Table 1 Overview of the (considered) hydrogen applications
From: Global greenhouse gas emissions mitigation potential of existing and planned hydrogen projects
Application | Description, derived from the IEA | Boundaries in this Analysis | Unit | Transport & storage of H2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Refining | Use of hydrogen in the refining of oil products. | Production of fossil fuel (combustion excluded). | kilogram | No |
Ammonia | Use of hydrogen in ammonia production (includes ammonia as a chemical feedstock or as a fuel). | Ammonia production, including transport of ammonia. | kilogram | Transport |
Methanol | Use of hydrogen in methanol production (includes methanol as a chemical feedstock or as a fuel). | Methanol production, including combustion. | kilogram | No |
Iron & steel | Use of hydrogen in steel-making (direct reduced iron, injection in blast furnaces, hot finishing and other high-temperature processes). | Low-alloy steel production (direct reduced iron, processed in an electric arc furnace), including transport and storage of H2. | kilogram | Yesa |
High-T heat | Use of hydrogen for high-temperature heat (excluding oil refining, ammonia production, methanol production and steel-making). | Heat production in a furnace, including storage of H2. | megajoule | Storage |
Mobility | Use of hydrogen in vehicles (road, off-road, rail, maritime or aviation). | Freight transport with a 32-t fuel cell truck. | ton-kilometre | No |
Power | Use of hydrogen in the supply of electricity to the electricity grid with gas turbines, reciprocating engines or fuel cells. | Power production using gas turbines, including storage of H2. | kilowatt-hour | Storage |
Grid injection | Injection of hydrogen in the natural gas grid. | Hydrogen production. | kilogram | No |
CHP | Hydrogen used in CHP plants, such as fuel cells or turbines. | Heat and electricity production in a CHP plant, including transport and storage of H2. | megajoule | Yesa |
Domestic heat | Direct use of hydrogen in buildings for water and space heating. | Residential and commercial heat production in a hydrogen boiler, including transport and storage of H2. | megajoule | Yesa |
Biofuels | Use of hydrogen in second-generation biofuel production. | Second-generation biofuel Neste NEXBTL production, including combustion. | kilogram | No |
Synfuels | Production of synthetic liquid fuels (excluding methanol). | Kerosene production using the Fischer–Tropsch process, including combustion. | kilogram | No |
CH4 grid injection | Injection of synthetic methane in the natural gas grid. | Methane production using the Sabatier process, including combustion. | kilogram | No |
CH4 mobility | Use of synthetic methane in vehicles. | Methane production via the Sabatier process and combustion in a passenger vehicle. | kilometre | No |
H2 | Hydrogen production, application unknown. | Hydrogen production. | kilogram | No |
