Exploring the Viability of Green Formic Acid as H2 Carrier

To favour the implementation of hydrogen energy, H2 carriers are regarded as a reliable alternative for hydrogen transport. Common hydrogen carriers include liquid organic compounds (as toluene, dibenzyltoluene or Nethylcarbazole), ammonia, methanol, formic acid and chemical hydrides. These substances can release H2 upon demand through dehydrogenation or electrochemical reactions, offering a flexible way to integrate hydrogen into energy infrastructure. Among them, formic acid (HCOOH) is an attractive candidate due to its hydrogen content (4.4 wt.%) and straightforward dehydrogenation process. To explore the viability of green formic acid as H2 carrier, this work analyses all its possible production pathways from renewable energy, with a focus on the synthesis from captured CO2 as raw material. Advantages and disadvantages of this new process are presented, assessing its potential by means of the equivalent hydrogen methodology. The H2 delivery performance of formic acid, strictly related to its synthesis stage, is analyzed and then compared to other carriers (liquefied H2, ammonia, toluene, dibenzyltoluene), to discuss its practicality for industrial-scale implementation.