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IPCC report: Hydrogen is a tool for climate protection

Not 1.5 degrees Celsius, not 2 degrees Celsius - previous ambitions to limit global warming are leading us to a world with a 3.2 degree Celsius increase in the global mean temperature in 2100. This is the dramatic conclusion of the recently published third part of the sixth IPCC report. In this part, researchers from all over the world look in particular at ways of limiting global warming and its dramatic consequences.

The report names climate-friendly hydrogen as one of the key tools in Chapter 1. Hydrogen in industrial processes in steel production is treated as an example of possible measures. At the same time, the provision of a hydrogen infrastructure is seen as a challenge, for which a transitional technology openness is recommended for the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy.[1]

The resulting costs of decarbonization depend on the policy, design and implementation of the transition to an emission-free future. In particular, the availability of technologies plays a decisive role in the speed and cost-effectiveness. Scientific advances in biofuels, synthetic fuels and hydrogen have led to an economic improvement in "net zero energy systems"[2]. Integrated overall system approaches reduce the costs of such a transition.

According to the report, sector coupling plays a decisive role in achieving this necessary system flexibility, as it can apply advanced technologies in a targeted manner in an overall system. At the same time, hydrogen production processes and hydrogen storage could increase the resilience of energy systems. With an overall system perspective, integrated planning could support both short-term operation and long-term investment decisions. The report shows that the corresponding infrastructure could then be covered from the local to the national and international level, while meeting the requirements for security of supply.[3]

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is responsible for constantly revising the scientific findings on climate change. Reports have been published since 1990 and numerous researchers have been working on them.[4] The sixth Assessment Report consists of four parts. The first volume was published in August 2021, the second part in February 2022 and the third part on climate protection in April 2022. The fourth volume is expected to be published as a synthesis report in September 2022.

The entire report can be read here: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-working-group-3/

[1] https://report.ipcc.ch/ar6wg3/pdf/IPCC_AR6_WGIII_FinalDraft_FullReport.pdf (page 231 in Adobe View, page 1-25 of Chapter 1 in the full report)

[2] https://report.ipcc.ch/ar6wg3/pdf/IPCC_AR6_WGIII_FinalDraft_FullReport.pdf (page 948 in Adobe View, page 6-5 of Chapter 6 of the full report)

[3] https://report.ipcc.ch/ar6wg3/pdf/IPCC_AR6_WGIII_FinalDraft_FullReport.pdf, page 992 in Adobe View, page 6-49 in Chapter 6 of the full report

[4] https://www.zeit.de/wissen/umwelt/2022-04/ipcc-bericht-klimaschutz-1-5-grad/komplettansicht