Australia

Hydrogen is a clean energy source with a relatively low pollution footprint. However hydrogen does not exist in nature as a separate element but only in compound forms. Hydrogen is produced through a process that dissociates it from its compounds. Several methods are used for hydrogen production which first of all differ in the energy used in this process. Investigating the viability and exact applicability of a method in a specific context requires accu Read More

Hydrogen produced from renewable electricity will play an important role in deep decarbonisation of industry. However adding large electrolyser capacities to a low-carbon electricity system also increases the need for additional electricity generation from variable renewable energies. This will require hydrogen production to be variable unless other sources provide sufficient flexibility. Existing sources of flexibility in hydro-thermal systems are hydropower Read More

Hydrogen is fast becoming a new international “super fuel” to accelerate global climate change ambitions. This paper has two inter-weaving themes. Contextually it focuses on the potential impact of the EU’s new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on fossil fuel-generated as opposed to green hydrogen imports. The CBAM as a transnational carbon adjustment mechanism has the potential to impact international trade in energy. It seeks Read More

Currently hydrogen energy is the most promising energy vector while gasification is one of the major routes for its production. However gasification suffers from various issues including slower carbon conversion poor syngas quality lower heating value and higher emissions. Multiple factors affect gasification performance such as the selection of gasifiers feedstock’s physicochemical properties and operating conditions. In this review the status of gasific Read More

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (HFCV) technology poses great promise as an alternative to significantly reduce the environmental impact of the transport sector’s emissions. However hydrogen fuel cell technology is relatively new therefore confirmation of the reliability and safety analysis is still required particularly for fire scenarios within confined spaces such as tunnels. This study applied the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations in conjunction with pr Read More

In this paper a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is implemented as a grid-connected electrical generator that uses hydrogen gas as fuel and air as an oxidant to produce electricity through electrochemical reactions. Analysis demonstrated that the performance of the PEMFC greatly depends on the rate of fuel supply and air supply pressure. Critical fuel and air supply pressures of the PEMFC are analysed to test its feasibility for the grid connec Read More

The energy transition for a net-zero future will require deep decarbonisation that hydrogen is uniquely positioned to facilitate. This technoeconomic study considers renewable hydrogen production transmission and storage for energy networks using the National Electricity Market (NEM) region of Eastern Australia as a case study. Plausible growth projections are developed to meet domestic demands for gas out to 2040 based on industry commitme Read More

Hydrogen will become a dominant energy carrier in the future and the efficiency and lifetime cost of its production through water electrolysis is a major research focus. Alongside efforts to offer optimum solutions through plant design and sizing it is also necessary to develop a flexible virtualised replica of renewable hydrogen plants that not only models compatibility with the “plug-and-play” nature of many facilities but that also identifies key elemen Read More

The utilisation of hydrogen is being explored as a viable solution for reducing carbon emissions in port operations with potential applications in cargo handling transportation and shipping vessel operations. To comprehensively list the decarbonisation options in ports this study conducted a Systematic Literature Review to identify and then survey twelve highly cited review papers. Initially a typology approach was used to categorise the decarbonisation opti Read More

Photocatalytic water splitting which directly converts solar energy into hydrogen is one of the most desirable solar-energy-conversion approaches. The ultimate target of photocatalysis is to explore efficient and stable photocatalysts for solar water splitting. Tantalum (oxy)nitride-based materials are a class of the most promising photocatalysts for solar water splitting because of their narrow bandgaps and sufficient band energy potentials for water splitti Read More

The Hydrogen Economy concept is being proposed as a means of reducing and eventually decarbonising the world’s energy use. It looks to hydrogen as being a replacement for methane (natural gas) and generally as a way of removing all fossil fuels from the energy supply. The concept however has at least four flaws as follows: (1) hydrogen has significantly different properties to methane; (2) hydrogen has properties that create significant hazards; (3 Read More

The energy transition to wind and solar opens up opportunities for green hydrogen as wind and solar generation tend to bring electricity prices down to very low levels. We evaluate whether green hydrogen can integrate well with wind and solar PVs to improve the South Australian electricity grid. Green hydrogen can use membrane electrolysis plants during periods of surplus renewable energy. This hydrogen can then be electrified or used in industry. The g Read More

Green ammonia has received increasing interest for its potential as an energy carrier in the international trade of renewable power. This paper considers the factors that contribute to producing cost-competitive green ammonia from an exporter’s perspective. These factors include renewable resource quality across potential sites operating modes for off-grid plants and seasonal complementarity with trade buyers. The study applies a mixed-integer prog Read More

The existing literature on the hydrogen supply chains has knowledge gaps. Most studies focus on hydrogen production storage transport and utilisation but neglect ports which are nexuses in the supply chains. To fill the gap this paper focuses on ports' readiness for the upcoming hydrogen international trade. Potential hydrogen exporting and importing ports are screened. Ports' readiness for hydrogen export and import are reviewed from perspectives Read More

Renewable green fuels (RGF) such as hydrogen are the global energy future. Air pollution is compounded with climate change as the emissions driving both development problems come largely from the same source of fossil fuel burning. As an energy exporter Australian energy export dominates the total energy production and the RGF has become central to the current proposal of Australian government to reach net zero emission. The hydrogen productio Read More

A 100% renewable energy-based stand-alone microgrid system can be developed by robust energy storage systems to stabilize the variable and intermittent renewable energy resources. Hydrogen as an energy carrier and energy storage medium has gained enormous interest globally in recent years. Its use in stand-alone or off-grid microgrids for both the urban and rural communities has commenced recently in some locations. Therefore this research e Read More

This paper uses established and recently introduced methods from the applied mathematics and statistics literature to study trends in the end-use sector and the capacity of low-carbon hydrogen projects in recent and upcoming decades. First we examine distributions in plants over time for various end-use sectors and classify them according to metric discrepancy observing clear similarity across all industry sectors. Next we compare the distribution of usage Read More

As a fuel for power generation high-pressure hydrogen gas is widely used for transportation and its efficient storage promotes the development of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). However as the filling process takes such a short time the maximum temperature in the storage tank usually undergoes a rapid increase which has become a thorny problem and poses great technical challenges to the steady operation of hydrogen FCVs. For security reasons SAE J26 Read More

Conventional technologies are largely powered by fossil fuel exploitation and have ultimately led to extensive environmental concerns. Hydrogen is an excellent carbon-free energy carrier but its storage and long-distance transportation remain big challenges. Ammonia however is a promising indirect hydrogen storage medium that has well-established storage and transportation links to make it an accessible fuel source. Moreover the notion of ‘ Read More

Green steel produced using renewable energy and hydrogen presents a promising avenue to decarbonize steel manufacturing and expand the hydrogen industry. Australia endowed with abundant renewable resources and iron ore deposits is ideally placed to support this global effort. This paper's two-step analytical approach offers the first comprehensive assessment of Australia's potential to develop green steel as a value-added export commodity. Read More

Hydrogen has been studied extensively as a potential enabler of the energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources. It promises a feasible decarbonisation route because it can act as an energy carrier a heat source or a chemical reactant in industrial processes. Hydrogen can be produced via renewable energy sources such as solar hydro or geothermic routes and is a more stable energy carrier than intermittent renewable sources. If h Read More

Hydrogen recognised as a clean and sustainable energy carrier with excellent transportation fuel properties drives numerous countries towards a hydrogen-based economy due to its high utilisation efficiency and minimal environmental impact. However the gaseous nature of hydrogen necessitates larger storage surface areas. Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS) has emerged as a promising and efficient method to overcome this challenge. Currently onl Read More

This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the potential of geothermal energy for producing hydrogen with a focus on the Australian context where low-temperature geothermal reservoirs particularly hot sedimentary aquifers (HSAs) are prevalent. The work includes an overview of various geothermal technologies and hydrogen production routes and evaluates potential alternatives for hydrogen production in terms of energy and ex Read More

This article proposes a supply chain-based green hydrogen microgrid modelling for a number of remote Australian communities. Green hydrogen can be used as an emissions-free fuel source for electricity generation in places where large-scale renewable energy production is impossible due to land availability population or government regulations. This research focuses on the Torres Strait Island communities in northern Australia where the transition fro Read More

Hydrogen is gaining prominence as a sustainable energy source in the UK aligning with the country’s commitment to advancing sustainable development across diverse sectors. However a rigorous examination of the interplay between the hydrogen economy and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is imperative. This study addresses this imperative by comprehensively assessing the risks associated with hydrogen production storage transportati Read More

"Green hydrogen” i.e. hydrogen produced by splitting water with a carbon “free” source of electricity via electrolysis is set to become the energy vector enabling a deep decarbonisation of society and a virtuous water based energy cycle. If to date water electrolysis is considered to be a scalable technology the source of water to enable a “green hydrogen” economy at scale is questionable. Countries with the highest renewable energy potential like Au Read More

Adopting proton exchange membrane fuel cells fuelled by hydrogen presents a promising solution for the shipping industry’s deep decarbonisation. However the potential safety risks associated with hydrogen leakage pose a significant challenge to the development of hydrogen-powered ships. This study examines the safe design principles and leakage risks of the hydrogen gas supply system of China’s first newbuilt hydrogen-powered ship. This study utilises Read More

This paper assesses the techno-economic feasibility of a green hydrogen-based microgrid for a remote Australian island. Hydrogen can be used to provide clean energy in areas where large-scale renewable energy sources are not feasible owing to geography government regulations or regulatory difficulties. This study not only identifies the appropriate component size for a hydrogen-based microgrid but also provides an economic perspective of decar Read More

Promoting green hydrogen has emerged as a pivotal discourse in the contemporary energy landscape driven by pressing environmental concerns and the quest for sustainable energy solutions. This paper delves into the multifaceted domain of C-Suite issues about green hydrogen encompassing both technological advancements and policy considerations. The question of whether green hydrogen is poised to become the focal point of the upcom Read More

Interest in hydrogen-powered rail vehicles has gradually increased worldwide over recent decades due to the global pressure on reduction in greenhouse gas emissions technology availability and multiple options of power supply. In the past research and development have been primarily focusing on light rail and regional trains but the interest in hydrogen-powered freight and heavy haul trains is also growing. The review shows that some technical feasibility Read More

Electrochemical ammonia generation allows direct low pressure synthesis of ammonia as an alternative to the established Haber-Bosch process. The increasing need to drive industry with renewable electricity central to decarbonisation and electrochemical ammonia synthesis offers a possible efficient and low emission route for this increasingly important chemical. It also provides a potential route for more distributed and small-scale ammonia synth Read More

In the modern world zero-carbon society has become a new buzzword of the era. Many projects have been initiated to develop alternatives not only to the environmental crisis but also to the shortage of fossil fuels. With successful projects in automobile technology hydrogen fuel is now being tested and utilized as a sustainable green fuel in the aviation sector which will lead to zero carbon emission in the future. From the mid-20th century to the early 21st Read More

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set decarbonisation goals for the shipping industry. As a result shipowners and operators are preparing to use low- or zero-carbon alternative fuels. The greenhouse gas (GHG) emission performances are fundamental for choosing suitable marine fuels. However the current regulations adopt tank-to-wake (TTW) emission assessment methods that could misrepresent the total climate impacts of fuels. To bet Read More

Hydrogen embrittlement in metals (HE) is a serious challenge for the use of high strength materials in engineering practice and a major barrier to the use of hydrogen for global decarbonization. Here we describe the factors and variables that determine HE susceptibility and provide an overview of the latest understanding of HE mechanisms. We discuss hydrogen uptake and how it can be managed. We summarize hydrogen trapping and the technique Read More

Global supply chains must be decarbonised as part of meeting climate targets set by the United Nations and world leaders. Rail networks are vital infrastructure in passenger and freight transport however have not received the same push for decarbonisation as road transport. In this investigation we used real world data from locomotives operating on seven rail corridors to identify optimal battery capacity and hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) power in Read More

Hydrogen gas can provide baseload energy as society decarbonizes through the energy transition. Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS) will be secure convenient and scalable to accommodate excess hydrogen production or compensate temporary shortfalls in energy supply. Hydrogen is a gas under all viable subsurface conditions so is invasive mobile and low-density. Methane and CO2 are also stored underground but storage parameters differ f Read More

The transport sector is considered to be a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions as this sector emits about one-fourth of global CO2 emissions. Transport emissions contribute toward climate change and have been linked to adverse health impacts. Therefore alternative and sustainable transport options are urgent for decarbonising the transport sector and mitigating those issues. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are a potential alternative to con Read More

A thermodynamic model was developed for combustion performance and emissions with a reference diesel fuel a 10 vol% methanol blend with 90 vol% diesel a 10 vol% ethanol with 90 vol% diesel and a 4% hydrogen fumigating in the inlet port along with diesel direct injection. The diesel and two alcohol blends (10% methanol–90% diesel and 10% ethanol–90% diesel) was directly injected into the cylinder while hydrogen was fumigated at the inlet p Read More

We investigate the role of offshore wind in a hybrid system comprising solar PV offshore wind electrical storage (pumped hydro energy storage or battery) and an electrolyser in an off-grid hydrogen production system. Further we capture a wide range of future cost reduction scenarios for offshore wind power and solar PV generation in addition to accounting for future projected falls in electrolyser costs allowing future hydrogen costs to be estimated wit Read More

Decarbonisation of heavy haul rail is an essential contributor to a zero-emissions future. However the transition from diesel to battery locomotives is not always practical given the unique characteristics of each haul. This paper demonstrates the limitations of state-of-the-art batteries using real-world data from multiple locomotives operating in Australian rail freight. An energy model was developed to assess each route’s required energy and potential reg Read More

Hydrogen (H2) is currently considered a clean fuel to decrease anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and will play a vital role in climate change mitigation. Nevertheless one of the primary challenges of achieving a complete H2 economy is the large-scale storage of H2 which is unsafe on the surface because H2 is highly compressible volatile and flammable. Hydrogen storage in geological formations could be a potential solution to this problem Read More

In this work we examine the possibility of converting a light propeller-driven aircraft powered by a spark-ignition reciprocating piston and internal combustion engine running on AVGAS into one powered by an electric motor driven by a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack running on hydrogen. Our studies suggest that storing hydrogen cryogenically is a better option than storing hydrogen under pressure. In comparison to cryogenic tanks high-press Read More

Hydrogen-fueled aircraft are a promising innovation for a sustainable future in aviation. While hydrogen aircraft design has been widely studied research on airport requirements for new infrastructure associated with hydrogen-fueled aircraft and its integration with existing facilities is scarce. This study analyzes the current body of knowledge and identifies the planning challenges which need to be overcome to enable the operation of hydrogen flights at ai Read More

One of the many barriers to decarbonization and decentralization of the energy sector in developing countries is the economic uncertainty. As such this study scrutinizes economics of three grid-independent hybrid renewable-based systems proposed to co-generate electricity and heat for a small-scale load. Accordingly the under-study systems are simulated and optimized with the aid of HOMER Pro software. Here a 20-year average value of discount Read More

Hydrogen is considered as a promising fuel in the 21st century due to zero tailpipe CO2 emissions from hydrogen-powered vehicles. The use of hydrogen as fuel in vehicles can play an important role in decarbonising the transport sector and achieving net-zero emissions targets. However there exist several issues related to hydrogen production efficient hydrogen storage system and transport and refuelling infrastructure where the current research is focuss Read More

Modernising Australia’s old truck fleet and adopting a more stringent standard to reduce emissions and air pollutants is a primary objective for the Australian truck sector. Various strategies worldwide have been introduced to cut emissions and pollutants in the truck sector such as a low-emission strategy supported by strict diesel standards and a zero-emission strategy to shift to battery-electric or hydrogen trucks. The paper focuses on emissions and local air Read More

A 3.5 tonne forklift containing proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and lithium-ion batteries was manufactured and tested in a real factory. The work efficiency and economic applicability of the PEMFC forklift were compared with that of a lithium-ion battery-powered forklift. The results showed that the back-pressure of air was closely related to the power density of the stack whose stability could be improved by a reasonable control strategy a Read More

The demand for green hydrogen as an energy carrier is projected to exceed 350 million tons per year by 2050 driven by the need for sustainable distribution and storage of energy generated from sources. Despite its potential hydrogen production currently faces challenges related to cost efficiency compliance monitoring and safety. This work proposes Hydrogen 4.0 a cyber–physical approach that leverages Industry 4.0 technologies—including smart sen Read More

Hydrogen energy has been proposed as a reliable and sustainable source of energy which could play an integral part in demand for foreseeable environmentally friendly energy. Biomass fossil fuels waste products and clean energy sources like solar and wind power can all be employed for producing hydrogen. This comprehensive review paper provides a thorough overview of various hydrogen storage technologies available today along with th Read More