Multi-vector Energy Systems Analysis for Heavy-duty Transportation Deep Decarbonization Using H₂ and Synthetic Fuels

Policies focused on deep decarbonization of regional economies tend to emphasize electricity sector decarbonization in conjunction with electrification of end-uses and increasingly, on the use of hydrogen (H₂) produced via electricity for displacing fossil fuels in difficult-toelectrify sectors. One...

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Main Author: Shaker, Youssef H.
Other Authors: Mallapragada, Dharik
Format: Thesis
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2024
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/154152
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author Shaker, Youssef H.
author2 Mallapragada, Dharik
author_facet Mallapragada, Dharik
Shaker, Youssef H.
author_sort Shaker, Youssef H.
collection MIT
description Policies focused on deep decarbonization of regional economies tend to emphasize electricity sector decarbonization in conjunction with electrification of end-uses and increasingly, on the use of hydrogen (H₂) produced via electricity for displacing fossil fuels in difficult-toelectrify sectors. One such use case is heavy-duty transport, which represents a substantial and growing share of global transport sector emissions given the increasing electrification of the light duty vehicle fleet. Here, we assess the bulk energy system impact of decarbonizing the heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) segment via use of either H₂ or drop-in synthetic liquid fuels produced from H₂ along with CO₂. Our analysis relies on soft-linking two modeling approaches: a) a bottom-up model of transportation energy demand that produces a variety of final energy demand scenarios for the same service demand and b) a multi-sectoral capacity expansion model, DOLPHYN, that co-optimizes power, H₂ and CO₂ supply chains subject to a variety of technological and policy constraints to meet the exogeneous final energy demand slate. Through a case study of Western European countries under deep decarbonization constraints for the year 2040, we quantify the energy system implications of varying levels of H₂ and synthetic fuels adoption in HDVs, under scenarios with and without CO₂ sequestration capacity availability. We find that substitution of liquid fossil fuels in the HDV segment is essential to meet the imposed deep decarbonization constraint across the modeled power, H₂, and transport sectors, particularly in the absence of CO₂ storage. Additionally, we find that utilizing H₂ HDVs reduces bulk system costs of deep decarbonization, while reducing fossil liquids demand, but could increase natural gas consumption in cases. While H₂ HDV adoption reduces the need for direct air capture (DAC), synthetic fuel adoption results in a greater need for DAC and also leads to system cost increases compared to scenarios without their adoption. The study highlights the trade-offs associated with different transportation decarbonization pathways, and underlines the importance of multi-sectoral consideration in decarbonization studies.
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spelling mit-1721.1/1541522024-04-17T03:58:25Z Multi-vector Energy Systems Analysis for Heavy-duty Transportation Deep Decarbonization Using H₂ and Synthetic Fuels Shaker, Youssef H. Mallapragada, Dharik Botterud, Audun Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Data, Systems, and Society Policies focused on deep decarbonization of regional economies tend to emphasize electricity sector decarbonization in conjunction with electrification of end-uses and increasingly, on the use of hydrogen (H₂) produced via electricity for displacing fossil fuels in difficult-toelectrify sectors. One such use case is heavy-duty transport, which represents a substantial and growing share of global transport sector emissions given the increasing electrification of the light duty vehicle fleet. Here, we assess the bulk energy system impact of decarbonizing the heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) segment via use of either H₂ or drop-in synthetic liquid fuels produced from H₂ along with CO₂. Our analysis relies on soft-linking two modeling approaches: a) a bottom-up model of transportation energy demand that produces a variety of final energy demand scenarios for the same service demand and b) a multi-sectoral capacity expansion model, DOLPHYN, that co-optimizes power, H₂ and CO₂ supply chains subject to a variety of technological and policy constraints to meet the exogeneous final energy demand slate. Through a case study of Western European countries under deep decarbonization constraints for the year 2040, we quantify the energy system implications of varying levels of H₂ and synthetic fuels adoption in HDVs, under scenarios with and without CO₂ sequestration capacity availability. We find that substitution of liquid fossil fuels in the HDV segment is essential to meet the imposed deep decarbonization constraint across the modeled power, H₂, and transport sectors, particularly in the absence of CO₂ storage. Additionally, we find that utilizing H₂ HDVs reduces bulk system costs of deep decarbonization, while reducing fossil liquids demand, but could increase natural gas consumption in cases. While H₂ HDV adoption reduces the need for direct air capture (DAC), synthetic fuel adoption results in a greater need for DAC and also leads to system cost increases compared to scenarios without their adoption. The study highlights the trade-offs associated with different transportation decarbonization pathways, and underlines the importance of multi-sectoral consideration in decarbonization studies. S.M. S.M. 2024-04-16T19:04:00Z 2024-04-16T19:04:00Z 2024-02 2024-04-11T16:02:55.078Z Thesis https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/154152 In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted Copyright retained by author(s) https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/ application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Shaker, Youssef H.
Multi-vector Energy Systems Analysis for Heavy-duty Transportation Deep Decarbonization Using H₂ and Synthetic Fuels
title Multi-vector Energy Systems Analysis for Heavy-duty Transportation Deep Decarbonization Using H₂ and Synthetic Fuels
title_full Multi-vector Energy Systems Analysis for Heavy-duty Transportation Deep Decarbonization Using H₂ and Synthetic Fuels
title_fullStr Multi-vector Energy Systems Analysis for Heavy-duty Transportation Deep Decarbonization Using H₂ and Synthetic Fuels
title_full_unstemmed Multi-vector Energy Systems Analysis for Heavy-duty Transportation Deep Decarbonization Using H₂ and Synthetic Fuels
title_short Multi-vector Energy Systems Analysis for Heavy-duty Transportation Deep Decarbonization Using H₂ and Synthetic Fuels
title_sort multi vector energy systems analysis for heavy duty transportation deep decarbonization using h₂ and synthetic fuels
url https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/154152
work_keys_str_mv AT shakeryoussefh multivectorenergysystemsanalysisforheavydutytransportationdeepdecarbonizationusingh2andsyntheticfuels