Systematic Analysis of the Hydrogen Value Chain from Production to Utilization
Hydrogen produced from renewable sources has the potential to tackle various energy challenges, from allowing cost-effective transportation of renewable energy from production to consumption regions to decarbonizing intensive energy consumption industries. Due to its application versatility and non-...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| author | Miguel Simão Coelho Guilherme Gaspar Elena Surra Pedro Jorge Coelho Ana Filipa Ferreira |
| author_facet | Miguel Simão Coelho Guilherme Gaspar Elena Surra Pedro Jorge Coelho Ana Filipa Ferreira |
| author_sort | Miguel Simão Coelho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hydrogen produced from renewable sources has the potential to tackle various energy challenges, from allowing cost-effective transportation of renewable energy from production to consumption regions to decarbonizing intensive energy consumption industries. Due to its application versatility and non-greenhouse gaseous emissions characteristics, it is expected that hydrogen will play an important role in the decarbonization strategies set out for 2050. Currently, there are some barriers and challenges that need to be addressed to fully take advantage of the opportunities associated with hydrogen. The present work aims to characterize the state of the art of different hydrogen production, storage, transport, and distribution technologies, which compose the hydrogen value chain. Based on the information collected it was possible to conclude the following: (i) Electrolysis is the frontrunner to produce green hydrogen at a large scale (efficiency up to 80%) since some of the production technologies under this category have already achieved a commercially available state; (ii) in the storage phase, various technologies may be suitable based on specific conditions and purposes. Technologies of the physical-based type are the ones mostly used in real applications; (iii) transportation and distribution options should be viewed as complementary rather than competitive, as the most suitable option varies based on transportation distance and hydrogen quantity; and (iv) a single value chain configuration cannot be universally applied. Therefore, each case requires a comprehensive analysis of the entire value chain. Methodologies, like life cycle assessment, should be utilized to support the decision-making process. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d6982a6af24e419bb01995d69d797deb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-d6982a6af24e419bb01995d69d797deb2025-08-20T04:00:50ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011515824210.3390/app15158242Systematic Analysis of the Hydrogen Value Chain from Production to UtilizationMiguel Simão Coelho0Guilherme Gaspar1Elena Surra2Pedro Jorge Coelho3Ana Filipa Ferreira4Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, PortugalHyLab—Green Hydrogen Collaborative Laboratory, Estrada Nacional 120-1 Central Termoeléctrica, 7520-089 Sines, PortugalHyLab—Green Hydrogen Collaborative Laboratory, Estrada Nacional 120-1 Central Termoeléctrica, 7520-089 Sines, PortugalInstituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, PortugalInstituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, PortugalHydrogen produced from renewable sources has the potential to tackle various energy challenges, from allowing cost-effective transportation of renewable energy from production to consumption regions to decarbonizing intensive energy consumption industries. Due to its application versatility and non-greenhouse gaseous emissions characteristics, it is expected that hydrogen will play an important role in the decarbonization strategies set out for 2050. Currently, there are some barriers and challenges that need to be addressed to fully take advantage of the opportunities associated with hydrogen. The present work aims to characterize the state of the art of different hydrogen production, storage, transport, and distribution technologies, which compose the hydrogen value chain. Based on the information collected it was possible to conclude the following: (i) Electrolysis is the frontrunner to produce green hydrogen at a large scale (efficiency up to 80%) since some of the production technologies under this category have already achieved a commercially available state; (ii) in the storage phase, various technologies may be suitable based on specific conditions and purposes. Technologies of the physical-based type are the ones mostly used in real applications; (iii) transportation and distribution options should be viewed as complementary rather than competitive, as the most suitable option varies based on transportation distance and hydrogen quantity; and (iv) a single value chain configuration cannot be universally applied. Therefore, each case requires a comprehensive analysis of the entire value chain. Methodologies, like life cycle assessment, should be utilized to support the decision-making process.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8242hydrogen economyhydrogen productionhydrogen storagehydrogen transportation and distributionhydrogen utilisation |
| spellingShingle | Miguel Simão Coelho Guilherme Gaspar Elena Surra Pedro Jorge Coelho Ana Filipa Ferreira Systematic Analysis of the Hydrogen Value Chain from Production to Utilization Applied Sciences hydrogen economy hydrogen production hydrogen storage hydrogen transportation and distribution hydrogen utilisation |
| title | Systematic Analysis of the Hydrogen Value Chain from Production to Utilization |
| title_full | Systematic Analysis of the Hydrogen Value Chain from Production to Utilization |
| title_fullStr | Systematic Analysis of the Hydrogen Value Chain from Production to Utilization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systematic Analysis of the Hydrogen Value Chain from Production to Utilization |
| title_short | Systematic Analysis of the Hydrogen Value Chain from Production to Utilization |
| title_sort | systematic analysis of the hydrogen value chain from production to utilization |
| topic | hydrogen economy hydrogen production hydrogen storage hydrogen transportation and distribution hydrogen utilisation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8242 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT miguelsimaocoelho systematicanalysisofthehydrogenvaluechainfromproductiontoutilization AT guilhermegaspar systematicanalysisofthehydrogenvaluechainfromproductiontoutilization AT elenasurra systematicanalysisofthehydrogenvaluechainfromproductiontoutilization AT pedrojorgecoelho systematicanalysisofthehydrogenvaluechainfromproductiontoutilization AT anafilipaferreira systematicanalysisofthehydrogenvaluechainfromproductiontoutilization |