A framework for high resolution coupled global electricity & hydrogen models based on integrated assessment model scenarios

Technology-rich Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) offer the possibility to endogenously resolve hydrogen demand as a function of competition between technologies to meet energy service demands while considering wider interactions with climate and the economy. Such models are typically configured with relatively low spatial and temporal resolution thereby limiting their utility in studying future global hydrogen trade scenarios. This work presents a framework for the soft-linking of IAM scenarios to a higher spatial and temporal resolution global model. This framework provides an “engine” with which to generate future-looking coupled hydrogen & electricity models with the co-optimization of production capacity, storage, and transmission infrastructure that allow the user to vary key technoeconomic input parameters. The modelling framework is applied to an IAM scenario and validated against the parent IAM. The utility of the model when examining electricity & hydrogen commodity trade in future scenarios is then demonstrated.