Zero -Carbon Fuels for Decarbonization

The document outlines the role of zero-carbon fuels (ZCF), primarily hydrogen and ammonia, in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas targets. It identifies transportation and industry as key demand drivers and evaluates production pathways, including electrolysis and fossil-based reforming with carbon capture and storage (CCS). The guide highlights that while electrolysis is commercially available, 'blue' hydrogen (fossil CCS) currently provides significant scale, with some projects in the US and Canada already operational.

• Zero-carbon fuels are considered essential for sectors where electrification is difficult, as electricity only provides 20% of energy at the point of use, while fuels provide 80%.
• Hydrogen demand to meet 1.5°C targets by 2050 could reach as much as 200 EJ, with the primary drivers being industry and transportation.
• Hydrogen can be produced via electrolysis or reforming; while gas reforming without CCS is currently the dominant method, it results in high CO2 emissions.
• Ammonia serves as an alternative hydrogen carrier because it is a dense liquid at milder conditions than hydrogen and leverages existing fertilizer industry infrastructure.
• Operational 'blue' hydrogen projects using carbon capture in Texas and Alberta, Canada, collectively produce approximately 250,000 tonnes of zero-carbon normalized hydrogen annually and sequester 2.5 million tonnes of CO2.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2021). Zero -Carbon Fuels for Decarbonization. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/21092323/ZCF-for-Web-26-April-2021.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Zero -Carbon Fuels for Decarbonization. 2021. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/21092323/ZCF-for-Web-26-April-2021.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Zero -Carbon Fuels for Decarbonization |date=April 2021 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/21092323/ZCF-for-Web-26-April-2021.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforce2021zero, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Zero -Carbon Fuels for Decarbonization}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2021}, month = apr, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/21092323/ZCF-for-Web-26-April-2021.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }