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Breaking the hard-to-abate bottleneck in China’s path to carbon neutrality with clean hydrogen

Author

Listed:
  • Xi Yang

    (Harvard University)

  • Chris P. Nielsen

    (Harvard University)

  • Shaojie Song

    (Harvard University
    Nankai University)

  • Michael B. McElroy

    (Harvard University
    Harvard University)

Abstract

Countries such as China are facing a bottleneck in their paths to carbon neutrality: abating emissions in heavy industries and heavy-duty transport. There are few in-depth studies of the prospective role for clean hydrogen in these ‘hard-to-abate’ (HTA) sectors. Here we carry out an integrated dynamic least-cost modelling analysis. Results show that, first, clean hydrogen can be both a major energy carrier and feedstock that can significantly reduce carbon emissions of heavy industry. It can also fuel up to 50% of China’s heavy-duty truck and bus fleets by 2060 and significant shares of shipping. Second, a realistic clean hydrogen scenario that reaches 65.7 Mt of production in 2060 could avoid US$1.72 trillion of new investment compared with a no-hydrogen scenario. This study provides evidence of the value of clean hydrogen in HTA sectors for China and countries facing similar challenges in reducing emissions to achieve net-zero goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Xi Yang & Chris P. Nielsen & Shaojie Song & Michael B. McElroy, 2022. "Breaking the hard-to-abate bottleneck in China’s path to carbon neutrality with clean hydrogen," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(10), pages 955-965, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:7:y:2022:i:10:d:10.1038_s41560-022-01114-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-022-01114-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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