Role of electricity interconnections and impact of the geographical scale on the French potential of producing hydrogen via electricity surplus by 2035

International audienceRenewable development can be leveraged through a variety of energy carriers. The aim of this paper is to assess the potential of producing low-carbon hydrogen from electricity surplus considering the French case for the timeframe of 2035. The analysis is conducted on a regional basis, in order to investigate the potential locations for electrolyser placements. To do so, it builds on an assessment of the land and ocean eligibility to identify a precise geographic distribution of the renewable energies (photovoltaics, and onshore and offshore wind) across France. The surplus energy is assessed regionally using a dispatch model showing that little energy is actually available to produce hydrogen when only considering the renewable curtailments. Using the nuclear available energy allows to enhance the hydrogen production potential while respecting the low carbon footprint criteria