Travail de fin d'études et stage[BR]- Travail de fin d'études : Decarbonizing Western Europe: an optimal Integration of Renewable Fuels and Hydrogen Networks in Transitioning to Net Zero Emissions[BR]- Stage d'insertion professionnelle : ULiège

Abstract

Recent developments in the European Union's energy strategy have highlighted the significance of renewable fuels for the sustainability of the continent's energy system. However, their diverse production methods and end-use possibilities, along with untapped cross-sectoral synergies, call for energy modeling to identify optimal pathways for renewable fuel production and utilization. With hydrogen emerging as a foundational energy vector for these fuels, and recognizing the critical role of energy interconnections in Europe, a hydrogen network has the potential to be a powerful tool in a decarbonized energy system. To comprehend the complex mechanisms driving the energy transition, we analyze the potential roles of each renewable fuel and hydrogen interconnections as we increase CO2 emission restrictions. This study encompasses the electricity, buildings, transport, agriculture, and industry sectors across Western Europe, employing an hourly time resolution to fully capture the potential of those fuels within a system with high shares of renewables. The analysis employs the EnergyScope MultiCell model, which enables integrated optimization of the energy system, spanning from resource utilization to the selection of end-use technologies. The findings reveal that while renewable fuels entail a substantial increase in system costs, they prove effective in reducing the final 20% of emissions, using 1990 emission levels as a reference. Furthermore, they empower Western Europe to achieve self-sufficiency, even without negative CO2 technologies. As hydrogen production reaches 3300 TWh, a hydrogen network facilitates the energy transition by reducing its costs by 14.5% (60 b€/year). Despite this, gas infrastructures remain valuable assets, with only 45% of hydrogen interconnections being retrofitted gas pipelines, underscoring their importance for renewable gas exchanges.