Impact of Green Hydrogen Production on the Availability of Clean Electricity for the Grid

Gas utilities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are proposing to use variable renewable energy sources, particularly wind power, to produce green hydrogen to replace various proportions of fossil methane (natural gas), now burned for heat in 1.3 million homes and hundreds of thousands of commercial buildings across the Commonwealth. This paper focuses on the proposed use of green hydrogen for heating homes and commercial buildings and the need to consider the implications for clean electricity demand and therefore supply, which its production would entail.