Hydrogen is a central pillar of energy transformation required to limit global warming to two degrees. Decarbonization is an element of that transformation, which focuses primarily on the decarbonization of motor transport, particularly individual transport (passenger cars).
In this case, the use of electric vehicles equipped with hydrogen fuel cells (FCEVs) is taken into consideration.
In countries such as in particular Japan and the US, but also China, France, South Korea and Germany, FCEVs and hydrogen refuelling stations are presently used. Those countries are of crucial importance in the scope discussed in this article. Those countries have also adopted implementation plans, i.e. the so-called NIP for the development of hydrogenization. The construction and the operation of HRS in respective countries are essential for the development of hydrogenization of motor transport in those countries. The article discussed the issues as mentioned earlier in those countries and also worldwide to illustrate the development of hydrogenization of motor transport, both light and heavy transport.
While hydrogen is produced in Poland for industrial purposes (in the quantity of c.a. 1 million tons annually), to be used for powering hydrogen fuel cells it needs to be purified, for example with the expensive PSA technology (not applied on a broader scale). What is also important is that because of CO2 emissions, it needs to be green hydrogen derived from renewable energy sources.
The hydrogenization of motor transport practically does not exist in Poland at present. Also, there is no National Implementation Plan. For this reason, in Poland developed under HIT-2-Corridors European Project: Circumstances of the national plan for hydrogenization of road transport in Poland. It is a multi-state methodology allowing for determining locations of base HRS in Poland along TENT-T roads by 2030. Analyses also included the development of HRS infrastructure in Poland by 2050 and related economical, and ecological effects.