A Harvard-China Project Research Seminar with Haiyang Lin, Harvard-China Project Postdoctoral Fellow

Abstract: Texas, as the largest oil and natural gas producer in the United States, faces significant challenges in the global move towards decarbonization. As a potential solution, this study examines the feasibility of investing in green hydrogen, a promising alternative to oil and gas as a primary energy source. By harnessing its abundant wind and solar resources, Texas has the potential to become a major producer and exporter of green hydrogen, reducing its carbon footprint and promoting a sustainable energy future.

This research conducts detailed simulations and optimizations of green hydrogen supply scenarios, incorporating decarbonization of the power sector in Texas. The objective is to explore the role of Texas's green hydrogen in decarbonizing its economy and reducing the carbon footprint of energy use in the United States more broadly. First, the potential of renewable sources is estimated. Hydrogen supply, pipeline planning, and grid expansion are then integrated to assess opportunities for using zero-carbon hydrogen in transport services, industrial processes, and chemical production. The study reveals that Texas has significant advantages in an expanding hydrogen economy, including abundant renewable sources, existing infrastructure, and availability of salt caverns for storage, all of which provide both scale and cost benefits, as well as enhanced grid stability. Under 2030 low carbon policy restrictions, more than 20 million tons of hydrogen can be produced and then used as fuel or converted to other chemicals at a competitive cost compared to fossil fuel sources. Retrofitting extensive oil and gas pipelines originating from Texas or constructing new pipelines, Texas can maintain its role as an energy exporter, contributing to the energy needs of the country in a sustainable manner.