Seminar: Opportunities, Risks and Challenges of Hydrogen Economy

Opportunities, risks and challenges of a hydrogen economy

A climate-neutral and sustainable energy system will be based centrally on electricity generation from renewable energies. Wherever it makes sense, electricity can then be used efficiently either directly or, for example, after intermediate storage in batteries. As a second important pillar, however, hydrogen is needed as an energy carrier. Produced from renewable electricity, hydrogen can be used in a variety of CO₂-neutral ways. However, pure hydrogen will only be used in a few places; instead, hydrogen derivatives such as ammonia, methanol, methane or liquid hydrocarbons will be produced. This requires either nitrogen or carbon in addition to hydrogen. The latter will mainly be available as CO2 and also requires complex CO2 management.

In a global hydrogen economy, hydrogen and its derivatives will become freely tradable and transportable energy sources, like gas and oil today. However, the technical transport options and their costs must be taken into account, as these are considerably higher than for gas and oil today.

Hydrogen and its derivatives can then be used in a variety of ways. These include material use, e.g. as a raw material for the chemical industry or for the smelting iron ore, but also energy use, e.g. as an energy carrier with high energy density in aeroplanes or ships and in the electricity sector to secure the power supply in the event of insufficient power generation from wind power and photovoltaic systems.

Based on technical breakthroughs and cost estimates, it will also be discussed where hydrogen and its derivatives will be the central solution and where there are efficient alternatives.

Main topics:

• Hydrogen as part of a climate-neutral and sustainable energy system
• Hydrogen derivates, transport, costs and demand for infrastructure
• Hydrogen use in various applications and comparison with alternatives

Seat Reservation  

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