Hydrogen as Part of a 100% Clean Energy System: Exploring Its Decarbonization Roles
Ken Dragoon, Antonio Iliceto, Magnus Korpås, Peter Markussen, Bryan S. Pivovar, Mark Ruth, Brittany Westlake, Elizabeth Endler
Abstract
Today’s energy system uses a variety of fuels and energy carriers in molecular forms, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, each contributing to CO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> emissions ( <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Figure 1</xref> ). As solar and wind levels grow and the energy system becomes more electrified, fossil molecular fuels will contribute a progressively smaller fraction of overall energy. As shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Figure 2</xref> , hydroelectric storage and molecules, such as coal and natural gas, provide substantial storage and dispatch functionality today that will become increasingly critical for electricity operation and stability. Emerging low-carbon gases, such as hydrogen, can support the efficient integration of renewables in the transition from today’s energy system to one that is 100% clean from a carbon emissions perspective.