Global assessment of hydrogen production from the electrical grid aiming the Brazilian transportation sector

Abstract

This study analyzes Brazil's potential to produce green hydrogen from the grid, which is more than 85 % renewable, as well as its applicability as an energy vector within the transportation sector. The goal is to provide a novel global and unbiased technical, economic, and environmental assessment of grid-produced hydrogen for light and heavy vehicles in Brazil, i.e., cars and trucks, respectively. For reference purposes, the results for hydrogen are compared with the results for conventionally powered vehicles, i.e., electric- and fossil fuel-based. The results indicate that if Paraná state used all renewable energy generated in 2021 to produce hydrogen by electrolysis (22 GW of hydropower installed capacity), the amount produced would power its truck fleet (i.e., 134 ton/h or 1.17 Mton/year of hydrogen). The largest hydrogen demand comes from São Paulo state, which would have a deficit larger than 500 ton/h or 4.38 Mton/year of hydrogen. Furthermore, the 20-year total cost of ownership of a fuel cell powered vehicle is approximately 150 % higher than that of a gasoline or electric vehicle. Hence, currently, a hydrogen powered transportation sector is arguably challenging for the average Brazilian user. However, the entire truck and car fleets conversion would reduce by roughly 80 % the CO₂ emissions when compared with fossil fuel powered fleets.