Life cycle assessment methodology evaluation and greenhouse gas impact of hydrogen production routes in Australia

Abstract

The environmental impacts of hydrogen production can vary widely depending on the production energy source and process. This implies that the collection and management of sustainability data for hydrogen production globally is desired to ensure accountable development of the sector. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is an internationally recognized tool for environmental impact assessment. Integrating LCA in the holistic evaluation of the hydrogen value chain is desirable to ensure the cleanness and sustainability of the various available hydrogen production pathways. The objective of this review is to evaluate the methodology used in assessing the life cycle impact of hydrogen production including proposed documentation such as the guarantee of origin (GO) and certification schemes, and review case studies from Australia. An analysis of the sustainability strategies and schemes designed by the Australian government, aimed at mitigating climate change and promoting the hydrogen economy, was conducted. The case studies that were discussed identified the preferred available scaled routes of clean hydrogen production to be water electrolysis, which is based on technologies using renewable energy. Other dominant technologies which incorporate carbon capture and storage (CCS) were envisaged to continue playing a role in the transition to a low carbon economy. Additionally, it is critical to assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using appropriate system boundaries, in order to classify clean hydrogen production pathways. Harmonizing regulatory stringency with appropriate tracking of renewable electricity can promote clean hydrogen production through certification and GO schemes. This approach is deemed critical for the sustainable development of the hydrogen economy at the international level.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

hydrogen certification / guarantee of origin (GO) / hydrogen energy / sustainability / life cycle assessment (LCA) / Australia

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Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-024-0962-4 and is accessible for authorized users.

Nomenclature

AEM	Anion exchange membrane
AGR	Acid gas removal
ALCAS	Australian Life Cycle Assessment Society
ASU	Air separation unit
ATR	Autothermal reforming
AusLCI	Australian National Life Cycle Inventory Database
AWE	Alkaline water electrolysis
BoP	Balance of plant
CCS	Carbon capture and storage
CER	Clean energy regulator
CG	Coal gasification
CLR	Chemical looping reforming
DCCEEW	Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
DISER	Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
G20	Group of Twenty
GHG	Greenhouse gas
GO	Guarantee of origin
HESC	Hydrogen energy supply chain
IEA	International Energy Agency
IPCC	Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
IPHE	International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy
ISO	International Organization for Standardization
LCA	Life cycle assessment
LHV	Lower heating value
NGERS	National greenhouse and energy reporting scheme
PEM	Proton exchange membrane
PSA	Pressure swing adsorption
RD20	Research and development 20 for clean energy technologies
RED II	Renewable Energy Directives II
RFNBO	Renewable fuels of non-biological origin
SETAC	Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
SMR	Steam methane reforming
SOE	Solid oxide electrolysis
TRL	Technology readiness level
UNEP	United Nations Environment Program
WGR	Water gas shift reaction
YSZ	Yttria-stabilized zirconia4-methylphenol

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