Browsing by Author "Heinrichs, Heidi"

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Open Access
Global hydrogen and synfuel exchanges in an emission-free energy system
(2023) Lippkau, Felix; Franzmann, David; Addanki, Thushara; Buchenberg, Patrick; Heinrichs, Heidi; Kuhn, Philipp; Hamacher, Thomas; Blesl, Markus
This study investigates the global allocation of hydrogen and synfuels in order to achieve the well below 2 °C, preferably 1.5 °C target set in the Paris Agreement. For this purpose, TIMES Integrated Assessment Model (TIAM), a global energy system model is used. In order to investigate global hydrogen and synfuel flows, cost potential curves are aggregated and implemented into TIAM, as well as demand technologies for the end use sectors. Furthermore, hydrogen and synfuel trades are established using liquid hydrogen transport (LH2), and both new and existing technologies for synfuels are implemented. To represent a wide range of possible future events, four different scenarios are considered with different characteristics of climate and security of supply policies. The results show that in the case of climate policy, the renewable energies need tremendous expansion. The final energy consumption is shifting towards the direct use of electricity, while certain demand technologies (e.g., aviation and international shipping) require hydrogen and synfuels for full decarbonization. Due to different security of supply policies, the global allocation of hydrogen and synfuel production and exports is shifting, while the 1.5 °C target remains feasible in the different climate policy scenarios. Considering climate policy, Middle East Asia is the preferred region for hydrogen export. For synfuel production, several regions are competitive, including Middle East Asia, Mexico, Africa, South America and Australia. In the case of security of supply policies, Middle East Asia is sharing the export volume with Africa, while only minor changes can be seen in the synfuel supply.
Open Access
Global potentials and costs of synfuels via Fischer-Tropsch process
(2023) Buchenberg, Patrick; Addanki, Thushara; Franzmann, David; Winkler, Christoph; Lippkau, Felix; Hamacher, Thomas; Kuhn, Philipp; Heinrichs, Heidi; Blesl, Markus
This paper presents the potentials and costs of synthetic fuels (synfuels) produced by renewable energy via PEM water electrolysis and the subsequent Fischer-Tropsch process for the years 2020, 2030, 2040, and 2050 in selected countries across the globe. The renewable energy potential was determined by the open-source tool pyGRETA and includes photovoltaic, onshore wind, and biomass. Carbon dioxide is obtained from biomass and the atmosphere by direct air capture. The potentials and costs were determined by aggregating minimal cost energy systems for each location on a state level. Each linear energy system was modelled and optimised by the optimisation framework urbs. The analysis focused on decentralised and off-grid synthetic fuels’ production. The transportation costs were roughly estimated based on the distance to the nearest maritime port for export. The distribution infrastructure was not considered since the already-existing infrastructure for fossil fuels can be easily adopted. The results showed that large amounts of synthetic fuels are available for EUR 110/MWh (USD 203/bbl) mainly in Africa, Central and South America, as well as Australia for 2050. This corresponds to a cost reduction of more than half compared to EUR 250/MWh (USD 461/bbl) in 2020. The synfuels’ potentials follow the photovoltaic potentials because of the corresponding low levelised cost of electricity. Batteries are in particular used for photovoltaic-dominant locations, and transportation costs are low compared to production costs.
Open Access
Regional patterns of global industrial energy demands as a foundation for modelling decarbonization pathways
(2025) Kerekeš, Anđelka; Burdack, Arne; Rupakula, Ganesh Deepak; Lippkau, Felix; Heinrichs, Heidi; Kuhn, Philipp; Stolten, Detlef; Linßen, Jochen; Blesl, Markus; Hamacher, Thomas
Decarbonisation of the industry sector is particularly challenging given its huge energy demand and high complexity of its various production processes. Additionally, regional differences in energy demand patterns affect the possible transition pathways. This study assesses energy demands of the five most energy-intensive industries iron and steel, non-ferrous metals, non-metallic minerals, pulp and paper, and chemicals for 2018, the most recent year not affected by the Covid-19 pandemic for 16 exemplary world regions of the TIAM global energy system model. This new approach follows three steps: mapping industrial production quantities, determining theoretical specific energy demands by applying the best available technologies and theoretical minima, and calculating inefficiency of the energy usage based on the International Energy Agency’s energy balances. For the first time, this study provides regional inefficiency factors for the energy-intensive industrial subsectors globally based on a consistent methodology. It diversifies between electricity, different fuels and chemical feedstock demands. The resulting dataset is meant for energy system modellers and decision-makers to analyse industrial energy demand and develop decarbonization strategies.