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Greenhouse gas reduction benefits and costs of a large-scale transition to hydrogen in the USA

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  • Dougherty, William
  • Kartha, Sivan
  • Rajan, Chella
  • Lazarus, Michael
  • Bailie, Alison
  • Runkle, Benjamin
  • Fencl, Amanda

Abstract

Hydrogen is an energy carrier able to be produced from domestic, zero-carbon sources and consumed by zero-pollution devices. A transition to a hydrogen-based economy could therefore potentially respond to climate, air quality, and energy security concerns. In a hydrogen economy, both mobile and stationary energy needs could be met through the reaction of hydrogen (H2) with oxygen (O2). This study applies a full fuel cycle approach to quantify the energy, greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), and cost implications associated with a large transition to hydrogen in the United States. It explores a national and four metropolitan area transitions in two contrasting policy contexts: a "business-as-usual" (BAU) context with continued reliance on fossil fuels, and a "GHG-constrained" context with policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A transition in either policy context faces serious challenges, foremost among them from the highly inertial investments over the past century or so in technology and infrastructure based on petroleum, natural gas, and coal. A hydrogen transition in the USA could contribute to an effective response to climate change by helping to achieve deep reductions in GHG emissions by mid-century across all sectors of the economy; however, these reductions depend on the use of hydrogen to exploit clean, zero-carbon energy supply options.

Suggested Citation

  • Dougherty, William & Kartha, Sivan & Rajan, Chella & Lazarus, Michael & Bailie, Alison & Runkle, Benjamin & Fencl, Amanda, 2009. "Greenhouse gas reduction benefits and costs of a large-scale transition to hydrogen in the USA," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 56-67, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:37:y:2009:i:1:p:56-67
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Alazemi, Jasem & Andrews, John, 2015. "Automotive hydrogen fuelling stations: An international review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 483-499.
    2. Wee, Jung-Ho, 2010. "Contribution of fuel cell systems to CO2 emission reduction in their application fields," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 735-744, February.
    3. Caetano, Marco Antonio Leonel & Gherardi, Douglas Francisco Marcolino & Ribeiro, Gustavo de Paula & Yoneyama, Takashi, 2009. "Reduction of CO2 emission by optimally tracking a pre-defined target," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(19), pages 2536-2542.
    4. Imran Khan, Muhammad, 2017. "Policy options for the sustainable development of natural gas as transportation fuel," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 126-136.
    5. Maniatopoulos, Paul & Andrews, John & Shabani, Bahman, 2015. "Towards a sustainable strategy for road transportation in Australia: The potential contribution of hydrogen," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 24-34.
    6. Köhler, Jonathan & Whitmarsh, Lorraine & Nykvist, Björn & Schilperoord, Michel & Bergman, Noam & Haxeltine, Alex, 2009. "A transitions model for sustainable mobility," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(12), pages 2985-2995, October.

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