Hydrogen Economy

Supply Chain, Life Cycle Analysis and Energy Transition for Sustainability

Antonio Scipioni,Alessandro Manzardo,Jingzheng Ren

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9780128111338
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Energy

Hydrogen Economy: Supply Chain, Life Cycle Analysis and Energy Transition for Sustainability explores the challenges for the transition into a sustainable hydrogen economy. In this book, experts from various academic backgrounds discuss the tools and methodologies for the analysis, planning, design and optimization of hydrogen supply chains. They examine the available technologies for hydrogen production, storage, transport, distribution and energy conversion, providing a cross cutting perspective on their sustainability.

Environmental, social and economic aspects are considered, allowing for a more complete life cycle assessment of the entire supply chain. Methods and frameworks for multi-criteria decision making for the sustainable implementation of hydrogen systems are also covered. Providing a broad overview of the subject and well-recognized tools to manage hydrogen sustainability, this book is a useful resource for engineering researchers and PhD students in energy, environmental and industrial areas, energy economy researchers, practicing hydrogen energy engineers and technicians, energy and environmental consultants, life cycle assessment practitioners and consultants.

• Provides a broad perspective of the issues related to environmental, social and economic sustainability of hydrogen energy and its future perspectives
• Presents the current applied research and available tools for managing and assessing hydrogen energy sustainability, such as LCA, optimization, multi-criteria decision making and supply chain optimization
• Explores how experts in the field handle all issues related to the application of life cycle assessment for hydrogen production, storage, transport, distribution and end use

Chapter 1

The Role of Hydrogen Energy

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats

Jingzheng Ren¹, Suzhao Gao², Hanwei Liang³, Shiyu Tan² and Lichun Dong², ¹The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China, ²Chongqing University, Chongqing, China, ³Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China

Abstract

The objective of this chapter is to analyze the internal and external environment of hydrogen economy in China using Strengths–Weaknesses–Opportunities–Threats analytical method and then to prioritize the strategies for promoting the development of hydrogen economy in China. After the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the hydrogen economy in China were identified and nine effective strategies were proposed, a multicriteria decision-making method by integrating goal programing and fuzzy theory has been developed for prioritizing these strategies, which can help the stakeholders/decision-makers to implement these strategies appropriately. The proposed method is not limited to China, and it is a generic method that can also be used to study the hydrogen economy of other regions.

Keywords

Hydrogen economy; SWOT analysis; multicriteria decision-making; strategy; goal programing

1 Introduction

Hydrogen is widely regarded as a promising energy carrier for decarbonizing road transport, mitigating the emission of harmful gases, and enhancing the security of energy supply; accordingly, hydrogen economy has attracted more and more attention around the world recently (Ajanovic, 2008; Agnolucci and McDowall, 2013; Kontogianni et al., 2013). A variety of governments have published technology roadmaps of hydrogen economy, according to which, the scientists and engineers can closely monitor the scheduled progress of hydrogen technologies (McDowall and Eames, 2006; Stiller et al., 2008; Mcdowall, 2012; Lee, 2013).

Hydrogen economy refers to a proposed system, in which, hydrogen is produced from carbon-dioxide-free sources and is used as an alternative fuel for transport (Liu et al., 2012). As the largest energy consumer in the world with a coal-dominated energy structure, China is also attempting to make a transition to hydrogen economy for a more sustainable future (Zhao and Melaina, 2006; Mao, 2006; Li et al., 2008; Guo et al., 2010; Ma et al., 2010c; FuelCellToday, 2012; Li et al., 2014). While an essential prerequisite for a successful transition is to accurately evaluate the current status of hydrogen economy in China and draw effective strategies for promoting its development, the objective of this study is to identify the key characteristics of hydrogen economy in China and provide strategies for promoting its development.

In the study, strengths–weaknesses–opportunities–threats (SWOT) analytical method is used to analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the hydrogen economy in China. Subsequently, the strategies for promoting its development were proposed by exerting strengths, mitigating weaknesses, exploiting opportunities, and avoiding threats. While the SWOT method does not provide an analytical way to quantify the effectiveness and to prioritize these strategies according to their importance, multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) method has been developed to rank the prior sequence of the strategies. By combining the MCDM and SWOT methods, the stakeholders/decision-makers can make correct decisions by giving top priority to these strategies that have significant effect on the development of hydrogen economy in China.

The remainder of this chapter is structured as follows: section “SWOT Analysis of Hydrogen Economy in China” presents the SWOT analysis method and its application in analyzing the hydrogen economy in China. In section “Strategy Prioritization”, the developed MCDM method was described and used to prioritize the strategies for promoting the development of hydrogen economy in China. Finally, the study was concluded in section “Conclusion”.

2 SWOT Analysis of Hydrogen Eco...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• List of Contributors
• Chapter 1. The Role of Hydrogen Energy: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
• Chapter 2. Introduction of Hydrogen Routines
• Chapter 3. Critical Factors and Cause–Effect Analysis for Enhancing the Sustainability of Hydrogen Supply Chain
• Chapter 4. Design and Optimization of Hydrogen Supply Chains for a Sustainable Future
• Chapter 5. Life Cycle Cost Analysis of Hydrogen Energy Technologies
• Chapter 6. Life Cycle Assessment of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells: A Review
• Chapter 7. Social Life Cycle Assessment of Hydrogen Energy Technologies
• Chapter 8. Comparison of Different Multicriteria Decision-Making Methodologies for Sustainability Decision Making
• Chapter 9. Sustainability Decision Support Framework for the Prioritization of Hydrogen Energy Systems
• Chapter 10. Opportunities and Future Challenges in Hydrogen Economy for Sustainable Development
• Index