Energy storage for renewable sources: life cycle assessment (LCA) of hydrogen storage
The integration of intermittent renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, into power grids presents a significant challenge for grid stability and reliability. As renewable energy generation becomes more widespread, the need for efficient and scalable energy storage solutions becomes critica...
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| Tipo de recurso: | tesis de maestría |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
| Repositorio: | UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/433305 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2117/433305 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Energy storage Renewable energy sources Lithium ion batteries Underground storage Energia -- Emmagatzematge Energies renovables Bateries d'ió liti Emmagatzematge subterrani Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies |
| Sumario: | The integration of intermittent renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, into power grids presents a significant challenge for grid stability and reliability. As renewable energy generation becomes more widespread, the need for efficient and scalable energy storage solutions becomes critical. This thesis explores emerging energy storage technologies aimed at supporting the large-scale deployment of renewable energy, with a focus on hydrogen storage systems. To address this need, a thorough literature review was conducted to assess each technology’s potential to store and dispatch energy effectively. The study also includes a detailed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a seasonal hydrogen energy storage system, applied to two distinct technological scenarios: (1) Type I pressurized aboveground tank storage, and (2) underground hydrogen storage in depleted oil reservoirs. Both systems are assessed from cradle to gate, considering a functional unit of 1 MWh of electricity delivered back to the grid. Inventory data were obtained from a combination of literature sources, expert consultation, and databases such as Ecoinvent, and environmental impacts were evaluated using the ReCiPe Midpoint (H) methodology. The results show that the environmental burden of hydrogen storage is highly dependent on the electricity source used for hydrogen production, with the electrolysis phase (H₂_From_PEM) emerging as the dominant contributor across all impact categories. Among the two storage alternatives, underground hydrogen storage demonstrated clear environmental advantages, including lower CO₂-eq emissions (60 vs. 91.6 kg/MWh), reduced material requirements, lower land occupation, and greater scalability, making it a promising long-duration storage solution. The findings indicate that Li-ion batteries are currently the most viable option for short- to medium-term renewable energy storage due to their maturity, high efficiency, and adaptability. However, their environmental drawbacks—particularly related to mineral extraction—and limited storage duration emphasize the need for complementary solutions. Hydrogen-based storage, especially in geological formations, emerges as a viable pathway to support seasonal energy balancing and ensure system flexibility in high-renewable scenarios. This thesis provides a framework for evaluating the suitability of storage technologies in renewable energy systems and reinforces the importance of life cycle-based decisionmaking to identify sustainable storage strategies. The research highlights the need for continued investment, supportive policy frameworks, and material innovation to unlock the full potential of hydrogen as a strategic enabler of the energy transition. |
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