CO₂ free Hydrogen Energy System –Prospects and Challenges–

Abstract

Upon the assumption that hydrogen energy system contributes to the realization of the low carbon society, a key step toward the sustainable society, the prospects of possible hydrogen energy system in 2050 is briefly presented. By using the global and long-term intertemporal optimization energy model GRAPE under severe CO₂ emission constraints, hydrogen is shown to have the domestic demand of eight hundred Mtoe（ca. 3 trillion Nm³/year）in Japan. Hydrogen is expected to be produced mainly from overseas renewable energy, and transported and stored in the form of the energy carriers, namely liquid hydrogen, organic hydride and ammonia. Globally hydrogen is mostly consumed in the transportation sector, but it will specifically attain the Japanese market as the fuel for hydrogen-fired power generation.