Environmental technologies - Low polluting technologies

Title

Emission scenarios for a global hydrogen economy and the consequences for global air pollution

Reference

Global Environmental Change
Volume 21, Issue 3, August 2011, Pages 983-994
Symposium on Social Theory and the Environment in the New World (dis)Order

Author(s)

Bas van Ruijven,, Jean-Francois Lamarque, Detlef P. van Vuuren, Tom Kram, Hans Eerens

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Hydrogen is named as possible energy carrier for future energy systems. However, the impact of large-scale hydrogen use on the atmosphere is uncertain. Application of hydrogen in clean fuel cells reduces emissions of air pollutants, but emissions from hydrogen production and leakages of molecular hydrogen could influence atmospheric chemistry. This paper combines a global energy system model and a global atmospheric model to explore the range of impacts of hydrogen on atmospheric chemistry. We found that emissions of molecular hydrogen may range from 0.2 up to 10% (or 25-167 Tg hydrogen/yr) for a global hydrogen energy system. The lower end of this range would in fact be equal to current emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Hydrogen energy use leads to a clear decrease in emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide, but large-scale hydrogen production from coal may lead to net increase in emissions of nitrous oxide and volatile organic compound. Compared to a reference scenario, this would lead to positive impacts on surface concentrations of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and ozone. However, if hydrogen leakage would not be minimised it leads to an increase in methane lifetimes and a decrease in stratospheric ozone concentrations.

Policy theme(s)

Air pollution >> Source of emissions >> Transport emissions
Air pollution >> Impact of emissions >> Climate change impacts
Environmental technologies >> Climate change mitigation >> Low carbon technologies
Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Low polluting technologies

Keywords:

Hydrogen energy; Atmospheric chemistry; Molecular hydrogen emissions; Stratospheric ozone; Air polluting emissions

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

View this study at:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378011000409
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Contact the study author at:

bas.vanruijven@pbl.nl

Title

Life Cycle Environmental Assessment of Lithium-Ion and Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries for Plug-In Hybrid and Battery Electric Vehicles

Reference

Environmental Science & Technology, 2011; : 110420102855020 DOI: 10.1021/es103607c

Author(s)

Guillaume Majeau-Bettez, Troy R. Hawkins, Anders Hammer Strømman

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

This study presents the life cycle assessment (LCA) of three batteries for plug-in hybrid and full performance battery electric vehicles. A transparent life cycle inventory (LCI) was compiled in a component-wise manner for nickel metal hydride (NiMH), nickel cobalt manganese lithium-ion (NCM), and iron phosphate lithium-ion (LFP) batteries. The battery systems were investigated with a functional unit based on energy storage, and environmental impacts were analyzed using midpoint indicators. On a per-storage basis, the NiMH technology was found to have the highest environmental impact, followed by NCM and then LFP, for all categories considered except ozone depletion potential. We found higher life cycle global warming emissions than have been previously reported. Detailed contribution and structural path analyses allowed for the identification of the different processes and value-chains most directly responsible for these emissions. This article contributes a public and detailed inventory, which can be easily be adapted to any powertrain, along with readily usable environmental performance assessments.

Policy theme(s)

Environmental technologies >> Climate change mitigation >> Low carbon and renewable energy
Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Low polluting technologies
Sustainable mobility >> Green transport technologies >> Electric vehicles

Keywords

N/A

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

View this study at:

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es103607c
There is a fee to view this study in full

Contact the study author at:

guillaume.majeau-bettez@ntnu.no