Rethinking Green Hydrogen: Why Local Methane Storage Beats Overseas Imports

The Flawed Vision of Importing Green Hydrogen

Europe, particularly Germany, is pinning its hopes on importing "green hydrogen" from regions like Canada, Africa, and Australia to meet its decarbonization goals. Yet, this vision faces systemic hurdles:

• Lack of Infrastructure: Few projects have progressed beyond planning stages, with pipelines, plants, and export terminals largely absent.

• High Production Costs: Electrolysis requires 50-60 kWh of electricity per kg of H₂, relying on solar or wind power in regions plagued by water scarcity, dust, and grid instability.

• Transport Challenges: Shipping H₂ as liquefied gas (LH₂) or ammonia (NH₃) incurs 30-40% energy losses during liquefaction and additional losses during reconversion.

• Hidden CO₂ Footprint: Logistics, including ships and compression, often rely on non-renewable energy, tainting the "green" label with a hidden carbon burden.

• Geopolitical Risks: New dependencies on the Global South emerge, despite Europe’s own surplus renewable energy being curtailed (50-100 TWh annually in the EU).

Realistically, these import strategies are years away—best case by 2035—and even then, their environmental benefits are questionable.

A Smarter Alternative: TSTM and Local Methane Conversion

The Tubular Storage Tank Module (TSTM) technology offers a practical, immediate solution. Instead of importing hydrogen, TSTM leverages Europe’s existing renewable energy surplus to compress methane (CH₄) for long-term storage, converting it into hydrogen on demand. Here’s how it outshines the import model:

Storing Energy in Molecules

• High Energy Density: 1 m³ of methane at 250 bar yields ~2.4 MWh (after compression losses), and at 500 bar, ~4 MWh—10-20 times more efficient than lithium-ion batteries (200-250 kWh/m³).

• Loss-Free Storage: TSTM modules store methane for months with <0.1% monthly loss, using modular, recyclable steel tubes.

• Local Utilization: Surplus wind and solar power drive compression, rescuing curtailed energy (e.g., 20 TWh/year in Germany).

Efficient Hydrogen Production

Rather than burning methane to generate electricity for electrolysis—a process that wastes energy—TSTM enables direct conversion into hydrogen using established methods:

• Steam Methane Reforming (SMR): Yields ~3 mol H₂ per mol CH₄ with 70-75% efficiency; with CO₂ capture (CCS/CCU), it produces "blue" hydrogen.

• Autothermal Reforming (ATR): Flexible and ideal for modular setups, perfect for TSTM integration.

• Methane Pyrolysis: Emerging technology producing H₂ and solid carbon without CO₂ emissions.

This approach bypasses the inefficiency of electrolysis (50-60 kWh/kg H₂) and eliminates the need for water—a critical advantage given the 9 billion liters required annually for 1 million tons of H₂ (equivalent to 3,600 Olympic swimming pools).

Comparing the Options

Why Methane Beats Water-Based Electrolysis

Electrolysis demands high-purity water, which is scarce in regions like Southern Europe and requires energy-intensive desalination, adding to the CO₂ footprint. TSTM, conversely, needs no water—methane’s hydrogen content is directly accessible. This not only avoids water conflicts but also reduces costs and logistics burdens.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

While Europe chases the illusion of overseas green hydrogen, TSTM offers a proven, scalable path to produce hydrogen locally using existing resources. It saves curtailed renewable energy, eliminates geopolitical dependencies, and delivers hydrogen without water constraints. Policymakers and industry leaders should prioritize TSTM pilots in high-curtailment zones like Germany or the North Sea to unlock this potential. The time for action is now—let’s store energy in molecules, not import empty promises.

Author: Ryszard Dzikowski, [email protected] | DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15586051