Brightcon 2026, hackathon and courses

Achieving net-zero targets necessitates large quantities of newly installed renewable energy capacity and sustainable hydrogen production. Since the projected demand of hydrogen and its derivatives in various end use sectors in Europe cannot be produced locally economically, imports from regions with surpluses of renewable energy are likely. New trade routes will emerge, transporting hydrogen and its derivatives across the oceans and requiring end-use specific distribution chains. Ammonia is one promising option as a hydrogen transport vector, shipping fuel and as a product itself.

To date, the python package for prospective Life Cycle Assessment (premise) models hydrogen distribution in a simplified way, with few datasets for pipeline, ship and trailer transport. This contribution implements improved transport models in premise, and presents new life cycle inventory (LCI) datasets for international hydrogen transport with a focus on ammonia shipping and suggested end-use specific distribution. LCI’s are developed individually and are designed to be modular, supporting scenario-dependent parametrization so that transport-related burdens can evolve consistently according to scenario results from various Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs).

A case study demonstrates the differences between environmental impacts quantified with the current generic premise representation of hydrogen transport and the LCIA scores based on the expanded implementation, showcasing the practical relevance of the improved data for evaluation of future international hydrogen value chains.