How “clean” is the hydrogen economy? Tracing the connections between hydrogen and fossil fuels

Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 50, P. 100817 - 100817

Published: Feb. 3, 2024

Hydrogen is experiencing a resurgence in energy transition debates. Before representing solution, however, the existing hydrogen economy still climate change headache: over 99 % of production depends on fossil fuels, oil refining accounts for 42 demand, and its transportation intertwined with infrastructure, like natural gas pipelines. This article investigates path-dependent dynamics shaping interconnections industry. It draws global networks (GPN) approach political research to provide comprehensive review current prospective end-uses hydrogen, modes transport, industrial actors state strategies, along major facilities holders intellectual property rights. The results presented this suggest that superimposition private agendas may jeopardise viability future systems requires counterbalancing forces override negative consequences transitions.

Language: Английский

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The green hydrogen ambition and implementation gap

Nature Energy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 14, 2025

Language: Английский

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Spatially-resolved optimisation of coupled hydrogen and electricity systems: Abundant and niche hydrogen scenarios in Switzerland

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 121, P. 96 - 110

Published: March 30, 2025

Language: Английский

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The more the merrier? Actors and ideas in the evolution of German hydrogen policy discourse

Energy Research & Social Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 97, P. 102965 - 102965

Published: Feb. 10, 2023

Hydrogen has set high hopes for decarbonization due to its flexibility and ability decarbonize sectors of the economy where direct electrification appears unviable. Broad hydrogen policies have therefore started emerge. Nevertheless, it is still a rather niche technology, not integrated or adopted at scale, regulated through particular policy provisions. The involved stakeholders are thus rushing agenda over issue. All this plays out publicly shapes public discourse. This paper explores how composition stakeholders, their positions, overall discourse structure developed accompanied political agenda-setting in early debate on Germany. We use network analysis media, stakeholders' claims-making documented, positions can be tracked time. Germany shows expected evolution statements connection with two milestones chosen analyses initiation Gas 2030 Dialogue publication National Strategy. Interestingly, was comparatively feeble immediate aftermath respective but intensified consolidation phase around half year later. Sequencing contextualizing content relative political, societal, economic conditions diachronic way essential because helps avoid misinterpreting development standpoints as conflict-driven than mere repositioning. Thus, we observed no "polarization" even though potentially polarizing issues were already present debate.

Language: Английский

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Charting the path toward a greener world: A review of facilitating and inhibiting factors for carbon neutrality

Journal of Cleaner Production, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 423, P. 138423 - 138423

Published: Aug. 10, 2023

The threat of anthropogenic carbon emissions and the consequent climate risk at global level has led to a noticeable surge in academic research area. However, literature primarily witnessed mushrooming growth with limited attempts systematize or synthesize mass evidence running multiple directions. Such fragmented accumulation insights can lead confusion potential neglect crucial discussions. Our study addresses this deficit consolidated area by focusing on neutrality (CN), which embodies response for mitigating serious consequences harmful emissions. To end, we used popular approach systematic review (SLR) identify congruent evaluate it critically delineate facilitating inhibiting factors. Given vastness extant literature, our five sectors: manufacturing, energy, transport, agriculture, construction (METAC) since these are known be among highest contributors We rigorous search filtration protocol shortlist 153 relevant studies. Mapping facilitators inhibitors helped us uncover under-explored aspects suggest questions future investigations. At same time, identification stimulating forces impeding hurdles highlight areas requiring policy attention managerial action support achievement CN targets.

Language: Английский

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Techno-economic analysis of hydrogen and green fuels supply scenarios assessing three import routes: Canada, Chile, and Algeria to Germany

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 116, P. 558 - 576

Published: March 14, 2025

Language: Английский

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Multi-sector technology diffusion in urgent net-zero transitions: Niche splintering in carbon capture technology

Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 194, P. 122696 - 122696

Published: June 23, 2023

Transitioning to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century requires rapid diffusion of low-carbon technologies across numerous sectors. Multi-purpose are expected solve sustainability problems in several Given the deadline, such must happen multiple sectors simultaneously instead sequentially. Since different have their own set preferences, technical needs, and institutional characteristics, simultaneous interactions with increases complexity processes. We contribute a new perspective on multi-purpose context urgent grand challenges. Drawing insights from 'niche anchoring' 'technology speciation' literatures, we present framework that puts actors sense-making at centre process. The is applied case carbon capture Norway, which has recently been user simultaneously. find diversity expectations, technological solutions leads increased uncertainty splintering', hampers anchoring capture. In addition our for multi-sector technology diffusion, paper also contributes highlighting challenges diffusing rate seen many strategies mitigation scenarios.

Language: Английский

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Whose negative emissions? Exploring emergent perspectives on CDR from the EU's hard to abate and fossil industries

Frontiers in Climate, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5

Published: Jan. 15, 2024

Net zero targets have rapidly become the guiding principle of climate policy, implying use carbon dioxide removal (CDR) to compensate for residual emissions. At same time, extent (future) emissions and their distribution between economic sectors activities has so far received little attention from a social science perspective. This constitutes research gap as corresponding amounts required CDR is likely highly contested in political economy low-carbon transformation. Here, we investigate what function performs perspective considered account large proportion future (cement, steel, chemicals, aviation) well oil gas industry EU. We also explore whether they claim be compensated outside sector, quantify these claims how justify them. Relying on interpretative qualitative analysis, decarbonization or net roadmaps published by major sector-level European trade associations statements public consultation submissions reaction policy initiatives EU mobilize CDR. Our findings indicate that while technologies perform an important abstract reaching roadmaps, responsibilities delivering levels negative remain largely unspecified. risks eliding pending distributional conflicts over which may intersect with diverging technological transition pathways advocated associations.

Language: Английский

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The Impact of the Russian War against Ukraine on the German Hydrogen Discourse

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(2), P. 773 - 773

Published: Jan. 16, 2024

This contribution delves into the transformative effects of Russian–Ukrainian war on discourse surrounding German hydrogen. Employing structural topical modeling (STM) a vast dataset 2192 newspaper articles spanning from 2019 to 2022, it aims uncover thematic shifts attributed Russian invasion Ukraine. The onset in February 2022 triggered significant pivot discourse, shifting sustainability and climate-change mitigation securing energy supplies through new partnerships, particularly response Russia’s unreliability. Germany started exploring alternative trading partners like Canada Australia, emphasizing green hydrogen development. study illustrates how external shocks can expedite uptake technologies. adoption “H2 readiness” concept for LNG terminals contributes successful implementation In summary, profoundly impacted focus supply security, underscoring interconnectedness security Germany’s policy.

Language: Английский

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Legitimising technologies for a circular economy: Contested discourses on innovation for plastics recycling in Europe

Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 50, P. 100811 - 100811

Published: Jan. 18, 2024

The European Commission aims to increase the recycling of plastic packaging 60% by 2025, requiring fundamental changes towards a more circular economy. Pathways for this transition require policy support that largely depends on their legitimacy in public discourse. These normative aspects remain poorly understood ‘in-between’ technologies, i.e., technologies are no longer novel but struggle move growth phase within technological innovation system. Therefore, we ask: How do discourses shape technology in-between technologies? Drawing empirical example chemical recycling, analysis renders two principal findings. First, legitimising and delegitimising storylines present contesting views regarding aspects, environmental social impacts, economic implications. Second, how contribute actors interests drive prevalent particular contexts.

Language: Английский

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