The future of hydrogen in Groningen Seaports : study on hydrogen as unique selling proposition for circular economy in the Northern Netherlands
Lotric, Ajda (2021)
2021
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021060814936
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021060814936
Tiivistelmä
Increasing awareness about climate change has changed the view on fossil fuel sources. To replace them in the long term, new technologies have been explored to find new energy sources. The most considerable emphasis so far has been on the development of renewable sources. However, another potential solution is also hydrogen. Hydrogen is a clean fuel that has many uses in global industries. The majority that is used today is produced from fossil fuels. New technology has helped to start producing renewable hydrogen without fossil fuels.
The thesis was commissioned by Groningen Seaports, a port authority in the Northern Netherlands. The study aimed to find opportunities for the use of sustainable hydrogen in the Northern Netherlands and Europe. Current developments of renewable hydrogen in the chemical, manufacturing and energy sector were examined from literature. A survey was conducted to recognise the potential of Groningen Seaports in the development of the green hydrogen economy. The survey focused on the relationship between industry and hydrogen and examined future hydrogen development opportunities. The survey included a target group of current and potential customers of Groningen Seaports. Both quantitative and qualitative approach was used to analyse the data.
The results of the study show that at the moment, the most obvious problem for the development of green hydrogen is the price. Investment in technologies that would not emit greenhouse gases during production is expensive. Green hydrogen production still requires more research and development. That can ensure the cost-competitiveness of green hydrogen with hydrogen from fossil sources. Another aspect that is also pointed out in the survey is that the government is not doing enough to promote the hydrogen economy. Appropriate legislation and guidelines with substantial investments are something that the responders wish to be improved.
While there are opportunities to develop a green hydrogen economy soon, there is still a long way to go. The costly investments and market that are not mature enough need further development. The cost of green hydrogen needs to come to a level that is comparable to those of fossil sourced hydrogen. Thus, research and development of new hydrogen technologies will be crucial in the upcoming years.
The thesis was commissioned by Groningen Seaports, a port authority in the Northern Netherlands. The study aimed to find opportunities for the use of sustainable hydrogen in the Northern Netherlands and Europe. Current developments of renewable hydrogen in the chemical, manufacturing and energy sector were examined from literature. A survey was conducted to recognise the potential of Groningen Seaports in the development of the green hydrogen economy. The survey focused on the relationship between industry and hydrogen and examined future hydrogen development opportunities. The survey included a target group of current and potential customers of Groningen Seaports. Both quantitative and qualitative approach was used to analyse the data.
The results of the study show that at the moment, the most obvious problem for the development of green hydrogen is the price. Investment in technologies that would not emit greenhouse gases during production is expensive. Green hydrogen production still requires more research and development. That can ensure the cost-competitiveness of green hydrogen with hydrogen from fossil sources. Another aspect that is also pointed out in the survey is that the government is not doing enough to promote the hydrogen economy. Appropriate legislation and guidelines with substantial investments are something that the responders wish to be improved.
While there are opportunities to develop a green hydrogen economy soon, there is still a long way to go. The costly investments and market that are not mature enough need further development. The cost of green hydrogen needs to come to a level that is comparable to those of fossil sourced hydrogen. Thus, research and development of new hydrogen technologies will be crucial in the upcoming years.