Hydrogen in the future Finnish transportation sector

Abstract

This thesis aimed to investigate the potential for the utilization of hydrogen and its derivatives, methanol and ammonia, as a fuel in the Finnish transportation sector. The thesis was carried out as a literature review, including calculations based on statistical data and technological parameters. Hydrogen as a fuel is a current topic in terms of emissions from transportation and carbon neutrality goals. Reducing emissions from transportation is essential to achieve the carbon neutrality goals of the EU and Finland. Green hydrogen produced in an emission-free manner is a viable alternative to replacing fossil fuels, especially in difficult-to-electrify sectors. However, hydrogen technologies and infrastructure still need to be developed before the wider use of hydrogen as a fuel is possible.

Based on selected case studies from California, Germany, Denmark, and Australia, it was assessed how hydrogen and its derivatives could be utilized in the Finnish transportation sector and on what scale they could be implemented by 2050. The use of hydrogen as fuel in Finland in the future is likely, although planning for its use is only at its early stages. There are also good opportunities for utilizing methanol as fuel for vessels and for using ammonia as a storage medium for hydrogen. Nevertheless, for this to happen, new infrastructure and technologies for storage, transportation and distribution are needed. The scale of hydrogen use in the Finnish transportation sector was estimated based on the German case study and related statistics. If hydrogen use were to develop on the same scale as in Germany, the number of hydrogen-powered vehicles would be around 108 cars, 9 trucks and 30 buses. The share of hydrogen-powered vehicles would therefore be very small. However, this could still have a positive impact on reducing traffic emissions.