Opportunities for Power-to-Hydrogen in CO2-reduced Energy Scenarios: the Italian Case

Integration of renewable energy in the electricity market poses significant challenges on power grid management due to the volatility of these sources. In fact, the mismatch between renewable energy power generation and load curves, along with the need for grid stability, may lead to substantial curtailment when potential power generation exceeds electricity demand. In this respect, the surplus from renewable energies can be exploited to produce hydrogen via electrolysis. This concept is referred to as “Power-to-Gas”, often further categorized as “Power-to-Hydrogen”, and is rapidly emerging as a promising measure in support of a renewable energy penetration that allows the decarbonisation of energy generation without affecting grid reliability. This study evaluates the impact of Power-to-Hydrogen systems on future CO2-reduced scenarios, characterized by increasing shares of renewable energies and electric vehicles. Results assess the synergy between power-to-hydrogen technology, renewable energy penetration and sustainable mobility in terms of CO2 emissions, curtailments and costs.