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Image courtesy of National Grid
4.5.3 HYDROGEN
Hydrogen fuelled vehicle technology is another possible alternative to oil in the long-
term. The standard hydrogen engine converts its chemical energy to mechanical
energy by combustion. Fuel cell vehicles (FCV) generate electricity, by reacting
compressed hydrogen with oxygen, to power an electric motor. Fuel cell vehicles are
classified as electric vehicles and they are considered as a good solution for
applications where zero-emissions are important to the air quality standards.
Hydrogen is typically derived from reformed natural gas. However as previously
commented, hydrogen can also be produced using renewable sources, such as P2G
plants.
7.6 Summary
As shown in this chapter, gas infrastructure should be a key part of a European
energy transition that is sustainable not only from an environmental, but also
from an economical point of view. Sector coupling should be achieved through
the optimal application of all energy systems and a technologically neutral
approach in European regulation is a prerequisite to allow it to reach its full
potential. Equally, for renewable gases to enable efficient energy transition, the
development of a single European CO ² neutral gas market is required.