A lifecycle assessment of low-emissions hydrogen production using autothermal reforming and carbon capture and storage
Claudia Buenhombre A * , Colin Crowley A and Jamie Reilly BA
B
Claudia Buenhombre brings over a decade of expertise in environmental engineering and currently serves as a Senior Environment and Sustainability Engineer at Kent PLC. Her extensive experience spans air emissions across South America and Australia, encompassing urban air quality networks as well as emissions estimates for mining and oil and gas sectors. In 2022, Claudia was honoured with the Professor Peter Newman Award for her Outstanding Project and Research Capabilities, awarded by the Curtin School of Design and Built Environment, and she recently graduated with distinction from the Master of Environment and Climate Emergency at Curtin University. |
Colin Crowley is responsible for the delivery of safety and environmental engineering and approval services to clients in the Asia Pacific. Graduating with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Western Australia in 1998, he has 25 years of experience in the energy industry including many leadership roles. Colin has worked on projects ranging from concept through to detailed design throughout Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe including ammonia, hydrogen, LNG, gas plants, offshore platforms, FPSOs, semi-subs, drilling, subsea and pipelines. Colin has specialist expertise on the risk analysis and management, modelling of consequences, implementation of ALARP solutions, workshop facilitation and development of regulator approvals. |
Jamie Reilly is Discipline Head – Environment, Approvals and Sustainability in the APAC region. His diverse range of environmental, approvals, stakeholder engagement and sustainability experience has been gained while working in consulting, operations, project engineering and construction roles in Australia and Southeast Asia. His 30+ years of experience comes from working in the energy, mining and minerals processing, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. Jamie is passionate about supporting his clients to deliver the energy transition, including concept and feasibility studies, compliance, risk management and strategy. He is a Member of EIANZ and in 2023 was elected as EIANZ SEQ Division Secretary. His qualifications include a Degree in Environmental Science and Graduate Diploma in Environmental Engineering. |
Abstract
A substantial and coordinated global effort is required to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Deployment of large-scale clean energy processes that use best available technologies are required. Low-emission or blue hydrogen (H2) is emerging as a key technology for decarbonising hard-to-abate emissions from heavy industry. A case study using a cradle-to-grave greenhouse gas (GHG) lifecycle assessment (LCA) enables the carbon intensity of H2 production to be evaluated, focusing on the benefits of substituting low-emissions H2 for natural gas (NG) as fuel gas at an example operational gas plant. The GHG LCA estimates the predicted carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with H2 produced by autothermal reforming (ATR) technology combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS). This paper conducted a cradle-to-grave LCA using energy and mass allocation methods, which allowed for a comprehensive assessment of emissions across various stages, including extraction, processing, production and the substitution of NG with low-emissions H2 for a typical plant’s electricity generation gas turbines. We examined how different design elements and assumptions can influence carbon intensity. Insights into the potential for ATR technology to achieve substantial CO2 emission reductions in the energy industry are provided. The resulting carbon intensity of energy production from a gas turbine is 5.12 tCO2-eq/TJ when using low-emissions H2, substantially lower compared to 55.08 tCO2-eq/TJ when using conventional natural gas as fuel. This emphasises the significant environmental benefits of this approach Furthermore, the paper identifies key emission sources and highlights opportunities for additional emissions reduction that can be adapted to different H2 production processes.
Keywords: achieving net zero, best available technologies, carbon capture, carbon capture and storage, carbon intensity, emission factor, gas turbines, greenhouse gas, hydrogen, lifecycle assessment, natural gas.
Claudia Buenhombre brings over a decade of expertise in environmental engineering and currently serves as a Senior Environment and Sustainability Engineer at Kent PLC. Her extensive experience spans air emissions across South America and Australia, encompassing urban air quality networks as well as emissions estimates for mining and oil and gas sectors. In 2022, Claudia was honoured with the Professor Peter Newman Award for her Outstanding Project and Research Capabilities, awarded by the Curtin School of Design and Built Environment, and she recently graduated with distinction from the Master of Environment and Climate Emergency at Curtin University. |
Colin Crowley is responsible for the delivery of safety and environmental engineering and approval services to clients in the Asia Pacific. Graduating with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Western Australia in 1998, he has 25 years of experience in the energy industry including many leadership roles. Colin has worked on projects ranging from concept through to detailed design throughout Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe including ammonia, hydrogen, LNG, gas plants, offshore platforms, FPSOs, semi-subs, drilling, subsea and pipelines. Colin has specialist expertise on the risk analysis and management, modelling of consequences, implementation of ALARP solutions, workshop facilitation and development of regulator approvals. |
Jamie Reilly is Discipline Head – Environment, Approvals and Sustainability in the APAC region. His diverse range of environmental, approvals, stakeholder engagement and sustainability experience has been gained while working in consulting, operations, project engineering and construction roles in Australia and Southeast Asia. His 30+ years of experience comes from working in the energy, mining and minerals processing, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. Jamie is passionate about supporting his clients to deliver the energy transition, including concept and feasibility studies, compliance, risk management and strategy. He is a Member of EIANZ and in 2023 was elected as EIANZ SEQ Division Secretary. His qualifications include a Degree in Environmental Science and Graduate Diploma in Environmental Engineering. |
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