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Beyond carbon? Assessing the carbon lock-in risk of hydrogen projects in northern Germany

Henkel, Nastassja Celine LU (2024) In Master Thesis in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20241
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Hydrogen could play a crucial role in decarbonizing no-regret sectors, such as the steel or chemical industry. It can be produced in different ways, e.g., with renewable energy (green hydrogen) or fossil gas and Carbon Capture and Storage (blue hydrogen). Blue hydrogen could pose a risk of perpetuating fossil fuel dependence. Guided by the carbon lock-in theory, I analyzed the northern German hydrogen economy and the initiative HY-5 with the methods of document content analysis and semi-structured interviews. My findings show a clear risk that blue hydrogen locks in fossil fuels. However, green hydrogen will be an essential puzzle piece in reaching German climate targets. We must be careful not to rely on CCS for longer than intended and... (More)
Hydrogen could play a crucial role in decarbonizing no-regret sectors, such as the steel or chemical industry. It can be produced in different ways, e.g., with renewable energy (green hydrogen) or fossil gas and Carbon Capture and Storage (blue hydrogen). Blue hydrogen could pose a risk of perpetuating fossil fuel dependence. Guided by the carbon lock-in theory, I analyzed the northern German hydrogen economy and the initiative HY-5 with the methods of document content analysis and semi-structured interviews. My findings show a clear risk that blue hydrogen locks in fossil fuels. However, green hydrogen will be an essential puzzle piece in reaching German climate targets. We must be careful not to rely on CCS for longer than intended and not to see hydrogen as the silver bullet. Further research is crucial as the development of hydrogen is accelerating. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Henkel, Nastassja Celine LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Hydrogen, CCS, Fossil Fuel Lock-in, Energiewende, Sustainability Science
publication/series
Master Thesis in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2024:022
language
English
id
9154906
date added to LUP
2024-05-29 07:42:46
date last changed
2024-05-29 07:42:46
@misc{9154906,
  abstract     = {{Hydrogen could play a crucial role in decarbonizing no-regret sectors, such as the steel or chemical industry. It can be produced in different ways, e.g., with renewable energy (green hydrogen) or fossil gas and Carbon Capture and Storage (blue hydrogen). Blue hydrogen could pose a risk of perpetuating fossil fuel dependence. Guided by the carbon lock-in theory, I analyzed the northern German hydrogen economy and the initiative HY-5 with the methods of document content analysis and semi-structured interviews. My findings show a clear risk that blue hydrogen locks in fossil fuels. However, green hydrogen will be an essential puzzle piece in reaching German climate targets. We must be careful not to rely on CCS for longer than intended and not to see hydrogen as the silver bullet. Further research is crucial as the development of hydrogen is accelerating.}},
  author       = {{Henkel, Nastassja Celine}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Beyond carbon? Assessing the carbon lock-in risk of hydrogen projects in northern Germany}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}