Implementation of hydrogen storage and distribution in the Finnish energy system

Abstract

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and produces only steam water among combustion. This gives it the power to decarbonize the current energy system by being used in highly emitting sectors or where electricity cannot be used directly. The decarbonization will be complete only if the hydrogen itself is produced with renewable energy, which is also the energy source society is leaning towards to today. As hydrogen storage is possible on the long-term, it enables to balance renewable energy production fluctuations. The focus of this work is put on hydrogen storage and distribution in Finland. The country presents great dispositions to be one of the leaders in a European hydrogen economy. Based on the Finnish electricity production and consumption of 2022, the monthly need for storage is evaluated at 3200 GWh per month. To answer this need at least 10 LRC facilities would be necessary, completed by daily to weekly storage with GH2, LH2 and LOHC based hydrogen storage. These latter would also be used for road transportation, completing a hydrogen pipeline network, the most cost effective and least emitting option for hydrogen transport on small to long distances and for large quantities. Ammonia would be the best candidate for overseas transport. The investment for hydrogen storage and distribution would be of at least 20.1 B€. More data is needed to estimate the costs of GH2, LH2, LOHC and ammonia linked hydrogen storage and distribution on a national scale. The storage and distribution structure presented here is an example and is susceptible to change in the coming years with the development of new hydrogen technologies with better performances and higher safety. Those technologies are mostly material-based and present high hydrogen uptakes. Metal hydrides and carbon nanostructures are among them.