Seasonal storage and alternative carriers: A flexible hydrogen supply chain model

TLDR

A viable hydrogen infrastructure is challenged by the need for seasonal storage to bridge fluctuations between surplus renewable electricity and fueling station demand, a problem that has been explored in cost‑efficient supply chain studies focused on hydrogen transportation. The study develops a model to address seasonal storage gaps by analyzing Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHC) and their potential impact on future hydrogen mobility. The model extends existing long‑term storage approaches and evaluates LOHC pathways within a flexible hydrogen supply chain framework. LOHC pathways are promising for small‑scale demand but emit more GHG than other gaseous options, liquid hydrogen offers no advantage over LOHC or cavern storage, and all pathways reduce GHG emissions by less than 30% compared to conventional fossil fuels in Europe.

Abstract

A viable hydrogen infrastructure is one of the main challenges for fuel cells in mobile applications. Several studies have investigated the most cost-efficient hydrogen supply chain structure, with a focus on hydrogen transportation. However, supply chain models based on hydrogen produced by electrolysis require additional seasonal hydrogen storage capacity to close the gap between fluctuation in renewable generation from surplus electricity and fuelling station demand. To address this issue, we developed a model that draws on and extends approaches in the literature with respect to long-term storage. Thus, we analyse Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHC) and show their potential impact on future hydrogen mobility. We demonstrate that LOHC-based pathways are highly promising especially for smaller-scale hydrogen demand and if storage in salt caverns remains uncompetitive, but emit more greenhouse gases (GHG) than other gaseous or hydrogen ones. Liquid hydrogen as a seasonal storage medium offers no advantage compared to LOHC or cavern storage since lower electricity prices for flexible operation cannot balance the investment costs of liquefaction plants. A well-to-wheel analysis indicates that all investigated pathways have less than 30% GHG-emissions compared to conventional fossil fuel pathways within a European framework.