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Chapter 23 Environmental impacts of hydrogen production and usage

  • David A. Wood ORCID logo und Reza Rezaee
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Natural Hydrogen Systems
Ein Kapitel aus dem Buch Natural Hydrogen Systems

Abstract

This chapter reviews the multifaceted and complex environmental impacts of hydrogen (H2) from its human and subsurface influences, its supply chain including pipelines, underground storage, and the manner in which it is consumed as a combustion fuel and in fuel-cells. H2 as an energy fuel has beneficial and adverse impacts on greenhouse gasgreenhouse gas (GHG) levels and air quality of the atmosphere compared to fossil fuels. These impacts depend on how it is generated, stored, transported, and consumed. When combusted H2 tends to generate more oxides of nitrogenoxides of nitrogenNOx (NOx) than fossil fuels, despite overall reductions in GHG. Green H2green H2, generated by electrolysis powered by off-peak renewable energy, without intermittent use of grid power supply, generates the least GHG. Blue H2blue H2 captures some GHG by carbon capture and storage (CCS) but still contributes substantial GHG to the atmosphere. H2 fuel cellsH2 fuel cells offer the cleanest form of H2 consumption, avoiding NOx emissionsNOx emissions but are too costly for mass-market uptake. Leakageleakage of H2 from above- and below-ground and H2-supply infrastructure poses a major issue for H2-fueled systems. Much uncertainty is associated with H2-leakage from industrial-scale plants and small-scale H2-fueled systems (vehicles and building heating systems). Robust life-cycle analysislife-cycle analysisLCA, incorporating realistic leakage levels is essential to justify the building of H2-supply chainsH2-supply chain and the potential exploitation of natural H2 resourcesnatural H2 resources. Provisional analysisProvisional life-cycle analysis on a life-cycle basis suggests that exploitation of subsurface H2 resources would only be environmentally beneficial from a GHG perspective from reservoirs containing >90% H2 with minimal methanemethane contamination.

Abstract

This chapter reviews the multifaceted and complex environmental impacts of hydrogen (H2) from its human and subsurface influences, its supply chain including pipelines, underground storage, and the manner in which it is consumed as a combustion fuel and in fuel-cells. H2 as an energy fuel has beneficial and adverse impacts on greenhouse gasgreenhouse gas (GHG) levels and air quality of the atmosphere compared to fossil fuels. These impacts depend on how it is generated, stored, transported, and consumed. When combusted H2 tends to generate more oxides of nitrogenoxides of nitrogenNOx (NOx) than fossil fuels, despite overall reductions in GHG. Green H2green H2, generated by electrolysis powered by off-peak renewable energy, without intermittent use of grid power supply, generates the least GHG. Blue H2blue H2 captures some GHG by carbon capture and storage (CCS) but still contributes substantial GHG to the atmosphere. H2 fuel cellsH2 fuel cells offer the cleanest form of H2 consumption, avoiding NOx emissionsNOx emissions but are too costly for mass-market uptake. Leakageleakage of H2 from above- and below-ground and H2-supply infrastructure poses a major issue for H2-fueled systems. Much uncertainty is associated with H2-leakage from industrial-scale plants and small-scale H2-fueled systems (vehicles and building heating systems). Robust life-cycle analysislife-cycle analysisLCA, incorporating realistic leakage levels is essential to justify the building of H2-supply chainsH2-supply chain and the potential exploitation of natural H2 resourcesnatural H2 resources. Provisional analysisProvisional life-cycle analysis on a life-cycle basis suggests that exploitation of subsurface H2 resources would only be environmentally beneficial from a GHG perspective from reservoirs containing >90% H2 with minimal methanemethane contamination.

Kapitel in diesem Buch

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Editorial note XI
  5. Contributing authors XIII
  6. Part I: Geological foundations of natural hydrogen
  7. Chapter 1 Evaluating natural hydrogen systems through the lens of petroleum exploration 1
  8. Chapter 2 Subsurface natural H2 systems: some lessons from drilling results 47
  9. Chapter 3 Natural hydrogen exploration: some similarities and differences with oil and gas exploration 75
  10. Chapter 4 Geological and geochemical pathways of onshore natural hydrogen generation 105
  11. Part II: Natural hydrogen generation mechanisms
  12. Chapter 5 Shallow peridotites at magma-poor rifted margins: occurrences, serpentinization, and H2 generation 131
  13. Chapter 6 Exploring natural hydrogen in the oldest nuclei of continents: why do cratons matter? 163
  14. Chapter 7 A possible origin of organic natural hydrogen 201
  15. Chapter 8 Natural hydrogen and the primordially hydridic earth concept 239
  16. Part III: Hydrogen exploration and detection techniques
  17. Chapter 9 Rock physics for quantitative geophysical interpretation of natural hydrogen resources 267
  18. Chapter 10 The potential geophysical responses of trapped natural hydrogen gas 297
  19. Chapter 11 The development of an airborne, stand-off detection instrument for hydrogen gas 325
  20. Chapter 12 Surface gas geochemical exploration for natural hydrogen: uncertainties and holistic interpretation 347
  21. Chapter 13 Natural hydrogen favorability maps (NHFMs): a new concept for natural hydrogen exploration in different geological contexts 367
  22. Chapter 14 Numerical simulation of hydrogen phase equilibrium and migration at basin scale 385
  23. Part IV: Global case studies and regional insights
  24. Chapter 15 Natural hydrogen exploration in Brazil: from theory to fieldwork case studies 417
  25. Chapter 16 Natural hydrogen in China: geological insights and exploration prospects 447
  26. Chapter 17 Potential occurrence and reservoirs of natural hydrogen based on the geological and tectonic setting of the Korean Peninsula 471
  27. Chapter 18 Natural hydrogen in Japan: general generation mechanisms, current work, and perspectives 491
  28. Chapter 19 Various elements of a potential hydrogen system in Saudi Arabia 513
  29. Part V: Hydrogen storage, transportation, and environmental and technological challenges
  30. Chapter 20 Underground hydrogen storage lessons for natural hydrogen systems 537
  31. Chapter 21 Assessment of hydrogen storage in salt caverns in Oman 563
  32. Chapter 22 Advancements and challenges in the transportation of natural hydrogen 581
  33. Chapter 23 Environmental impacts of hydrogen production and usage 607
  34. Chapter 24 Drilling, construction, and completion of natural hydrogen exploration and production wells: emphasizing long-term well integrity 645
  35. Chapter 25 Effect of salt on rock wettability and gas interactions in natural hydrogen reservoirs 681
  36. Index 699
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111437040-023

Kapitel in diesem Buch

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Editorial note XI
  5. Contributing authors XIII
  6. Part I: Geological foundations of natural hydrogen
  7. Chapter 1 Evaluating natural hydrogen systems through the lens of petroleum exploration 1
  8. Chapter 2 Subsurface natural H2 systems: some lessons from drilling results 47
  9. Chapter 3 Natural hydrogen exploration: some similarities and differences with oil and gas exploration 75
  10. Chapter 4 Geological and geochemical pathways of onshore natural hydrogen generation 105
  11. Part II: Natural hydrogen generation mechanisms
  12. Chapter 5 Shallow peridotites at magma-poor rifted margins: occurrences, serpentinization, and H2 generation 131
  13. Chapter 6 Exploring natural hydrogen in the oldest nuclei of continents: why do cratons matter? 163
  14. Chapter 7 A possible origin of organic natural hydrogen 201
  15. Chapter 8 Natural hydrogen and the primordially hydridic earth concept 239
  16. Part III: Hydrogen exploration and detection techniques
  17. Chapter 9 Rock physics for quantitative geophysical interpretation of natural hydrogen resources 267
  18. Chapter 10 The potential geophysical responses of trapped natural hydrogen gas 297
  19. Chapter 11 The development of an airborne, stand-off detection instrument for hydrogen gas 325
  20. Chapter 12 Surface gas geochemical exploration for natural hydrogen: uncertainties and holistic interpretation 347
  21. Chapter 13 Natural hydrogen favorability maps (NHFMs): a new concept for natural hydrogen exploration in different geological contexts 367
  22. Chapter 14 Numerical simulation of hydrogen phase equilibrium and migration at basin scale 385
  23. Part IV: Global case studies and regional insights
  24. Chapter 15 Natural hydrogen exploration in Brazil: from theory to fieldwork case studies 417
  25. Chapter 16 Natural hydrogen in China: geological insights and exploration prospects 447
  26. Chapter 17 Potential occurrence and reservoirs of natural hydrogen based on the geological and tectonic setting of the Korean Peninsula 471
  27. Chapter 18 Natural hydrogen in Japan: general generation mechanisms, current work, and perspectives 491
  28. Chapter 19 Various elements of a potential hydrogen system in Saudi Arabia 513
  29. Part V: Hydrogen storage, transportation, and environmental and technological challenges
  30. Chapter 20 Underground hydrogen storage lessons for natural hydrogen systems 537
  31. Chapter 21 Assessment of hydrogen storage in salt caverns in Oman 563
  32. Chapter 22 Advancements and challenges in the transportation of natural hydrogen 581
  33. Chapter 23 Environmental impacts of hydrogen production and usage 607
  34. Chapter 24 Drilling, construction, and completion of natural hydrogen exploration and production wells: emphasizing long-term well integrity 645
  35. Chapter 25 Effect of salt on rock wettability and gas interactions in natural hydrogen reservoirs 681
  36. Index 699
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Heruntergeladen am 21.10.2025 von https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783111437040-023/html?lang=de
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