The study delves into integrating green hydrogen technologies into the Iberian Peninsula's energy transition toward 2030, focusing on impacts and uncertainties. Both Spain and Portugal have national plans aiming to decarbonize critical sectors using renewable energies and green hydrogen.

The research investigates hydrogen's role in buffering excess renewable electricity and substituting fossil fuels in industry and power generation. It aims to understand how Spain and Portugal can achieve decarbonization goals through energy storage and hydrogen integration.

Using an optimization model and Exploratory Modeling and Analysis (EMA), the study addresses the complexity and uncertainty of the Iberian energy system. Data from various sources including the IEA and transmission operators were used.

Findings reveal sensitivity to electrolyzer capacity, influencing green hydrogen production. Despite cost uncertainties, the system aims to minimize costs by installing comparable renewable energy capacity. Renewable source selection is influenced by costs, favoring wind over solar when costs decrease.

Results suggest a tendency to rely more on natural gas than nuclear energy for cost minimization. Robust policy recommendations emphasize adaptive policies to overcome barriers in the energy transition. Green hydrogen promotion is crucial, acting as an energy storage medium and linking electricity and gas markets.

Conclusions highlight the technical and economic viability of hydrogen integration, contingent on appropriate policies and innovation. Continued research and development in hydrogen and energy storage are crucial for a successful transition. ... Read more

Climate change is a very urgent issue for our society. The European Union’s commitment is increasing, as evidenced by the Paris Agreement, and individual nations are also developing strategies to become emission-free within the next few years. This has renewed interest in hydrogen, particularly that produced through electrolysis, as a complement to electrification and as a means to achieve broad economic decarbonisation. Nevertheless, the deployment of green hydrogen faces a significant challenge known as the "chicken-and-egg" threefold coordination problem, which creates a vicious cycle wherein hydrogen supply, demand, and infrastructure developments hinder one another, impeding the formation of a complete value chain. This challenge raises the possibility that only blue hydrogen will be deployed in the medium term. To this end, the main research question we want to address is, “How do hydrogen uncertainties impact the penetration of green hydrogen infrastructure in the 2030 Dutch integrated energy system?”. To answer this main question, we used an exploratory modelling approach applied to the integrated energy system of the Netherlands utilising the Calliope multi-scale energy systems modelling framework. The outcomes of our research encompass various scenarios that pertain to the future integrated energy system of the Netherlands. We devised to examine the impacts of hydrogen uncertainties and specific policies on the integration of green hydrogen infrastructure within the energy system under investigation. Specifically, we formulated these scenarios to account for fluctuations in hydrogen demand, variations in electrolyser capital costs, and the enforcement of a robust policy aimed at prohibiting blue hydrogen production by 2030. The findings derived from the scenario analysis indicate that the realisation of a transition at a sufficient pace to meet the energy objectives set for 2030 can be accomplished through the implementation of robust policies, such as the medium-term ban on blue hydrogen production. Moreover, the study reveals that policies directed towards reducing electrolyser capital costs, as opposed to policies solely focused on stimulating higher hydrogen demand, prove to be more effective in facilitating a swift transition. ... Read more