Given the requirements of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to well below 2°C, the electricity, transport, and industrial sectors have objectives to achieve climate-neutral emissions economically by 2050. While the transformation in the electricity sector is already well underway, the transport and industrial sectors have considerable challenges. In the transport sector, two strategies are highly relevant – first, direct electrification (electric mobility) and, second, indirect electrification using gaseous and liquid fuels produced from electrolytic hydrogen (“synfuels”). Gaseous and liquid fuels provide an alternative where direct electrification is difficult, e.g. in aviation, marine, and heavy goods transport. Likewise, for energy intensive industries, both direct electrification and indirect use of renewable energy are advantageous with the optimal choice being application dependent. Strategies for the indirect use of renewable energy commonly involve electrolytic hydrogen for both its energy and chemical properties, e.g. in the steel industry (direct reduction of iron) and as a feedstock for the chemicals industry.

A key consideration is how and at what costs the demand for electricity or thermal energy from renewable energy (RE), hydrogen (H2), and its synthetic downstream products (synthetic fuels or raw materials) can be met. Given that electricity from RE makes up approximately 50% of the overall production costs of downstream products, the availability of low-cost RE is a key factor. However, low-cost RE resources often have limited availability in major industrialized nations but they are particularly available elsewhere such as Australia, Brazil, China, Chile, California, the Middle East, and North or South Africa.

Against this background, the aim of this Research Topic is to explore the role that exports and imports of low-carbon synthetic fuels, feedstocks, and their precursors could play between countries with extensive low-cost RE resources and industrialized countries or regions where demand is likely to exceed economic RE resources. This topic includes, on the one hand, the question of the RE potentials and the expected costs in possible export countries and their transport costs in relation to costs of domestic RE production in possible importing countries. On the other hand, this topic involves questions related to the development of domestic demands and industrial sector development opportunities in countries with high RE resources. In view of the expected competition for scarce resources (in this case, RE, electrolytic H2 using RE, and subsequent synfuels/feedstocks) it is furthermore of interest to consider possible trade relationships, supply routes, and competition between countries. Analyses are likely to involve economic, ecologic, and societal impacts and barriers.

This Research Topic is expected to include an article providing an overview of the global needs for international hydrogen and synfuel trade. It will include an overview of market projections, a summary of technology status and future direction, and a discussion of discrepancies between anticipated demand locations and those with economic RE opportunities.

We invite researchers to contribute original, high-quality research articles or review articles, which are not under consideration by other publications. The articles should highlight research into the challenges outlined above from a holistic point of view. They should in general contribute to a better understanding of future relations between countries and regions demanding and offering RE, electrolytic H2 using RE, and subsequent synfuels/feedstocks. Articles that focus solely on technological issues, however, do not fit within the scope of this Research Topic.

Submissions should address the following or similar topics:
• Current and future potentials and costs of RE, electrolytic H2 using RE, and subsequent synfuels/feedstocks in potentially exporting countries or regions.
• Strategies and framework conditions for RE, electrolytic H2 using RE, and subsequent synfuels/feedstocks production and their use for domestic purposes and/or for export.
• Multicriteria assessment of technology routes addressing the production of electrolytic H2 and subsequent synfuels/feedstock in the context of possible exporting countries.
• Import or export strategies for electrolytic H2 using RE and synfuels/feedstocks of specific countries or regions and the role of existing or developing trade relations.
• Analysis of economic, ecological, and social aspects of possible supply chain linking countries.

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Frontiers in Energy Research

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