| dc.description.abstract | The current use of fossil energy is causing rapid changes to our environment. The transition into a carbon neutral society is heavily dependent on the development of new low-emission renewable energy technologies. Hydrogen is believed by many scholars to play an important role to decarbonise both the energy sector, transport sector, and certain industrial sectors. This thesis will explore the potential role of biohydrogen production and utilisation in Rogaland. As Rogaland is known to have a high biogas production potential, hydrogen produced from biogas can potentially play an important role to meet climate targets in the region.
Biohydrogen development are facing challenges related to technology immaturity and cost-efficiency. So even through hydrogen and biohydrogen might have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emission in the region, the challenges related to developing a hydrogen supply chain are slowing down the transition into a hydrogen society. This thesis will address the challenges and barriers related to biohydrogen production and utilisation in the region. Data on challenges and barriers for biohydrogen in the region are collected through interviews with
actors from a potential biohydrogen supply chain in Rogaland. The thesis will analyse the transition into a hydrogen society using the multilevel perspective, while looking at potential environmental and societal benefits with biohydrogen combined with a circular economy.
Based on the data collected, this thesis concludes that there is a great biohydrogen production potential in Rogaland. However, due to the existing challenges and barriers, mostly linked to technology immaturity, cost-efficiency, market competition, and the well-developed natural gas pipeline network in the region, the production and utilisation of biohydrogen are likely far off in the future for Rogaland. | |