Research and analysis

Hydrogen for heating: emissions potential - literature review

A review of the current evidence on emissions and air pollutants that could be associated with a hydrogen-for-heating supply chain.

• From: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Published: 12 April 2019

Documents

H2 emission potential: literature review

PDF, 989 KB, 40 pages

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Details

As part of its wider work into heat decarbonisation, BEIS commissioned E4Tech to assess existing literature on the emissions and air pollutants that could be associated with a hydrogen supply chain in a possible future hydrogen-for-heating scenario.

The report focusses on 6 key research questions:

1. What are the potential hydrogen leakage rates at the hydrogen production stage via steam methane reformation (SMR) with carbon capture, coal and bio gasification with carbon capture and electrolysis?
2. What are the potential wider fugitive emission types and rates from hydrogen production via SMR with carbon capture, coal and bio gasification with carbon capture, and electrolysis?
3. What are the potential fugitive hydrogen emission rates post-production (transmission to end-use) with distribution via the gas grid?
4. What are the upstream/well-to-tank carbon emissions of using coal as a hydrogen input fuel?
5. For each of the questions above, what is the technical and commercial potential for abatement of these emissions?
6. Which research papers have explored upstream/well-to-tank non-carbon emissions from using natural gas, coal and biogas as hydrogen input fuels?

The report also identifies gaps in the evidence that may inform future research.

Published 12 April 2019