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Title: Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of hydrogen fuel production from chlor-alkali processes in the United States

Abstract

By-product hydrogen from chlor-alkali processes can help meet the increasing demand for hydrogen fuel in early fuel cell electric vehicle markets (e.g., California) in the U.S. Hydrogen produced from chlor-alkali plants is typically combusted for process heat on site, vented to the atmosphere (i.e., wasted), or sold to the external merchant hydrogen market. Whether it is combusted, vented, or sold as a commodity, relevant information is lacking as to the life-cycle environmental benefits or trade-offs of using by-product hydrogen from chlor-alkali plants. A life-cycle analysis framework was employed to evaluate well-to-gate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with by-product hydrogen from chlor-alkali processes in comparison with hydrogen from the conventional centralized natural gas steam methane reforming (central SMR) pathway. U.S.-specific, plant-by-plant, and up-to-date chlor-alkali production characteristics were incorporated into the analysis. In addition to the venting and combustion scenarios, to deal with the multi-functionality of the chlor-alkali processes that simultaneously produce chlorine, sodium hydroxide, and hydrogen, two different co-product allocation strategies were adopted mass allocation and market value allocation. It was estimated that by-product hydrogen production from chlor-alkali processes creates 1.3-9.8 kg CO2e/kg H2 of life-cycle GHG emissions on average, which is 20-90% less than the conventional central SMR pathway. Themore » results vary with co-product treatment scenarios, regional electric grid characteristics, on-site power generation, product prices, and hydrogen yield. Despite the variations in the results, it was concluded that the life-cycle GHG emission reduction benefits of using by-product hydrogen from chlor-alkali processes are robust. In conclusion, with a diverse set of scenario analyses, the study developed a comprehensive and detailed life-cycle GHG emissions inventory of the chlor-alkali by-product hydrogen pathway and quantified sensitivity indices in the context of different assumptions and input parameter values.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]
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  1. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Energy Systems Division
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1461466
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-06CH11357
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Applied Energy
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 217; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0306-2619
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
08 HYDROGEN; allocation; by-product hydrogen; chlor-alkali; fuel production pathway; life-cycle analysis; regional electric grid

Citation Formats

Lee, Dong-Yeon, Elgowainy, Amgad, and Dai, Qiang. Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of hydrogen fuel production from chlor-alkali processes in the United States. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.02.132.
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Lee, Dong-Yeon, Elgowainy, Amgad, & Dai, Qiang. Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of hydrogen fuel production from chlor-alkali processes in the United States. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.02.132
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Lee, Dong-Yeon, Elgowainy, Amgad, and Dai, Qiang. Sat . "Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of hydrogen fuel production from chlor-alkali processes in the United States". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.02.132. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1461466.
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@article{osti_1461466,
title = {Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of hydrogen fuel production from chlor-alkali processes in the United States},
author = {Lee, Dong-Yeon and Elgowainy, Amgad and Dai, Qiang},
abstractNote = {By-product hydrogen from chlor-alkali processes can help meet the increasing demand for hydrogen fuel in early fuel cell electric vehicle markets (e.g., California) in the U.S. Hydrogen produced from chlor-alkali plants is typically combusted for process heat on site, vented to the atmosphere (i.e., wasted), or sold to the external merchant hydrogen market. Whether it is combusted, vented, or sold as a commodity, relevant information is lacking as to the life-cycle environmental benefits or trade-offs of using by-product hydrogen from chlor-alkali plants. A life-cycle analysis framework was employed to evaluate well-to-gate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with by-product hydrogen from chlor-alkali processes in comparison with hydrogen from the conventional centralized natural gas steam methane reforming (central SMR) pathway. U.S.-specific, plant-by-plant, and up-to-date chlor-alkali production characteristics were incorporated into the analysis. In addition to the venting and combustion scenarios, to deal with the multi-functionality of the chlor-alkali processes that simultaneously produce chlorine, sodium hydroxide, and hydrogen, two different co-product allocation strategies were adopted mass allocation and market value allocation. It was estimated that by-product hydrogen production from chlor-alkali processes creates 1.3-9.8 kg CO2e/kg H2 of life-cycle GHG emissions on average, which is 20-90% less than the conventional central SMR pathway. The results vary with co-product treatment scenarios, regional electric grid characteristics, on-site power generation, product prices, and hydrogen yield. Despite the variations in the results, it was concluded that the life-cycle GHG emission reduction benefits of using by-product hydrogen from chlor-alkali processes are robust. In conclusion, with a diverse set of scenario analyses, the study developed a comprehensive and detailed life-cycle GHG emissions inventory of the chlor-alkali by-product hydrogen pathway and quantified sensitivity indices in the context of different assumptions and input parameter values.},
doi = {10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.02.132},
journal = {Applied Energy},
number = C,
volume = 217,
place = {United States},
year = {2018},
month = {3}
}
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Journal Article:
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Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.02.132
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Cited by: 8 works
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Figures / Tables:

Figure 1 Figure 1: Geography of by-product hydrogen production capacity of chlor-alkali plants in the U.S., by NERC region. The regions are Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC); Midwest Reliability Organization (MRO); Southwest Power Pool, RE (SPP RE or SPP); Texas Reliability Entity (Texas RE or TRE); SERC Reliability Corporation (SERC); Florida Reliabilitymore » Coordinating Council (FRCC); ReliabilityFirst Corporation (RF or RFC); and Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC). The CHP electricity share within each region, shown in the upper right corner, is based on a weighted average for both CHP and non-CHP facilities. Only three regions (SERC, TRE, and RFC) have chlor-alkali plants equipped with CHP systems.« less
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Works referenced in this record:

Life cycle assessment of wind-based hydrogen production in Western Canada
journal, June 2016

Hydrogen mobility from wind energy – A life cycle assessment focusing on the fuel supply
journal, November 2016

Fuel cell cars in a microgrid for synergies between hydrogen and electricity networks
journal, April 2017

Cleaner chlorine production using oxygen depolarized cathodes? A life cycle assessment
journal, October 2014

Life Cycle Assessment model for the chlor-alkali process: A comprehensive review of resources and available technologies
journal, October 2017

  • Garcia-Herrero, Isabel; Margallo, María; Onandía, Raquel
  • Sustainable Production and Consumption, Vol. 12
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.spc.2017.05.001

Avoiding Co-Product Allocation in Life-Cycle Assessment
journal, June 2000

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      Figures / Tables found in this record:

      Figure 1 (p. 8)figure
      Figure 2 (p. 9)figure
      Figure 3 (p. 11)figure
      Table 1 (p. 12)table
      Figure 4 (p. 14)figure
      Figure 5 (p. 17)figure
      Figure 6 (p. 18)figure
      Figure 7 (p. 21)figure
      Table 2 (p. 23)table
      Figure 8 (p. 24)figure
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