity is the most important consideration for the life cycle carbon footprint of renewable H-2 production, which ranges from 1.5 to 6 kg CO2-eq/kg H-2. Linking renewable electricity production with transport, renewable H-2 fuel cell vehicles can contribute toward California's decarbonization goals.