Research Programme: Integrated Energy
Programme Lead: Professor James Njuguna
Supported By: Alexander Oburoh
Funder/Sponsor: National Subsea Centre
Project Status: In Progress
Overview
This project is aimed at understanding the environmental and policy relationships and implications of blue hydrogen in a net zero scenario for the United Kingdom. By first identifying and establishing the drivers, enablers and barriers of blue hydrogen development, an environmental impact assessment is to be carried out on the four case studies of proposed blue hydrogen projects in the UK. This provides evidence to the human and environmental impacts of producing and utilising blue hydrogen in the UK. In addition to the lifecycle impact assessment, an in-depth policy analysis is to be done on policies relating to blue hydrogen.
Motivation
Blue hydrogen (derived from natural gas with carbon capture technology) is one of the clean energy sources being pushed for this transition. Through policy mechanisms, the UK alone has invested more than £200 million to the success of this technology. A technology driven by environmental requirements and energy security, while being enabled by policy support, brings new questions such as the policy rationale for funding a fossil fuel derivative energy source, the scale of the human and environmental impact and the ability for blue hydrogen to support energy security and the net zero goals. This project seeks to answer these questions while providing evidence to support or deter the use of blue hydrogen to meet the net zero goals of the UK.
Real-World Impact
As the project revolves around policy of blue hydrogen, one of the key outcomes will be the development of a policy model for blue hydrogen that will aid policy makers to determine the scale of policy support (i.e., investments) for blue hydrogen, as well as determining how regulations for blue hydrogen should be developed, implemented and monitored. Through a techno-environmental model that will be developed, which will consider the environmental and value chain aspects of blue hydrogen, industry and businesses will know the exact role of hydrogen in the net zero goals. The study will have an impact on moving towards a firm consensus on the production scale limits of sustainable blue hydrogen production in the UK.
