When will the hydrogen economy arrive?
The arrival of the hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) economy has been the subject of many studies. Earlier articles were over-optimistic about the timing and extent of global H<sub>2</sub> uptake, and predicted private vehicles as leading the way to a H<sub>2</sub> economy...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AIMS Press
2022-10-01
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| Series: | AIMS Energy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/energy.2022052?viewType=HTML |
| _version_ | 1797960200197505024 |
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| author | Patrick Moriarty Damon Honnery |
| author_facet | Patrick Moriarty Damon Honnery |
| author_sort | Patrick Moriarty |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The arrival of the hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) economy has been the subject of many studies. Earlier articles were over-optimistic about the timing and extent of global H<sub>2</sub> uptake, and predicted private vehicles as leading the way to a H<sub>2</sub> economy. The recent strong rise in the global electric vehicle fleet has inevitably led to a reassessment of the prospects for H<sub>2</sub>, at least for transport. This review paper examines how researchers over recent decades have envisaged how the H<sub>2</sub> economy would arrive, and why it was desirable, or even inevitable; it also looks at the future prospects for the H<sub>2</sub> economy. The key findings are as follows:
<p>● Among the leading energy forecasting bodies, particularly the International Energy Agency (IEA), even the most optimistic scenarios predict under 10% H<sub>2</sub> penetration by 2050.</p>
<p>● IEA forecasts are very optimistic about the prospects for the introduction of carbon dioxide removal technologies and growth of dispatchable sources of low-carbon energy.</p>
<p>● More realistic IEA forecasts would increase the need for the growth of intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar. The subsequent requirement for energy storage would in turn help the case for H<sub>2</sub> adoption.</p>
<p>● No new technologies are on the horizon to decisively tip the balance in favor of H<sub>2</sub>.</p>
<p>● It is concluded that a global H<sub>2</sub> economy is still distant, but it could arise in energy-poor countries such as Japan and South Korea, and it could find a niche in freight transport.</p>
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:42:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-713d50877f9445a090b6d352021ebe49 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2333-8334 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:42:34Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | AIMS Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AIMS Energy |
| spelling | doaj.art-713d50877f9445a090b6d352021ebe492023-01-06T01:48:14ZengAIMS PressAIMS Energy2333-83342022-10-011061100112110.3934/energy.2022052When will the hydrogen economy arrive?Patrick Moriarty 0Damon Honnery11. Department of Design, Monash University-Caulfield Campus, P.O. Box 197, Caulfield East, Victoria 3145, Australia2. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University-Clayton Campus, Victoria 3800, AustraliaThe arrival of the hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) economy has been the subject of many studies. Earlier articles were over-optimistic about the timing and extent of global H<sub>2</sub> uptake, and predicted private vehicles as leading the way to a H<sub>2</sub> economy. The recent strong rise in the global electric vehicle fleet has inevitably led to a reassessment of the prospects for H<sub>2</sub>, at least for transport. This review paper examines how researchers over recent decades have envisaged how the H<sub>2</sub> economy would arrive, and why it was desirable, or even inevitable; it also looks at the future prospects for the H<sub>2</sub> economy. The key findings are as follows: <p>● Among the leading energy forecasting bodies, particularly the International Energy Agency (IEA), even the most optimistic scenarios predict under 10% H<sub>2</sub> penetration by 2050.</p> <p>● IEA forecasts are very optimistic about the prospects for the introduction of carbon dioxide removal technologies and growth of dispatchable sources of low-carbon energy.</p> <p>● More realistic IEA forecasts would increase the need for the growth of intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar. The subsequent requirement for energy storage would in turn help the case for H<sub>2</sub> adoption.</p> <p>● No new technologies are on the horizon to decisively tip the balance in favor of H<sub>2</sub>.</p> <p>● It is concluded that a global H<sub>2</sub> economy is still distant, but it could arise in energy-poor countries such as Japan and South Korea, and it could find a niche in freight transport.</p> https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/energy.2022052?viewType=HTMLclimate changeelectric vehiclesenergy futuresforecastingh2 economyhydrogen fuel cell vehiclestransport |
| spellingShingle | Patrick Moriarty Damon Honnery When will the hydrogen economy arrive? AIMS Energy climate change electric vehicles energy futures forecasting h2 economy hydrogen fuel cell vehicles transport |
| title | When will the hydrogen economy arrive? |
| title_full | When will the hydrogen economy arrive? |
| title_fullStr | When will the hydrogen economy arrive? |
| title_full_unstemmed | When will the hydrogen economy arrive? |
| title_short | When will the hydrogen economy arrive? |
| title_sort | when will the hydrogen economy arrive |
| topic | climate change electric vehicles energy futures forecasting h2 economy hydrogen fuel cell vehicles transport |
| url | https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/energy.2022052?viewType=HTML |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT patrickmoriarty whenwillthehydrogeneconomyarrive AT damonhonnery whenwillthehydrogeneconomyarrive |