A Panoramic Analysis of Hydrogen Utilization Systems: Using an Input-output Table for Next Generation Energy Systems

The objective of this study is to analyze a government proposal, from a panoramic perspective, concerning the economic and environmental effects associated with the construction and operation of hydrogen utilization systems by the year 2030. We focused on a marine transport system for hydrogen produced offshore, hydrogen gas turbine power generation, fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) and hydrogen stations, as well as residential fuel cell systems (RFCs). In this study, using an Input-Output Table for Next Generation Energy Systems (IONGES), we evaluated the induced output, labor and CO₂ emissions from the construction and operation of these hydrogen technologies using a uniform approach. This may be helpful when considering future designs for the Japanese energy system. In terms of per 1 t-H₂ of hydrogen use, CO₂ reductions from the use of FCVs are considerably higher than the additional CO₂ emissions from foreign production and transportation of hydrogen. Because new construction of a hydrogen pipeline network is not considered to be realistic, RFCs is assumed to consume hydrogen generated by refining town gas. In this case, the CO₂ reductions from using RFCs will decline under the electricity composition estimated for 2030, on the condition of a substantial expansion of electricity generation from renewable energy sources. However, under the present composition of electricity production, we can expect a certain amount of CO₂ reductions from using RFCs. If hydrogen is directly supplied to RFCs, CO₂ reductions increase substantially. Thus, we can reduce a significant amount of CO₂ emissions if various unused energy sources dispersed around local areas or unharnessed renewable energies, such as solar and wind power, can be converted into hydrogen to be supplied to FCVs and RFCs.