Building a Sustainable Future: The Role of Hydrogen in Climate Neutrality
Key Ideas
- Hydrogen and its derivatives are crucial for achieving climate neutrality by replacing fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Life cycle assessments (LCAs) help quantify environmental impacts and energy demands of hydrogen technologies.
- Future scenarios and prospective LCAs play a central role in evaluating the environmental sustainability and cost of climate protection measures.
- Fraunhofer ISE conducts comprehensive life cycle assessments using established LCA software and databases to analyze the entire hydrogen process chain.
Hydrogen and its derivatives are essential building blocks in the journey towards climate neutrality as they offer a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, thereby aiding in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Life cycle assessments (LCAs) are pivotal in determining the environmental impacts and energy requirements of hydrogen technologies. Beyond greenhouse gas emissions, LCAs also consider factors like eutrophication and acidification. To accurately assess the environmental sustainability and cost-effectiveness of climate protection measures, future scenarios and prospective LCAs are crucial due to the ongoing transformation towards climate neutrality. Fraunhofer ISE is actively engaged in conducting in-depth life cycle assessments according to ISO standards, focusing on hydrogen and its derivatives like methanol, ammonia, and synthetic fuels. These assessments cover the entire process chain from production to application, with particular emphasis on the energy, industry, and mobility sectors. By utilizing established LCA software and databases, along with specialized tools for prospective LCA, Fraunhofer ISE ensures a comprehensive analysis of the environmental impacts and energy demands of hydrogen technologies.