We present the results of a feasibility study on the production and delivery of hydrogen in Tokyo area, in the early stages of mass roll-out of FCVs. The study compares “distributed” production, based on on-site membrane reformer (MRF) technology, with “central” production, based on central manufacturing (SMR) and liquefaction integrated with an LNG regasification terminal.

We found that in view of delivered cost and total CO₂ emissions the two modes of hydrogen production and delivery perform quite similarly. In both cases the CO₂ emissions over the whole process of production and delivery are around 11.6 kg CO₂ per kg of H₂ while the cost – under specified energy price and financial assumptions – is 5.5- 6 $/kg. But while overall figures are similar, the breakdown of both cost and emissions is very different, leading to different sensitivities to the uncertainties in financial and other premises, and in different strengths and weaknesses. These are discussed in the paper.

For the central production complex, we have considered the possibility to capture 90% of the CO₂ from the SMR flue gas, and the sequestration thereof. Although capturing can decrease the CO₂ emission to 5.4 kg CO2 per kg of H₂ , the sub-surface storage of CO₂ presents a difficult case as a consequence of Japan’s geology. The total carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) cost could add between 1 and 2 $/kg of H₂, depending on the fraction of CO₂ captured and on the method of sequestration.