CNESS online seminar on hydrogen, ammonia & decarbonization with Dr. Jordan Carlson

September 12, 2023 (Tuesday), at 10.15-11:30 (TEAMS)

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Tuni´s research platform on Climate Neutral Energy Systems and Society invites everyone to join its online seminar on hydrogen, ammonia & decarbonization held by guest researcher Dr. Jordan Carlson. Dr. Jordan Carlson is a JSPS International Postdoctoral Fellow at the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan. During his visit to Tampere University and CNESS, he will present his paper ‘A framework for considering novel decarbonisation risks for hydrogen and ammonia energy supply chains in first-mover markets’. After his presentation, there will be a Q&A and discussion session.

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Abstract: Hydrogen and ammonia have been touted as low-carbon fuels with potential to accelerate decarbonisation in major economies. Yet nearly all hydrogen currently produced is from fossil fuels, and nearly all ammonia produced is made with this same hydrogen. Major economies including Japan, Korea, and Germany have announced intentions to use either blue (fossil fuels with carbon capture) or green hydrogen (produced through renewably-powered electrolysis), with the same colour classifications applied to ammonia.

Despite government interest, neither blue nor green hydrogen or ammonia are necessarily low in carbon emissions, nor do they yet make up a significant part of global production (<1%). As neither yet exists at scaling, investments intended to grow either blue or green hydrogen production pose risks to achieving decarbonisation goals if not carefully implemented. Ongoing research on technical and economic challenges in implementing hydrogen technologies has taken for granted that hydrogen and ammonia will contribute to decarbonisation goals. There is a little understanding of the risks of betting on immature hydrogen and ammonia technologies as core tenants of national decarbonisation strategies. Not accounting for such risks could significantly compromise the climate benefits these plans are designed to achieve.

This paper, therefore, presents a framework for assessing the decarbonisation risks of different hydrogen and ammonia production pathways and end uses. We define “decarbonisation risks” as any vulnerability, uncertainty, disruption, or hazard presented by a proposed technology, resource, or end use to national-scale decarbonisation efforts. We conduct an integrative literature review using SCOPUS from 2018-2022, identifying twenty risks in five categories (political, economic, social, technical, and environmental) with relevance to the realisation of ammonia and hydrogen supply chains into an analytical framework. The reinforcing nature of these risks is a problem for achieving decarbonisation, as no risk is likely to appear in isolation. 

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Dr. Jordan Carlson bio: My current research is on the decarbonisation implications of different proposed hydrogen (including ammonia) supply pathways for Japan’s future energy mix. The early phases of this research have focused on developing a framework for understanding the risks posed to successful energy system decarbonisation from hydrogen produced from different primary energy sources. Applications of this framework to case study countries will help to understand the viability of long-term hydrogen use for decarbonisation in priority areas of the energy system. I completed my degrees in his homeland, Canada, with a BSc in physics (University of Northern British Columbia), a Masters in Environmental Studies (Dalhousie University), and a PhD in Geography (Queen’s University). My past research has investigated tidal energy development policy in Nova Scotia, as well as the potential for tidal and other renewable energy technologies to contribute to energy transitions in off-grid communities in the Inuit lands of Nunatsiavut. As an energy geographer, I take a holistic approach to considering energy and sustainability issues to consider pathways towards societal decarbonisation and energy transitions.