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The chances of a global hydrogen economy becoming a reality have increased significantly since the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine, and for net zero carbon emissions. However, intercontinental hydrogen transport is still a major issue. This study suggests transporting hydrogen as a gas at atmospheric pressure in balloons using the natural flow of wind to carry the balloon to its destination. We investigate the average wind speeds, atmospheric pressure, and temperature at different altitudes for this purpose. The ideal altitudes to transport hydrogen with balloons are 10 km or lower, and hydrogen pressures in the balloon vary from 0.25 to 1 bar. Transporting hydrogen from North America to Europe at a maximum 4 km altitude would take around 4.8 days on average. Hydrogen balloon transportation cost is estimated at 0.08 USD/kg of hydrogen, which is around 12 times smaller than the cost of transporting liquified hydrogen from the USA to Europe. Due to its reduced energy consumption and capital cost, in some locations, hydrogen balloon transportation might be a viable option for shipping hydrogen compared to liquefied hydrogen and other transport technologies. [Display omitted] • A new approach to transporting hydrogen with balloons. • Possible paths for hydrogen balloon transportation. • Estimation of the optimum altitude to transport hydrogen in balloons. • The global potential for hydrogen balloon transportation is accessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most challenging aspect of developing a green hydrogen economy is long-distance oceanic transportation. Hydrogen liquefaction is a transportation alternative. However, the cost and energy consumption for liquefaction is currently prohibitively high, creating a major barrier to hydrogen supply chains. This paper proposes using solid nitrogen or oxygen as a medium for recycling cold energy across the hydrogen liquefaction supply chain. When a liquid hydrogen (LH2) carrier reaches its destination, the regasification process of the hydrogen produces solid nitrogen or oxygen. The solid nitrogen or oxygen is then transported in the LH2 carrier back to the hydrogen liquefaction facility and used to reduce the energy consumption cooling gaseous hydrogen. As a result, the energy required to liquefy hydrogen can be reduced by 25.4% using N 2 and 27.3% using O 2. Solid air hydrogen liquefaction (SAHL) can be the missing link for implementing a global hydrogen economy. • The energy required to liquefy hydrogen reduces by 25.4% with N 2 and 27.3% with O 2. • Solid O 2 is a better hydrogen liquefaction energy carrier than solid N 2. • Solid N 2 is selected as the energy carrier due to the risk explosion using O 2. • The solid N 2 occupies 44.5% of the liquid H 2 tank volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]