Carbon capture and storage: A possible bridge to a future hydrogen infrastructure for Germany?

For a conceivable fossil-fuelled electricity production strategy with CO2 capture, the location of available storage options could play a key role for plant siting, as additional CO2 transport infrastructure might be required in some configurations. The possible spatial separation of electricity generation and centralised fossil hydrogen production with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) allows an additional degree of freedom in the system in enabling the transport of hydrogen instead of electricity.This paper analyses energy conversion and transport tasks associated with the plant locations offered by this enhanced scheme. By considering various scenarios for Germany, we describe different gasification/reforming options with CO2 capture and estimate their cost, including required new infrastructures.The results point out that moderate additional costs could allow the implementation of a first level hydrogen transport infrastructure instead of building a CO2 transportation network. This could be a smooth way to finance and facilitate the transition to a future larger hydrogen-based energy system. On the long term, this infrastructure would be in place for the transport of non-fossil hydrogen.

► CCS in Germany might imply transporting CO2, electricity or alternatively H2.
► We compare 3 plant location scenarios to supply a German city with electricity.
► Financing a H2 transport pipeline increases the cost of electricity by max. 20%.