Research on atmospheric pollutant and greenhouse gas emission reductions of trucks by substituting fuel oil with green hydrogen: A case study

Trucks has caused serious atmospheric pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), China, while substituting the truck fuel (gasoline/diesel) by green hydrogen is a critical way to solve the problems. Accordingly, we established a Hydrogen availability-Greenhouse gas and Atmospheric Pollutant emis-sion reduction (HGAP) evaluation model. We revealed that the annual available green hydrogen energy in the GBA reached 1.36 x 1010 GJ, which could fuel all the trucks in the region. Via truck fuel substitution by hydrogen, a 45% reduction in regional greenhouse gas emissions in the GBA could achieve. The emission reductions of CO and HC by vehicles in the GBA achieved approximately 1/4, NOx was about 1/2 and PM was about 60%. We served a solution of developing without eco-sacrifice for developed, strategic yet high-emission coastal regions and countries. (c) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC.

Automated summary

Trucks in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), China, have caused serious atmospheric pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions. Substituting truck fuel with green hydrogen is a crucial solution to this problem. A Hydrogen availability-Greenhouse gas and Atmospheric Pollutant emission reduction (HGAP) evaluation model was established, revealing that the GBA has an annual available green hydrogen energy of 1.36 x 1010 GJ, which can fuel all trucks in the region. By substituting truck fuel with hydrogen, a 45% reduction in regional greenhouse gas emissions in the GBA is achievable. Emission reductions of CO and HC were approximately 1/4, NOx was about 1/2, and PM was about 60% in vehicles of the GBA. This study provides a solution for sustainable development in developed, strategic yet high-emission coastal regions and countries.