Development of a reliable cost/benefit analysis tool for hydrogen application in transport

Hydrogen has the great potential in decarbonising transport sector, improve air quality in cities and enhance energy supply security. Hydrogen can be used as compressed gas, liquid or converted to hydrogen derived fuels. Hydrogen vehicles can provide the similar driving range and pattern of refuelling to conventional ICE vehicles, which is an advantage over the pure electric vehicles. It is expected that electrification and hydrogen will be parallel and complementary pathways for future zero carbon transport.

The proposed project will utilise the strengths in the region, i.e. an existing large scale of hydrogen production in the Tees valley, many industrial fleets (road and trains) and a large bus network and a clear determination for decarbonisation in the Leeds city region, to investigate the potential of hydrogen in decarbonisation and improve air quality for the transport sector in the region. The project will conduct cost/benefit analysis and identify key challenges for the transition through some case studies, e.g. fuel options (compressed, liquified hydrogen or hydrogen based fuels), powertrain options (ICE and fuel cell) and fleet suitability (distance, load etc). These case studies will provide valuable data on operability, cost, environmental benefits, skills development and knowledge. The aim is to develop an evidence based model for hydrogen application.

Objectives:
1. Collect information on fleet composition and size, application and owners, vehicle movement and operational pattern, depot locations in the region.
2. Provide thorough assessment of the status of GHG and pollutant emissions from medium to heavy duty vehicles in the region.
3. Determine the scope for hydrogen based transport including fuel options (compressed and liquified hydrogen and hydrogen derived fuels such as methanol and ammonia), powertrain options and associated infrastructure in the region.
4. Determine the implications of hydrogen transport networks for regional emissions and air quality.
5. Develop an evidence based cost/benefit model.
6. Identify most promising pathways to minimise life cycle costs and maximise environmental benefits in the near to long term.
7. Formulate a hydrogen transport transition strategy.

Impacts and benefits to the Non-Academic Users of the Centre include:
- Access to high quality, interdisciplinary R&D support to increase competitiveness
- Cutting edge research with high value for money;
- Access to knowledge and expertise;
- Recruitment from a pool of talented early-career students for future employment, and input into shaping the skill development of those students (engineers and scientists with training in the wider context of sustainability, economics, policy and commercial awareness).
- Technology transfer research;
- Access to a breadth or research facilities and expertise and interdisciplinary teams;
- Consultancy,
- Networking and participating in focussed forums with other technolgogy users and policy makers - sharing experiences;
- Training or secondments of their staff for enhanced knowledge transfer;
- Partnerships in innovation in the sector;
- Access to assessments of technolgoies and innovation with the best chance of a positive impact to society;

Impacts and benefits to Academic users in the fields of [1] Feedstocks, pre-processing and safety; [2] Conversion; [3] Utilisation, emissions and impact; [4] Sustainability and Whole systems, include:
- Access to and collaboration in world-leading, transformative research, which advances knowledge concerning innovative bioenergy technologies, sustainability and social acceptability, and policy mechanisms for acheiving these;
- Development of new collaborations and leaverage of further funding to support their activities;
- Access to knowledge and expertise and networking and dissemination events;
- Research exchange opportunities for mutual benefit and cross-fertilisation of ideas and innovation