Today is Tuesday, January 16, 2024.
It also caught our attention the following recent article from Euronews "CES 2024: Hydrogen cars back on the agenda as EVs and in-car tech take centre stage".
If you have not yet heard about CES, it is "the most powerful tech event in the world — the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators ... Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, CES is the only trade show that showcases the entire tech landscape at one event". Last edition happened last week in Las Vegas, United States.
"Hydrogen is happening!" according to Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO Hydrogen Europe. He added: “Being right at the source of all hydrogen data and information, it is our pleasure to connect the many dots and to present this 2023 of the Clean Hydrogen Monitor. We hope you will find it fascinating and useful as we continue striving for a decarbonised world!”
So, here are the highlights of the Clean Hydrogen Monitor 2023, published at the European Hydrogen Week 2023 that took place in Brussels, Belgium, one week before COP-28.
According to its preface, "Last 12 months saw hydrogen retain its place at the highest level of political agenda in the EU, with the adoption of REDIII, the establishment of the Hydrogen Bank and its prominence in the EU industrial plan just to name a few. But while it is increasingly clear that hydrogen will be a cornerstone of the European Green Deal and of the EU’s objective to become the first climate neutral continent, there are still challenges ahead ... with national governments expected to implement not only regulatory targets and policies, but also coordinate the deployment of infrastructure to ensure their industries’ access to hydrogen ... the European electrolyser manufacturers need to accelerate the pace of capacity expansion, while the European industry needs to progress from the current stage of project preparation and feasibility assessment to accelerate the pace of final investment decisions (FIDs) and subsequent project deployment ... Clean Hydrogen Monitor. It is not a publication for bullish claims and aggressive outlooks, but rather a publication which has the single aim of providing a clear view of the hydrogen market status to-date".
More specifically, and following the report's chapters:
Hydrogen demand. According to Hydrogen Europe, hydrogen consumption amounted 8.2 Mt in 2022.
Hydrogen production capacity. European hydrogen production capacity remained stable for the reporting year 2022 at around 11.5 Mt.
Hydrogen production costs. Lots of challenges. "The average for all countries was 9.9 EUR/kg in 2022 vs 5.3 EUR/kg in 2021" for grid connected electrolysis". And "... our estimation suggests that the production costs of renewable hydrogen vary from 5.2 EUR/kg (based on solar PV in Portugal) to 9.6 EUR/kg (solar PV in Luxembourg), with an average of around 7 EUR/kg" (picture below).
Hydrogen infrastructure. Several great network maps from individual countries. "From the transmission perspective, Belgium and the Netherlands are the most advanced countries ... having begun construction of their national hydrogen networks. On hydrogen storage which will be needed both for seasonal energy storage ... Hydrogen Europe tracks 29 hydrogen storage projects in Europe larger than 30 GWh in salt caverns, aquifers, depleted fields, and lined rock caverns. The countries with most large-scale hydrogen storage projects in development, albeit in early stages, are Germany, France, and Spain".
Electrolyser manufacturing capacity. "European electrolyser manufacturing capacity could increase from the current 3.9 GWel/year to 27.8 GWel/year by 2030 based on announced expansions". China remains World leader.
Hydrogen policies, strategies, and standards. "20 countries in Europe and 43 globally have adopted national hydrogen strategy/policy documents." Current hydrogen market is "dominated by fossil fuels", with an emerging clean hydrogen market.
Funding and financing ecosystem. "Between EUR 1.2 and 2.6 trillion must be mobilised in Europe, amounting to EUR 50 to 100 billion in annual investments until 2050, with higher investments through the 2030s to make clean hydrogen a reality".
Hydrogen in mobility. Heavy-duty sectors show the fastest uptake of hydrogen powertrains (both fuel cells and hydrogen internal combustion engines). "2022 shows major increase in trucks (55 in 2022, compared to 14 in 2021), buses (206 in 2022, compared to 165 in 2021), while the maritime sector is still in its infancy (4 operational hydrogen- powered ships in 2022, with 28 on order by 2028)".
Click at the image below - reference item 3 above - for the 168-pages report.
