Sustainable hydrogen roadmap: A holistic review and decision-making methodology for production, utilisation and exportation using Qatar as a case study

Hydrogen is seen as a promising and inevitable energy carrier in the transition towards a carbon-free energy era. This study reviews the potential for carbon-free hydrogen production, utilisation and exportation from the State of Qatar. The study aims to introduce a roadmap for current and future exploration of carbon-free hydrogen production and exportation from Qatar, for which an assessment of several available alternatives for the production of hydrogen in Qatar is performed. These alternatives include the use of natural gas as a feedstock for hydrogen production through steam methane reforming (SMR), solar integrated steam methane reforming with carbon capture, as well as the possibilities for hydrogen production from electrolysis using renewables and ammonia as another intermediate. The potential of each alternative is reviewed based on selected technical, economic and environmental criteria. The findings of this review study indicate that the production and exportation of blue ammonia currently present the best pathway for Qatar, while green hydrogen is expected to become as competitive as blue ammonia in the mid-future. It is widely accepted that as the technologies associated with clean hydrogen production improve, and the cost of renewable energy falls, green hydrogen will become quite competitive in the region. (C) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study reviews the potential for carbon-free hydrogen production, utilisation, and exportation from Qatar, assessing different alternatives including SMR, solar integrated SMR with carbon capture, electrolysis using renewables, and ammonia production. Blue ammonia is currently considered the best option for Qatar, with green hydrogen expected to become competitive in the mid-term as technologies improve and costs decline.