Regional Hydrogen Market Development Based on the Natural Gas Market Experience
Green hydrogen; New market development; Natural gas.
Fossil fuels and coal contributed to industrialization. However, one of the main negative impacts was the increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which led the international community to take steps to seek alternatives, including renewable energy. Green hydrogen emerges as a promising alternative with zero greenhouse gas emissions as a complement to renewable energy. Considering that hydrogen shares similarities with natural gas in its end use, transportation, and packaging, the recent market penetration of natural gas can provide lessons for future hydrogen relationships and commercial transactions. This study aims to propose guidelines and best practices for the development of the regional green hydrogen market, based on the experience of the natural gas market. The research process consisted of four stages. Stage 1 considered theoretical research on the gas market, hydrogen production, natural gas use, and potential challenges in replacing fossil fuels, as well as the challenges of developing a new market. Stage 2 conducted a case study of the development of the natural gas market in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Stage 3 included structuring the guidelines, and Stage 4 included validation through a focus group. The result was a set of five dimensions of guidelines for developing the regional green hydrogen market. Describe the dimensions.