Policy analysis for the supply chain business case of hydrogen refueling stations

On the 12th of December, 2015, the United Nations with 196 parties came to an agreement to limit global warming by reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally called ’the Paris Agreement’. In line with this agreement the European Union created the Green deal stating that by 2030 at least 55% of the greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced (in comparison with 1990) and that in 2050 each member state needs to have a net-zero greenhouse gas economy. The mobility sector has increasingly contributed to the European GHG emissions over the past years and are currently responsible for 25% of these emissions. Therefore, a clear goal was set for the mobility sector to reduce the GHG emissions by 90% by 2050. Hydrogen could play a key role in achieving the objectives of the European Green deal within the mobility sector. However, it is imperative that production of this fuel is sustainable with low or zero emissions. In addition to hydrogen as a fuel, other means are available for the mobility sector to reduce their GHG emissions. Electricity, bio-fuels and synthetic fuels are as well able to reduce environmental pollution assuming these fuels are produced renewably. Whether each of these four fuel types is sustainable depends on the production process. For production of low carbon hydrogen, two production processes dominate in literature as well as in national policy strategies. These processes include hydrogen production through electrolysis of water powered by renewable energy sources (RES) and through reforming natural gas combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS). In addition to technical innovation of sustainable fuels, the set goals for reduction of GHG emissions require appropriate (inter)national policy. European and national policies on hydrogen fuels should cover investments, regulation, market creation, and research and innovation. The Netherlands has created a national hydrogen strategy that would aid in reducing the GHG emissions through applications in the mobility sector, the industry sector, heat production and agriculture. Because the mobility sector was responsible for 19% of the GHG emissions in the Netherlands in2019, this research focuses on the hydrogen application in that specific sector with the aim to provide an answer to the following research question: What recommendations can be provided to obtain a feasible business case for the supply chain of a hydrogen refueling station with low carbon hydrogen in the Netherlands? To provide an answer to the main research question, three sub-questions are drafted. These questions are as follows:1. What are the relevant Dutch policies regarding the supply chain of hydrogen for the mobility sector and how do these compare to the policies in Germany and Japan?2. How do the supply chains with tube-trailer road delivery and a dedicated hydrogen pipeline infrastructure compare with each other on the equivalent annual costs and institutions?3. What uncertainties can be identified that influence the development of these two hydrogen supply chains?...Complex Systems Engineering and Management (CoSEM