Emissions of anthropogenic hydrogen to the atmosphere during the potential transition to an increasingly H 2-intensive economy

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 1122 - 1135
• Main Authors: Bond, S.W., Gül, T., Reimann, S., Buchmann, B., Wokaun, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2011
• Subjects: Hydrogen economy; Hydrogen emissions; Hydrogen production; Leakage; Transportation; Upscaling; Leakage; Hydrogen emissions; Hydrogen economy; Transportation; Upscaling; Hydrogen production
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2010.10.016

In this study, current and future anthropogenic hydrogen (H 2) emissions to the atmosphere from technological processes are assessed. Current emissions are dominated by the direct exhaust gas of road-based motor vehicles and losses during the industrial production of H 2 from fossil-fuels. H 2 emissions from transportation are estimated at 4.5 Tg for 2010. An additional ∼0.5–2 Tg H 2 are estimated to be lost to the atmosphere from industrial processes in 2010. In 2020, emissions from transportation are estimated at approximately 50% of those in 2010. Future emissions will occur as losses along the entire production, distribution, and end-use chain, including emissions from H 2 fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). In 2050, overall anthropogenic H 2 emissions will only approach current levels at high-end loss rates; direct emissions from transportation are expected to be significantly lower than current levels. In 2100, an average loss rate of 0.5% would result in overall H 2 emissions exceeding current levels even with no net H 2 emissions from FCVs. However, based on an average loss rate of 0.1%, H 2 emission factors from FCVs on the order to 120–170 mg km −1 are projected to result in overall anthropogenic H 2 emissions similar to 2010 levels.