BACKGROUND FOR THE USE OF HYDROGEN IN UKRAINE IN THE ENERGY AND AUTOMOTIVE SECTORS

Abstract

Based on the global trends, the article substantiates the place of hydrogen and hydrogen technologies in the further decarbonisation of the energy sector and road transport in Ukraine. The variety of methods of production, transportation and storage, and the use of hydrogen of different purity require complex trade-offs between the cost of the technology and the amount of possible emissions of harmful substances into the environment at all related stages of application of these technologies. Hydrogen fuels and hydrogen technologies should be positioned as one of the areas of energy transition of economic sectors to decarbonisation, which will lead to the development of climate-neutral technologies. Traditional reciprocating internal combustion engines (ICE) can be upgraded to run on purely hydrogen fuel, but this requires the use of new materials due to the high specific energy intensity of hydrogen. The combustion of hydrogen in ICE combustion chambers is hindered by nitrogen oxide (NOX) emission restrictions. A possible option is to use a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas or to upgrade dual-fuel internal combustion engines. This is the most realistic option for Ukraine at this point. In light of the decarbonisation process, the main advantage of fuel cells (FC) is the absence of hydrocarbon combustion and, accordingly, the ability to reduce air pollution with the greenhouse gas CO2. Existing FC can operate not only on hydrogen but also on natural gas. In the energy sector, hydrogen technologies compete not with traditional methods of generating heat and electricity, but with bioenergy, heat pumps, and technologies for capturing and storing carbon and its oxides. In the automotive sector, hydrogen technologies compete with liquid and gaseous biofuels, electric vehicles and hybrids with internal combustion engines and batteries. The potential application of hydrogen technologies for decarbonisation processes will only be unlocked once a hydrogen market and the relevant infrastructure are in place. The segment and price of hydrogen technologies depend on by the method of production process chosen, as well as the infrastructure components, including storage, transportation and fuelling stations. The safe operation and implementation of hydrogen technologies in Ukraine requires qualified engineering staff. The training of such specialists for the energy and transport sectors can be taken on by universities by universities in the speciality 142 – energy engineering.