Many experts refer to hydrogen as "the fuel of the future." It is expected to help decarbonize the global economy by burning it or using it in fuel cells, producing storable energy with zero carbon emissions, only water as a byproduct. Hydrogen can replace fossil fuels or serve as a chemical feedstock in hard-to-decarbonize industrial processes like steel and cement production. However, two challenges must be overcome to realize hydrogen's potential: finding a cheap, low-carbon method to produce pure hydrogen and an effective means of transporting and storing it. Researchers at the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) are addressing this less-discussed but critical challenge.
Hydrogen's characteristics make its transportation difficult—it's the lightest gas with low energy density per volume, making it more complex to transport than liquid fuels like gasoline. In 2024, funded by ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co., a team from MITEI began examining methods for transporting hydrogen. They concluded that no single solution exists; transportation costs and carbon emissions vary by location. Thus, they developed a tool to help users understand various options and select the best approach for their needs.
The tool, called the Hydrogen Carrier Analysis Tool (HyCAT), focuses on costs and carbon emissions incurred during hydrogen transport and delivery. Users can input assumptions via a user-friendly interface, with results displayed in simple bar charts. HyCAT calculates costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across five supply chain steps: converting hydrogen to liquid form, storing it, shipping, storing at the import terminal, and releasing it.
The main decision in analyzing hydrogen transport involves how to convert gaseous hydrogen to liquid and recover it later. Liquefying hydrogen requires consuming about a third of its energy content. The researchers also explored hydrogen carriers that absorb hydrogen under certain conditions and release it upon arrival. They analyzed three potential carriers: hydrogenated toluene, synthetic methane, and ammonia, with ammonia identified as the most promising option despite needing further attention on the release reaction.
The researchers found that the best options vary by location and situation. Decision-makers should utilize HyCAT to explore available options and optimize their supply chains, making clean-burning hydrogen a reality.
Blogger's Review: This article delves into the potential and challenges of hydrogen as a future clean fuel, particularly focusing on the technical difficulties of transportation and storage. While the prospects for hydrogen energy are promising, significant research and investment are still needed in related infrastructure and technologies. The development of the HyCAT tool provides practical decision support for the industry, facilitating the sustainable development of hydrogen energy.