Project Overview

The project develops an approach based on agent-based simulation to identify adoption scenarios for a blue hydrogen production, i.e.  hydrogen production coupled with CO₂ capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). Realistic evaluation of adaptation scenarios for the technology depends on more than technological assessments, and a purely optimization-driven framework also does not capture the dynamic between the various entities in the value chain for hydrogen and CCUS, each of which operates in different contexts and with different internal objectives. This can be achieved in an agent-based framework.

First, a superstructure for integration of CCUS and hydrogen value chain will be developed and customized for Alberta/Canadian context, including local/regional models for H₂ production/consumption, CO₂ sources, transportation and storage. Agents will be modeled to stimulate these actors in different policy. The outcome will be a tool that identifies bottlenecks (technological or otherwise), will guide policy makers on the most impactful policy decisions to simulate adoption, and offer individual agents (energy/hydrogen producers, etc.) the ability to make optimal decisions for themselves within these supply chains.