A UK foresight study of materials in decarbonisation technologies : the case of electrolysers

Zils, M.; Einarsson, S.; Hopkinson, P.. 2024 A UK foresight study of materials in decarbonisation technologies : the case of electrolysers. Nottingham, UK, British Geological Survey, 55pp. (CR/24/149N) (Unpublished)

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Abstract/Summary

The UK Hydrogen Strategy highlights the critical role of hydrogen in the UK’s net zero transition and sets out the ambition to have installed 5 GW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 (BEIS, 2021). Beyond this, the UK National Grid Future Energy Scenarios (FES) forecast the annual demand for hydrogen in society may increase from currently close to zero to 446 TWh in 2050 in a ‘System transformation’ scenario, or 242 TWh in a ‘Leading the way’ scenario. The latter scenario assumes the highest proportion of green (electrolytic) hydrogen in the hydrogen mix, with 177 TWh annual demand of green hydrogen produced with electrolysis (National Grid, 2023a, b). Achieving these ambitions will require a major scaling up of hydrogen production and decisions about different production methods. Hydrogen can be produced in different ways, but all methods require the input of either primary or secondary energy (fossil fuels, biomass or electricity) to drive a conversion process to generate hydrogen (Figure 1) (Shell & Wuppertal Institut, 2017). Electrolysis is the process of using electricity to break down water into hydrogen and oxygen. As the proportion of renewable electricity sources in energy supply increases, electrolysis offers an attractive approach to convert surplus electricity and water to low-carbon hydrogen (also referred to as ‘green hydrogen’). This can then either be used directly or stored and subsequently converted to other types of energy carrier, thus offering different utilisation pathways (Shell & Wuppertal Institut, 2017).

Item Type:	Publication - Report
Funders/Sponsors:	British Geological Survey, Department for Business & Trade, University of Exeter
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	This item has been internally reviewed, but not externally peer-reviewed.
Date made live:	21 May 2025 14:03 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/539480

Item Type:

Publication - Report

Funders/Sponsors:

British Geological Survey, Department for Business & Trade, University of Exeter

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

This item has been internally reviewed, but not externally peer-reviewed.

Date made live:

21 May 2025 14:03 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/539480