Sustainable mobility without one-size-fits-all: location-efficient pathways for clean electricity, hydrogen, biogas and synthetic fuels

Peer-reviewed paper 6-251-26

Current debates on sustainable mobility often promote electrification as the single viable pathway, while alternative clean energy carriers such as hydrogen, synthetic fuels or biogas are frequently dismissed as inefficient or non-viable. This paper argues that such one-size-fits-all conclusions neglect systemic and location-specific conditions of energy systems.

Building on a systemic efficiency perspective, the paper compares clean electricity, hydrogen, biogas, and synthetic fuels as energy carriers for sustainable mobility across different geographical and infrastructural contexts. It assesses how renewable energy potentials, production costs, existing infrastructure, conversion efficiencies, transport losses, energy density and safety considerations influence the overall cost-effectiveness and suitability of each option. Particular attention is paid to location efficiency, including access to grids, ports, pipelines, storage facilities and opportunities to avoid renewable curtailment through flexible conversion processes.

The analysis shows that the most efficient and resilient energy carrier for mobility depends strongly on where energy is produced, how it can be transported and stored, and which end-use requirements must be met. In regions with strong grids and limited transport needs, direct electrification may be optimal, while in locations with abundant renewable potential, port infrastructure or carbon utilisation needs, hydrogen or synthetic fuels can provide systemically efficient solutions. The paper concludes that sustainable mobility strategies should prioritise systemic and location-efficient pathways rather than pre-selecting specific energy carriers, thereby strengthening energy system resilience and accelerating decarbonisation across end-use sectors.