Smart Hydrogen is the practical implementation of the P2X equation.

INTRODUCTION

GenComm is technically and financially validating and modelling the renewable H2 value chain and adapting it to the Enabling Support Tool (EST) that leads NWE communities into sustainable, local and autonomous energy matrixes. The EST is directed to community energy stakeholders (utilities, policy-makers and private firms in the energy sector), as the key agents to implement the proposed matrix. The project will first engage energetically and territorial remote communities supporting micro H2 hubs then develop further to inform and assist hydrogen valleys. The EST provides data driven Hydrogen value stream management information, enabling the acceleration of green energy response and adaptability.

 

 

CONCEPT

The challenge for Europe is to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. In order to achieve this we must redesign the energy supply chain and deliver energy security for Europe by maximising the commercial opportunities of renewable energy. The challenge is to empower new energy technologies & providers to be the drivers of our new zero carbon energy future. A key way to achieve empowerment will be to address the transport, industrial and heating sectors and achieve commercial flexibility through sector coupling with the renewable energy sector through the use of green hydrogen

Green hydrogen is a disruptive energy vector and will increasingly be used as an energy carrier and it will enable EU to reach a position where it can utilise excess amounts of green electricity from renewable sources. When this ‘tipping point’ is reached, electricity will be inexpensive on wholesale markets.

Green hydrogen as the energy vehicle provides high efficiency, sustainability and flexibility.

 

P2X Sector Coupling

P2X will decouple the old fossil fuel energy links and drive sector coupling in renewable energy, industry, and transport and heat sectors delivering low carbon systems. It will maximise the use of renewable energy generation and productivity and directly reducing GHG gases, CO2 emissions and act as a catalyst for a low carbon economy to be developed in Europe. P2X will empower Europe to move beyond 40% renewable electricity, decarbonise our energy sector, maximise existing renewables, as increase new renewable generation. P2X is the catalyst for a game changer in the energy supply chain, driving a shift towards low carbon transportation, industry and heat.

P2X aims to overcome the challenge of increasing the deployment of renewable energy in grid constrained European regions by demonstrating large scale hydrogen energy storage flexibility via greening the fuel sector to be used within the transport, manufacturing and heating sectors.

 

objectives

GenComm is seeking support to demonstrate how SMART H2 can be utilised as an energy vector and how it will play a major part in reducing C02 in all sectors thereby acting as a key pillar in the strategy A Clean Planet for All. Using currently available zero carbon hydrogen technology is leading to; reduced curtailment of existing assets, increased renewable penetration rates and overall renewable energy supply capabilities, giving confidence to renewable energy producers. SMARTH2 has the potential to empower Europe's energy transition and is a powerful enabler for the energy transition, with benefits for both the energy system and end-use applications. Hydrogen has the potential to become one of the main energy carriers of the future as it can be easily produced using renewable energy, stored using commercially available technologies and used throughout the entire energy system.

 

technology switching costs

Hydrogen has the capability of replacing fossil fuels outright. To do this however, it has to solve the problem of technology switching costs: this again can really only occur when a certain ‘network effects’ are achieved. In this context this means diesel is cheap relative to hydrogen in part because the diesel distribution network is already in situ and has thus been paid for. In order to replace diesel, H2 will have to bear the cost of creating a new distribution network. This can only be done at considerable cost. These costs can be overcome by leveraging scale. With large projects, a hydrogen infrastructure can be established that will generate network effects which will overcome the switching costs incurred by moving away from the incumbent technology.

 

 

SMARTH2

SMARTH2 combines

(1) A solution to the electrical grid network challenges faced by the mature renewable electricity technologies,

(2) Opportunities in hydrogen supply pathway,

(3) Prospects for new hydrogen applications

(4) Creation of different and new trends in energy markets with “Power to X technologies”.

 

 

AIM

The aim of P2X Smart Hydrogenis to create a hydrogen value chain that is optimal in technical performance and financial revenues. With this in mind, the concept of “Power to X” (P2X) refers to energy conversion technologies that allow for the decoupling of power production plants from the electrical market to use their product in a number of other sectors (hence the “X”), such as transport, heating and chemicals. The figure below presents the concept of Smart Hydrogen. The sections below analyse this concept highlighting the different challenges and opportunities in the energy sector.

 

 

Figure Concept of Smart Hydrogen

 

EXPERTISE

GenComm partners lead the Power-to-X & Hydrogen taskforce within the World Energy Council, are also members of the Climate Change Taskforce member on the World Energy Council's Future Energy Leaders program and are Hydrogen Taskforce Experts to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE), part of a wider decarbonisation of the gas grid taskforce.

Hydrogen key to Sustainable Energy Systems for G20 Leaders

GenComm partners also sit on the “Hydrogen in Energy Transition” task force developing a policy brief on the role of for T20 & G20 leaders.

 

 

Next Steps

Our new P2X function will develop and implement our global business strategy in this exciting and evolving market, providing additional routes to market, while assisting in wider industry decarbonisation efforts. To further explore the opportunities for Northern Ireland in Power to X (P2X) with hydrogen as an energy vector and to map out the technology switching costs for the following 4 spheres of application

• Power to Industry (P2I),
• Power to Mobility (P2M),
• Power to Industry (P2I)
• Power 2 Heat (P2H)