German researchers say retrofitting gas grids for hydrogen, combined with expanding the electricity grid, could decarbonize Europe’s economy, while global ammonia trade could grow nearly 10-fold by 2050, according to S&P.
Technische Universität Berlin A hydrogen network linking areas with low-cost renewable potential to demand centers, electric fuel production and cave storage in Europe could reduce system costs by up to 26 billion euros ($29.2 billion) a year, according to researchers. “The existence of a new hydrogen network can reduce system costs by up to 3.4 percent,” the researchers wrote. They say that 64-69 percent of the hydrogen network could reuse gas pipelines, and that expanding both the hydrogen network and the electricity network would help achieve zero-emissions goals and cut costs by 9.9 percent, or €72 billion a year.
