Hydrogen Use in an Urban District: Energy and Environmental Comparisons

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela Vellini ◽  
Jacopo Tonziello
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Coal Gasification ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Urban District ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Hypothetical Scenario

Hydrogen technology is becoming ever more relevant because hydrogen use can help in containing greenhouse gas emission if CO2 capture and storage technologies are implemented in the hydrogen production pathway (when hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels). This work aims at carrying out a comparative analysis of possible energy scenarios in urban districts. A medium-small Italian city is considered as a reference case, and its energy consumption both for domestic and industrial use is evaluated. The current situation in which conventional technologies meet the energy needs is compared with a hypothetical scenario where hydrogen is largely used. Two options of hydrogen production from commercially ready technologies are investigated: coal gasification and steam methane reforming, as well as hydrogen use in advanced energy systems for transports and for thermal and electric energy generations. Also, the environmental impacts are evaluated. This study is particularly focused on greenhouse gas emissions with specific reference to carbon dioxide. The final goal is to define an alternative scenario, quantifying the energy needs and the relative environmental impacts in order to obtain quantitative information on the environmental benefits of the hydrogen scenario, as well as to identify its possible structural and functional criticalities.

Hydrogen Use in an Urban District: Environmental Impacts in a Possible Scenario Based on Coal

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Gambini ◽  
Michela Vellini
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Urban District ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Hypothetical Scenario ◽  
Italian City ◽  
Primary Energy Supply

Hydrogen technology is becoming ever more relevant because hydrogen use can help containing greenhouse gas emission if CO2 capture and storage techniques are implemented in the hydrogen production technology (when hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels). For this reason this work aims at carrying out a comparative analysis of possible energy scenarios in urban districts: a medium-small Italian city is taken into consideration, and its energy consumptions, both for domestic and industrial use, are evaluated. The current situation, in which conventional technologies meet the energy needs, is compared to a hypothetical scenario where clean energy vectors, namely hydrogen and electricity, are utilized together with traditional primary energy supply. Hydrogen production by means of coal decarbonization is investigated, as well as hydrogen use in advanced energy systems for transport and for electric and thermal energy generation.

Climate Change and Trade Facilitation: Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emission Savings from Implementation of Cross-Border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific

2021 ◽  
pp. 263168462110355
Author(s):  
Yann Duval ◽  
Simon Hardy
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Data Exchange ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Trade Facilitation ◽  
Framework Agreement ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
The Pacific

The Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-Border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific entered into force in February 2021. While economic benefits associated with paperless trade facilitation are well known, little attention has been paid to measuring the potential environmental benefits. Accordingly, this article sets out to quantify the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that could be saved if all trade-related paper documents in the region are ultimately replaced by digital documents and data exchange, as foreseen in the regional framework agreement. This is carried out by combining detailed descriptions of trade transactions, data on trading volumes and relevant emission factors. Even with conservative assumptions, the emissions saved by fully digitalising a single end-to-end trade transaction are equivalent to planting 1.5 trees. For the Asia-Pacific, this implies savings of about 13 million tons of CO2e annually, equivalent to the carbon absorbed by 400 million trees. The results are driven by efficiency gains from handling data digitally rather than by the direct savings of paper and ink. JEL Classification: F18, H83, Q56

scholarly journals Do cover crops enhance soil greenhouse gas losses during high emission moments under temperate Central Europe conditions?

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 171-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gernot Bodner ◽  
Axel Mentler ◽  
Andreas Klik ◽  
Hans-Peter Kaul ◽  
Sophie Zechmeister-Boltenstern
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Nitrate Content ◽  
Cover Cropping ◽  
Main Crop ◽  
High Emission ◽  
Soil Microbiological Activity ◽  
The Cost

SummaryCover cropping is a key agro-environmental measure in Europe. Cover crops may reduce N2O emissions by reducing soil nitrate content, while easily decomposable residues can enhance greenhouse gas losses. In a field study, emissions from the cover cropped fields compared to the fallow at two climatically different sites (semi-arid vs. humid) in Austria were measured with closed chambers and different driving factors were studied. The height of post-cover crop emissions was compared to gaseous losses during the management operations in the subsequent main crop maize. N2O and CO2emissions following the cover crops were low even at high emission moments compared to the losses induced by the main crop management operations. Highest risk of N2O losses was from mustards due to low C/N ratio and possibly as a consequence of glucosinolate decomposition. CO2emissions in the cover cropped plots were generally higher compared to the fallow, indicating an enhanced soil microbiological activity. Dissolved organic carbon was found as a sensitive indicator related to the greenhouse gas emissions. We concluded that the environmental benefits from cover cropping are not achieved at the cost of an enhanced greenhouse gas emission and that pure stands of late sown brassica cover crops should be avoided to prevent any risk of increased N2O losses.

Projected Cost, Energy Use, and Emissions of Hydrogen Technologies for Fuel Cell Vehicles

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark F. Ruth ◽  
Victor Diakov ◽  
Melissa J. Laffen ◽  
Thomas A. Timbario
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Production Process ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Production Model ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Production Facility

Each combination of technologies necessary to produce, deliver, and distribute hydrogen for transportation use has a corresponding levelized cost, energy requirement, and greenhouse gas emission profile depending upon the technologies’ efficiencies and costs. Understanding the technical status, potential, and tradeoffs is necessary to properly allocate research and development (R&D) funding. In this paper, levelized delivered hydrogen costs, pathway energy use, and well-to-wheels (WTW) energy use and emissions are reported for multiple hydrogen production, delivery, and distribution pathways. Technologies analyzed include both central and distributed reforming of natural gas and electrolysis of water, and central hydrogen production from biomass and coal. Delivery options analyzed include trucks carrying liquid hydrogen and pipelines carrying gaseous hydrogen. Projected costs, energy use, and emissions for current technologies (technology that has been developed to at least the bench-scale, extrapolated to commercial-scale) are reported. Results compare favorably with those for gasoline, diesel, and E85 used in current internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, gasoline hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and flexible fuel vehicles. Sensitivities of pathway cost, pathway energy use, WTW energy use, and WTW emissions to important primary parameters were examined as an aid in understanding the benefits of various options. Sensitivity studies on production process energy efficiency, total production process capital investment, feed stock cost, production facility operating capacity, electricity grid mix, hydrogen vehicle market penetration, distance from the hydrogen production facility to city gate, and other parameters are reported. The Hydrogen Macro-System Model (MSM) was used for this analysis. The MSM estimates the cost, energy use, and emissions trade offs of various hydrogen production, delivery, and distribution pathways under consideration. The MSM links the H2A Production Model, the Hydrogen Delivery Scenario Analysis Model (HDSAM), and the Greenhouse Gas, Regulated Emission, and Energy for Transportation (GREET) Model. The MSM utilizes the capabilities of each component model and ensures the use of consistent parameters between the models to enable analysis of full hydrogen production, delivery, and distribution pathways. To better understand spatial aspects of hydrogen pathways, the MSM is linked to the Hydrogen Demand and Resource Analysis Tool (HyDRA). The MSM is available to the public and enables users to analyze the pathways and complete sensitivity analyses.

scholarly journals Implications of a Carbon-Based Energy Tax for U.S. Agriculture

2005 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uwe A. Schneider ◽  
Bruce A. McCarl
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Carbon Tax ◽  
Market Price ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Energy Prices ◽  
Carbon Taxes ◽  
Sector Model

Policies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions are likely to increase energy prices. Higher energy prices raise farmer costs for diesel and other fuels, irrigation water, farm chemicals, and grain drying. Simultaneously, renewable energy options become more attractive to agricultural producers. We consider both of these impacts, estimating the economic and environmental consequences of higher energy prices on U.S. agriculture. To do this we employ a price-endogenous agricultural sector model and solve that model for a range of carbon-tax-based energy price changes. Our results show mostly positive impacts on net farm income in the intermediate run. Through market price adjustments, fossil fuel costs are largely passed on to consumers. Additional farm revenue arises from the production of biofuels when carbon taxes reach $30 per ton of carbon or more. Positive environmental benefits include not only greenhouse gas emission offsets but also reduced levels of nitrogen leaching.

scholarly journals Life cycle Assessment of Hydrogen Production via Natural Gas Steam Reforming vs. Biomass Gasification

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peiran Zhao ◽  
Abbas Tamadon ◽  
Dirk Pons
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Steam Reforming ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Biomass Gasification ◽  
Silica Sand ◽  
The Impact

CONTEXT– Energy is widely involved in human activity and corresponding emissions of SOX, NOX and CO2 from energy generation processes affect global climate change. Clean fuels are desired by society because of their reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen is once such candidate fuel. Much hydrogen is produced from fossil fuel, with biomass being an alternative process. OBJECTIVE– The project compared the environmental impact of hydrogen production by natural gas steam reforming vs. biomass gasification. METHOD–Environmental impact was calculated from the input and output data from life cycle inventory analysis. The impact assessment was focused on greenhouse gas emission, acidification, and eutrophication. Models of the two processes were developed and analysed in OpenLCA. The agribalyse database was used to connect inventory flow data to environmental impacts. FINDINGS– For all three metrics, biomass gasification had lower impacts than natural gas steam reforming, sometimes by large margins. For biomass gasification the silica sand production contributes most to all three impact categories, whereas for natural gas steam reforming it is the LPG extraction.

scholarly journals potential environmental impacts of EU immigration policy: future population numbers, greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity preservation

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Cafaro ◽  
Frank Götmark
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Immigration Policy ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Sustainable Societies ◽  
Environmental Goals ◽  
Future Population ◽  
Population Numbers

This article clarifies the potential environmental impacts of more or less expansive EU immigration policies. First, we project the demographic impacts of different immigration policy scenarios on future population numbers, finding that relatively small annual differences in immigration levels lead to large differences in future population numbers, both nationally and region-wide. Second, we analyze the potential impacts of future population numbers on two key environmental goals: reducing the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions and preserving its biodiversity. We find that in both cases, smaller populations make success in these endeavors more likely – though only in conjunction with comprehensive policy changes which lock in the environmental benefits of smaller populations. Reducing immigration in order to stabilize or reduce populations thus can help EU nations create ecologically sustainable societies, while increasing immigration will tend to move them further away from this goal.

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