IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i8p6509-d1121215.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Can Africa Serve Europe with Hydrogen Energy from Its Renewables?—Assessing the Economics of Shipping Hydrogen and Hydrogen Carriers to Europe from Different Parts of the Continent

Author

Listed:
  • Ephraim Bonah Agyekum

    (Department of Nuclear and Renewable Energy, Ural Federal University Named after the First President of Russia Boris, 19 Mira Street, Ekaterinburg 620002, Russia)

  • Jeffrey Dankwa Ampah

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China)

  • Solomon Eghosa Uhunamure

    (Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P.O. Box 652, Cape Town 8000, South Africa)

  • Karabo Shale

    (Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P.O. Box 652, Cape Town 8000, South Africa)

  • Ifeoma Prisca Onyenegecha

    (Department of Communication and Media Studies, Cyprus International University, Cyprus, Mersin 33010, Turkey)

  • Vladimir Ivanovich Velkin

    (Department of Nuclear and Renewable Energy, Ural Federal University Named after the First President of Russia Boris, 19 Mira Street, Ekaterinburg 620002, Russia)

Abstract

There exists no single optimal way for transporting hydrogen and other hydrogen carriers from one port to the other globally. Its delivery depends on several factors such as the quantity, distance, economics, and the availability of the required infrastructure for its transportation. Europe has a strategy to invest in the production of green hydrogen in Africa to meet its needs. This study assessed the economic viability of shipping liquefied hydrogen (LH 2 ) and hydrogen carriers to Germany from six African countries that have been identified as countries with great potential in the production of hydrogen. The results obtained suggest that the shipping of LH 2 to Europe (Germany) will cost between 0.47 and 1.55 USD/kg H 2 depending on the distance of travel for the ship. Similarly, the transportation of hydrogen carriers could range from 0.19 to 0.55 USD/kg H 2 for ammonia, 0.25 to 0.77 USD/kg H 2 for LNG, 0.24 to 0.73 USD/kg H 2 for methanol, and 0.43 to 1.28 USD/kg H 2 for liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs). Ammonia was found to be the ideal hydrogen carrier since it recorded the least transportation cost. A sensitivity analysis conducted indicates that an increase in the economic life by 5 years could averagely decrease the cost of LNG by some 13.9%, NH 3 by 13.2%, methanol by 7.9%, LOHC by 8.03%, and LH 2 by 12.41% under a constant distance of 6470 nautical miles. The study concludes with a suggestion that if both foreign and local participation in the development of the hydrogen market is increased in Africa, the continent could supply LH 2 and other hydrogen carriers to Europe at a cheaper price using clean fuel.

Suggested Citation

  • Ephraim Bonah Agyekum & Jeffrey Dankwa Ampah & Solomon Eghosa Uhunamure & Karabo Shale & Ifeoma Prisca Onyenegecha & Vladimir Ivanovich Velkin, 2023. "Can Africa Serve Europe with Hydrogen Energy from Its Renewables?—Assessing the Economics of Shipping Hydrogen and Hydrogen Carriers to Europe from Different Parts of the Continent," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:8:p:6509-:d:1121215
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/8/6509/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/8/6509/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Brändle, Gregor & Schönfisch, Max & Schulte, Simon, 2021. "Estimating long-term global supply costs for low-carbon hydrogen," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    2. Olateju, Babatunde & Kumar, Amit, 2016. "A techno-economic assessment of hydrogen production from hydropower in Western Canada for the upgrading of bitumen from oil sands," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(P1), pages 604-614.
    3. Wietschel, Martin & Hasenauer, Ulrike, 2007. "Feasibility of hydrogen corridors between the EU and its neighbouring countries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(13), pages 2129-2146.
    4. Brändle, Gregor & Schönfisch, Max & Schulte, Simon, 2020. "Estimating Long-Term Global Supply Costs for Low-Carbon Hydrogen," EWI Working Papers 2020-4, Energiewirtschaftliches Institut an der Universitaet zu Koeln (EWI), revised 10 Aug 2021.
    5. Verma, Aman & Kumar, Amit, 2015. "Life cycle assessment of hydrogen production from underground coal gasification," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 556-568.
    6. Mirko Grljušić & Vladimir Medica & Gojmir Radica, 2015. "Calculation of Efficiencies of a Ship Power Plant Operating with Waste Heat Recovery through Combined Heat and Power Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-27, May.
    7. Egerer, Jonas & Grimm, Veronika & Niazmand, Kiana & Runge, Philipp, 2023. "The economics of global green ammonia trade – “Shipping Australian wind and sunshine to Germany”," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).
    8. Niermann, M. & Timmerberg, S. & Drünert, S. & Kaltschmitt, M., 2021. "Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers and alternatives for international transport of renewable hydrogen," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. De-León Almaraz, Sofía & Rácz, Viktor & Azzaro-Pantel, Catherine & Szántó, Zoltán Oszkár, 2022. "Multiobjective and social cost-benefit optimisation for a sustainable hydrogen supply chain: Application to Hungary," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).
    2. Li, Zezheng & Yu, Pengwei & Xian, Yujiao & Fan, Jing-Li, 2024. "Investment benefit analysis of coal-to-hydrogen coupled CCS technology in China based on real option approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    3. Bae, Dasol & Kim, Yikyeom & Ko, Eun Hee & Ju Han, Seung & Lee, Jae W. & Kim, Minkyu & Kang, Dohyung, 2023. "Methane pyrolysis and carbon formation mechanisms in molten manganese chloride mixtures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    4. Schlund, David & Theile, Philipp, 2022. "Simultaneity of green energy and hydrogen production: Analysing the dispatch of a grid-connected electrolyser," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    5. Galimova, Tansu & Satymov, Rasul & Keiner, Dominik & Breyer, Christian, 2024. "Sustainable energy transition of Greenland and its prospects as a potential Arctic e-fuel and e-chemical export hub for Europe and East Asia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    6. Kai Schulze & Mile Mišić & Nikola Radojičić & Berkin Serin, 2024. "Evaluating Partners for Renewable Energy Trading: A Multidimensional Framework and Tool," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-22, April.
    7. César Berna-Escriche & Carlos Vargas-Salgado & David Alfonso-Solar & Alberto Escrivá-Castells, 2022. "Hydrogen Production from Surplus Electricity Generated by an Autonomous Renewable System: Scenario 2040 on Grand Canary Island, Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-29, September.
    8. Scharf, Hendrik & Möst, Dominik, 2024. "Gas power — How much is needed on the road to carbon neutrality?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    9. Ding, Hongbing & Dong, Yuanyuan & Zhang, Yu & Wen, Chuang & Yang, Yan, 2024. "Exergy performance analysis of hydrogen recirculation ejectors exhibiting phase change behaviour in PEMFC applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    10. Lifeng Du & Yanmei Yang & Luli Zhou & Min Liu, 2024. "Greenhouse Gas Reduction Potential and Economics of Green Hydrogen via Water Electrolysis: A Systematic Review of Value-Chain-Wide Decarbonization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-37, May.
    11. David Franzmann & Heidi Heinrichs & Felix Lippkau & Thushara Addanki & Christoph Winkler & Patrick Buchenberg & Thomas Hamacher & Markus Blesl & Jochen Lin{ss}en & Detlef Stolten, 2023. "Green Hydrogen Cost-Potentials for Global Trade," Papers 2303.00314, arXiv.org, revised May 2023.
    12. Lee, Ju-Sung & Cherif, Ali & Yoon, Ha-Jun & Seo, Seung-Kwon & Bae, Ju-Eon & Shin, Ho-Jin & Lee, Chulgu & Kwon, Hweeung & Lee, Chul-Jin, 2022. "Large-scale overseas transportation of hydrogen: Comparative techno-economic and environmental investigation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    13. Schlund, David & Schönfisch, Max, 2021. "Analysing the impact of a renewable hydrogen quota on the European electricity and natural gas markets," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    14. Schönfisch, Max, 2022. "Charting the Development of a Global Market for Low-Carbon Hydrogen," EWI Working Papers 2022-3, Energiewirtschaftliches Institut an der Universitaet zu Koeln (EWI).
    15. Adeola Akinpelu & Md Shafiul Alam & Md Shafiullah & Syed Masiur Rahman & Fahad Saleh Al-Ismail, 2023. "Greenhouse Gas Emission Dynamics of Saudi Arabia: Potential of Hydrogen Fuel for Emission Footprint Reduction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-14, March.
    16. Reed, Jeffrey & Dailey, Emily & Shaffer, Brendan & Lane, Blake & Flores, Robert & Fong, Amber & Samuelsen, Scott, 2023. "Potential evolution of the renewable hydrogen sector using California as a reference market," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    17. Lena Tholen & Anna Leipprand & Dagmar Kiyar & Sarah Maier & Malte Küper & Thomas Adisorn & Andreas Fischer, 2021. "The Green Hydrogen Puzzle: Towards a German Policy Framework for Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-19, November.
    18. Kirchem, Dana & Schill, Wolf-Peter, 2023. "Power sector effects of green hydrogen production in Germany," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    19. Yue Yin & Jing Wang & Lei Li, 2024. "An Assessment Methodology for International Hydrogen Competitiveness: Seven Case Studies Compared," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-31, June.
    20. Zhang, Tongtong & Uratani, Joao & Huang, Yixuan & Xu, Lejin & Griffiths, Steve & Ding, Yulong, 2023. "Hydrogen liquefaction and storage: Recent progress and perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:8:p:6509-:d:1121215. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.