Potential environmental life cycle impacts of fuel cell electric vehicles powered by hydrogen produced from polish coke oven gas

Abstract

This study analysed the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles'(FCEVs') life cycles. These included models running on hydrogen derived from coke oven gas (COG), which is a by-product of the coking process of coal and includes hydrogen, methane, and other gases. FCEVs and hydrogen have the potential to drive future mobility. Hydrogen can be separated from the COG in the process of pressure swing adsorption to obtain a purity of hydrogen that meets the requirements of a hydrogen FCEV. An environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of FCEV powered by hydrogen produced from Polish COG was conducted. The direction of hydrogen production strategies in Poland was also presented. The analyses included the entire life cycle of FCEVs with the production of hydrogen from COG in a Polish coke plant. A comparative analysis of FCEVs and other alternative fuels was conducted, and the main determinants of GHG emissions of FCEV were given. Importantly, this is the first attempt at an environmental assessment of FCEVs in Poland.