Electricity- and hydrogen-driven energy system sector-coupling in net-zero CO2 emission pathways
Abstract Electricity- and hydrogen-based sector coupling contributes to realizing the transition towards greenhouse gas neutrality in the European energy system. Energy system and integrated assessment models show that, to follow pathways compatible with the European policy target of net-zero greenh...
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| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56365-0 |
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| author | Bob van der Zwaan Amir Fattahi Francesco Dalla Longa Mark Dekker Detlef van Vuuren Robert Pietzcker Renato Rodrigues Felix Schreyer Daniel Huppmann Johannes Emmerling Stefan Pfenninger Francesco Lombardi Panagiotis Fragkos Maria Kannavou Theofano Fotiou Giannis Tolios Will Usher |
| author_facet | Bob van der Zwaan Amir Fattahi Francesco Dalla Longa Mark Dekker Detlef van Vuuren Robert Pietzcker Renato Rodrigues Felix Schreyer Daniel Huppmann Johannes Emmerling Stefan Pfenninger Francesco Lombardi Panagiotis Fragkos Maria Kannavou Theofano Fotiou Giannis Tolios Will Usher |
| author_sort | Bob van der Zwaan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Electricity- and hydrogen-based sector coupling contributes to realizing the transition towards greenhouse gas neutrality in the European energy system. Energy system and integrated assessment models show that, to follow pathways compatible with the European policy target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, large amounts of renewable electricity and H2 need to be generated, mostly by scaling-up wind and solar energy production capacity. With a set of such models, under jointly adopted deep decarbonisation scenario assumptions, we here show that the ensuing direct penetration of electricity and H2 in final energy consumption may rise to average shares of around 60% and 6%, respectively, by 2050. We demonstrate that electrification proves the most cost-efficient decarbonisation route in all economic sectors, while the direct use of H2 in final energy consumption provides a relatively small, though essential, contribution to deep decarbonisation. We conclude that the variance observed across results from different models reflects the uncertainties that abound in the shape of deep decarbonisation pathways, in particular with regard to the role of H2. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e82e9194c0de4c3fa9e401b7ea05601f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-e82e9194c0de4c3fa9e401b7ea05601f2025-02-09T12:45:21ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-02-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-56365-0Electricity- and hydrogen-driven energy system sector-coupling in net-zero CO2 emission pathwaysBob van der Zwaan0Amir Fattahi1Francesco Dalla Longa2Mark Dekker3Detlef van Vuuren4Robert Pietzcker5Renato Rodrigues6Felix Schreyer7Daniel Huppmann8Johannes Emmerling9Stefan Pfenninger10Francesco Lombardi11Panagiotis Fragkos12Maria Kannavou13Theofano Fotiou14Giannis Tolios15Will Usher16TNO, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific ResearchTNO, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific ResearchTNO, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific ResearchPBL, Netherlands Environmental Assessment AgencyPBL, Netherlands Environmental Assessment AgencyPIK, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact ResearchPIK, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact ResearchPIK, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact ResearchIIASA, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, ECE ProgramRFF‐CMCC, European Institute on Economics and the Environment (EIEE)Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of TechnologyFaculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of TechnologyE3-ModellingE3-ModellingE3-ModellingE3-ModellingKTH, Royal Institute of TechnologyAbstract Electricity- and hydrogen-based sector coupling contributes to realizing the transition towards greenhouse gas neutrality in the European energy system. Energy system and integrated assessment models show that, to follow pathways compatible with the European policy target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, large amounts of renewable electricity and H2 need to be generated, mostly by scaling-up wind and solar energy production capacity. With a set of such models, under jointly adopted deep decarbonisation scenario assumptions, we here show that the ensuing direct penetration of electricity and H2 in final energy consumption may rise to average shares of around 60% and 6%, respectively, by 2050. We demonstrate that electrification proves the most cost-efficient decarbonisation route in all economic sectors, while the direct use of H2 in final energy consumption provides a relatively small, though essential, contribution to deep decarbonisation. We conclude that the variance observed across results from different models reflects the uncertainties that abound in the shape of deep decarbonisation pathways, in particular with regard to the role of H2.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56365-0 |
| spellingShingle | Bob van der Zwaan Amir Fattahi Francesco Dalla Longa Mark Dekker Detlef van Vuuren Robert Pietzcker Renato Rodrigues Felix Schreyer Daniel Huppmann Johannes Emmerling Stefan Pfenninger Francesco Lombardi Panagiotis Fragkos Maria Kannavou Theofano Fotiou Giannis Tolios Will Usher Electricity- and hydrogen-driven energy system sector-coupling in net-zero CO2 emission pathways Nature Communications |
| title | Electricity- and hydrogen-driven energy system sector-coupling in net-zero CO2 emission pathways |
| title_full | Electricity- and hydrogen-driven energy system sector-coupling in net-zero CO2 emission pathways |
| title_fullStr | Electricity- and hydrogen-driven energy system sector-coupling in net-zero CO2 emission pathways |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electricity- and hydrogen-driven energy system sector-coupling in net-zero CO2 emission pathways |
| title_short | Electricity- and hydrogen-driven energy system sector-coupling in net-zero CO2 emission pathways |
| title_sort | electricity and hydrogen driven energy system sector coupling in net zero co2 emission pathways |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56365-0 |
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