SHELL HYDROGEN STUDY ENERGY OF THE FUTURE? Sustainable Mobility through Fuel Cells and H2 SHELL HYDROGEN STUDY ENERGY OF THE FUTURE? INTRODUCTION 4 1 THE ELEMENT HYDROGEN 6 Sustainable Mobility through Fuel Cells and H2 SHELL WUPPERTAL INSTITUT Dr. Jörg Adolf (Project Lead) Prof. Dr. Manfred Fischedick (Supervision) Dr. Christoph H. Balzer Dr. Karin Arnold (Project Coordination) Dr. Jurgen Louis Dipl.-Soz.Wiss. Andreas Pastowski Dipl.-Ing. Uwe Schabla Dipl.-Ing. Dietmar Schüwer www.shell.de www.wupperinst.org 3 2 STORAGE & TRANSPORTATION SUPPLY PATHWAYS 20 11 PUBLISHED BY Shell Deutschland Oil GmbH 22284 Hamburg + – 9 SUMMARY 62 4 ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL BALANCES APPLICATIONS 28 SCENARIOS FOR FUEL CELL VEHICLES 57 MOBILITY APPLICATIONS REFUELLING STATION VEHICLE OWNERSHIP 38 COSTS 47 INFRASTRUCTURE 51 STATIONARY ENERGY 6 APPLICATIONS 35 8 7 5 Design & Production: Mänz Kommunikation INTRODUCTION Shell Hydrogen Study Hard copies of the Shell Commercial Vehicle Study, the Shell Passenger Car Scenarios (both also as an English summary) and the Shell/BDH Domestic Heating Study (only in German) can be ENERGY OF THE FUTURE? ordered via [email protected]. Over the years Shell has produced a number of scenario dedicated business unit, Shell Hydrogen. Now, in cooperation studies on key energy issues. These have included studies on with the Wuppertal Institute in Germany, Shell has conducted important energy consumption sectors such as passenger cars a study on hydrogen as a future energy source. and commercial vehicles (lorries and buses) and the supply of as part of a compound. If hydrogen is to What are the main conversion methods develops models, strategies and instruments The study looks at the current state of hydrogen supply path- energy and heat to private households, as well as studies on be used as an energy source in a future involved in using hydrogen for energy for transitions to sustainable development. ways and hydrogen application technologies and explores the the state of and prospects for individual energy sources and hydrogen energy economy, then first of all purposes? Alongside the mobility applica- Its work centres on the way in which potential and prospects for hydrogen as an energy source in fuels, including biofuels, natural gas and liquefied petroleum its origin needs to be clarified: Where does tions for hydrogen technology, are there challenges in terms of resources, climate the global energy system of tomorrow. The study focuses on gas. hydrogen occur? From which materials and any stationary applications for hydrogen as and energy influence and are influenced the use of hydrogen in road transport and specifically in fuel how can it be produced, and using what a source of energy? by the economy and society. The “Future Shell has been involved in hydrogen production as well as in cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), but it also examines non-automo- technical processes? If a future energy Energy and Mobility Structures” research The focus of this study is the issue of research, development and application for decades, with a tive resp. stationary applications. economy is to be sustainable, the way in group, which was involved in the study, is sustainable mobility through fuel cells and which it is generated is key. So what are concerned in particular with the transition hydrogen (H ). When we think of hydrogen the advantages and disadvantages of the 2 to sustainable structures from a technical / – as was interest in novel energy forms. and mobility, fuel cell electric vehicles, HYDROGEN – RESEARCH OBJECTIVES various hydrogen supply pathways? structural and systems analytical point of in particular passenger cars, are what A PROMISING ELEMENT Nevertheless, issues around sustainability, AND KEY QUESTIONS view. climate protection and environmental Highly developed energy systems rely come to mind. But hydrogen and fuel cells More than 100 elements are known in Shell scenario studies present facts, trends protection began to have a growing influ- increasingly on electricity as a secondary can be used by other means of transport The project leader and coordinator of the chemistry, over 90 of which occur naturally. and prospects on specific key energy ence on energy supply policy. This sparked energy source. Electricity has many too. Therefore, the aim of this study is to Shell Hydrogen Study on behalf of Shell Elements are substances which cannot issues in a compact form. As in the a new interest in hydrogen as a clean and advantages as an energy source, but some give an overview of the technical state of was Dr. Jörg Adolf. The scientific coordina- be broken down into simpler substances previous Shell studies on passenger cars, sustainable energy option. disadvantages too: it can generally only and prospects for hydrogen and fuel cell tor on behalf of the Wuppertal Institute was and from which all other substances are commercial vehicles, domestic heating be directly stored in small amounts and for technology in all transport sectors, including Dr. Karin Arnold. She was supported by formed. Hydrogen is an element – but not Over the past two decades, the energy and individual energy sources and fuels, short periods of time, and its transportation non-road means of transport. Andreas Pastowski and Dietmar Schüwer. just any element. Hydrogen is the smallest debate has been and is still dominated by the initial focus is on providing an expert is mostly grid-based. Chemical energy The work was carried out under the and lightest of all elements. Hydrogen was analysis and assessment of a subject. After assessing the technological maturity other energy sources – such as natural gas, storage via hydrogen could represent an scientific supervision of Professor Manfred the first element created in space after the of motor vehicles and passenger cars in biofuels/biomass and electricity. Throughout There has certainly been plenty of alternative or an important supplement to Fischedick. Big Bang. And it is the first element in the particular, we look at the costs and cost- this period, however, intensive research and discussion and reporting on hydrogen, existing energy stores. If hydrogen is to periodic table in modern chemistry. effectiveness of hydrogen mobility as an development in hydrogen-related technolo- and it is an exceptionally simple element. The following authors at Shell also con- play a part in the energy system of the important decision-making criterion, as well th gies has continued. Nonetheless, hydrogen At the same time, however, hydrogen is tributed to the scientific preparation of the Hydrogen was discovered in the 18 future, the possibilities for storing and trans- as the development of a hydrogen supply has so far failed to gain commercial not a familiar product, especially among study: Dr. Jurgen Louis, regarding technical century as a flammable gas. Important porting hydrogen need to be analysed. infrastructure. Finally, since hydrogen- acceptance either generally or in individual technologies for producing and using end users who are accustomed to petrol and scientific questions about hydrogen In the past, debate about the use of hydro- powered vehicles are only viable if th application areas as a new energy source. and electricity. So far, any experience of and fuel cell technology, Uwe Schabla, hydrogen were developed in the 19 and they can be operated more sustainably Owing to high capital investment costs and hydrogen is limited largely to its use as a gen has centred above all on automobility. regarding stationary fuel cell applications, early 20th century. Even then, its potential than today’s vehicles, we use scenario a long useful life of energy infrastructure, feed material in chemical production and But hydrogen usage cannot be and is not and Dr. Christoph H. Balzer, regarding the for the energy industry was recognised. techniques to estimate and assess possible as a technical gas in industry. limited to transport applications. In new preparation of energy and greenhouse gas We now know that hydrogen has a very it takes considerable time for new energy energy and environmental balances for technologies there are often synergies balances and scenario techniques. high specific energy content (calorific or sources to capture a significant share of the future fuel cell passenger car fleets. For that reason one of the most important between different applications, and these heating value). In some contemporary energy market. aims of the Shell Hydrogen Study is need to be taken into account when In addition, many other experts, decision visions of the future, hydrogen played a to provide basic information about the After decades of R&D as well as testing, it is looking at learning curves and economies AUTHORS AND SOURCES makers and stakeholders from science, busi- prominent role as an energy source. element and about the use of hydrogen as legitimate to ask: Is hydrogen the energy or of scale of (new) technologies. And when it Shell worked closely with the German ness and politics were consulted during the an energy source. The first purpose of the Hydrogen was given new impetus in the at least an important energy of the future? comes to the use of scarce resources (like research institute and think-tank Wuppertal preparation of the Shell Hydrogen Study. study is to give an overview of the special 1960s by space travel, which relied heavily And, if so, when and how could hydrogen energy and fuels), competing uses need Institute to produce the Shell Hydrogen Shell would like to take this opportunity to properties and advantages of hydrogen. on hydrogen as an energy store, and in the develop into a leading energy source in to be considered. This raises the following Study. Back in 2007 the Wuppertal Insti- thank all concerned for their contribution 1970s as a consequence of the energy the global energy system? The intent of Hydrogen is one of the ten most common question: What (other) fundamental tute examined and evaluated the concept and cooperation.