Workshop — Paris, France

Hydrogen Roadmap Workshop

Background

Hydrogen is a flexible energy carrier with potential applications across all end‐use sectors. It is one of only a few possible near‐zero emission energy carriers along with electricity and biofuels. It could play an important role in a low‐carbon road transport system, as fuel‐cell electric vehicles (FCEV) are a logical low‐carbon solution for a range of vehicle types, such as longer‐range cars and trucks. It could furthermore be deployed in buildings and increasingly used in industry. Low‐carbon hydrogen from renewable sources of energy or fossil fuels in combination with carbon capture and storage (CCS) can be mixed with natural gas for use in conventional heating and power applications. In the long run, industrial processes such as the production of steel or chemicals could be substantially decarbonised through the use of hydrogen. In buildings, micro co‐generation units with hydrogen fuel cells could be an important application.

In addition, large‐scale hydrogen energy storage could help enable high levels of variable renewable energy deployment in the future. As costs decrease and technology matures, the potential of hydrogen to provide temporal decoupling of electricity supply and demand on minute‐by‐minute to weekly time scales could provide the flexibility needed to maximise the integration of variable renewable sources of energy.

However, hydrogen technology faces significant barriers and suffers from a nearly complete lack of infrastructure. Fuel cells are still expensive and do not show the lifetime required for large scale commercial application, in vehicles on‐board hydrogen storage is still a concern. Moreover, the construction of an entire hydrogen transmission and delivery infrastructure will require major investments and concerted action among all potential stakeholders. This includes the refining/gas producing/chemical industry, natural gas grid operators, power providers, car manufacturers, station owners and municipalities, and will need strong government support.

The scope of the roadmap is to further investigate what action needs to be taken on a national and regional level to address technological challenges and to overcome institutional barriers if hydrogen is to be deployed on a larger scale. A special focus will be given to the transmission, distribution and retail infrastructure for hydrogen.

Agenda 

DAY 1

Opening remarks, Didier Houssin, Director SPT (IEA)

IEA roadmap approach and objectives of the H2 roadmap, Cecilia Tam (IEA)

Roadmap scope discussion - Focus on technology I

Roadmap scope discussion - Focus on technology II

Presentations on analytical approach, Alex Körner (IEA)

Sectoral breakouts

Roadmap scope discussion - Focus on market and policies under regionally different pre-conditions

Prioritization of roadmap topics:

  • Identification of market options and market barriers
  • Identification of policy levers, discussion of possible mechanisms
  • Technology diffusion/transfer and international collaboration needs

Messaging session

Roundtable discussion, proposed topics:

  • How to avoid stretched expectations
  • From technologic detail to high level messages – expectations, proposals

DAY 2

Session 1
System integration panel : What if – approaches to system integration
Moderator: Jean François Gagné, Head ETP (IEA)

Session 2
Infrastructure panel: How to overcome Chicken and Egg?
Moderator: Jean François Gagné, Head ETP (IEA)

Session 3
Policy panel: Industry and policy makers – expectations and requirements
Moderator: Cecilia Tam, Unit Head EDT (IEA)

Session 4
Market panel: Market options and challenges
Moderator: Cecilia Tam, Unit Head EDT (IEA)


Related links:

North America Hydrogen Technology Roadmap Workshop (28 - 29 January 2014)
Asia Hydrogen Technology Roadmap Workshop (26 - 27 June 2014)

 

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