Saudi Arabia
Optimal Parameter Determination of Membrane Bioreactor to Boost Biohydrogen Production-Based Integration of ANFIS Modeling and Honey Badger Algorithm
Jan 2023
Publication
Hydrogen is a new promising energy source. Three operating parameters including inlet gas flow rate pH and impeller speed mainly determine the biohydrogen production from membrane bioreactor. The work aims to boost biohydrogen production by determining the optimal values of the control parameters. The proposed methodology contains two parts: modeling and parameter estimation. A robust ANIFS model to simulate a membrane bioreactor has been constructed for the modeling stage. Compared with RMS thanks to ANFIS the RMSE decreased from 2.89 using ANOVA to 0.0183 using ANFIS. Capturing the proper correlation between the inputs and output of the membrane bioreactor process system encourages the constructed ANFIS model to predict the output performance exactly. Then the optimal operating parameters were identified using the honey badger algorithm. During the optimization process inlet gas flow rate pH and impeller speed are used as decision variables whereas the biohydrogen production is the objective function required to be maximum. The integration between ANFIS and HBA boosted the hydrogen production yield from 23.8 L to 25.52 L increasing by 7.22%.
Optimal Design and Sizing of Hybrid Photovoltaic/Fuel Cell Electrical Power System
Aug 2023
Publication
Renewable energy solutions play a crucial role in addressing the growing energy demands while mitigating environmental concerns. This study examines the techno-economic viability and sensitivity of utilizing solar photovoltaic/polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells (FCs) to meet specific power demands in NEOM Saudi Arabia. The novelty of this study lies in its innovative approach to analyzing and optimizing PV/PEMFC systems aiming to highlight their economic feasibility and promote sustainable development in the region. The analysis focuses on determining the optimal size of the PV/PEMFC system based on two critical criteria: minimum cost of energy (COE) and minimum net present cost (NPC). The study considers PEMFCs with power ratings of 30 kW 40 kW and 50 kW along with four PV panel options: Jinko Solar Powerwave Tindo Karra and Trina Solar. The outcomes show that the 30 kW PEMFC and the 201 kW Trina Solar TSM-430NEG9R.28 are the most favorable choices for the case study. Under these optimal conditions the study reveals the lowest values for NPC at USD 703194 and COE at USD 0.498 per kilowatt-hour. The levelized cost of hydrogen falls within the range of USD 15.9 to 23.4 per kilogram. Furthermore replacing the 30 kW Trina solar panel with a 50 kW Tindo PV module results in a cost reduction of 32%. The findings emphasize the criticality of choosing optimal system configurations to attain favorable economic outcomes thereby facilitating the adoption and utilization of renewable energy sources in the region. In conclusion this study stands out for its pioneering and thorough analysis and optimization of PV/PEMFC systems providing valuable insights for sustainable energy planning in NEOM Saudi Arabia.
Integration of Renewable-Energy-Based Green Hydrogen into the Energy Future
Sep 2023
Publication
There is a growing interest in green hydrogen with researchers institutions and countries focusing on its development efficiency improvement and cost reduction. This paper explores the concept of green hydrogen and its production process using renewable energy sources in several leading countries including Australia the European Union India Canada China Russia the United States South Korea South Africa Japan and other nations in North Africa. These regions possess significant potential for “green” hydrogen production supporting the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy and promoting environmental sustainability through the electrolysis process a common method of production. The paper also examines the benefits of green hydrogen as a future alternative to fossil fuels highlighting its superior environmental properties with zero net greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover it explores the potential advantages of green hydrogen utilization across various industrial commercial and transportation sectors. The research suggests that green hydrogen can be the fuel of the future when applied correctly in suitable applications with improvements in production and storage techniques as well as enhanced efficiency across multiple domains. Optimization strategies can be employed to maximize efficiency minimize costs and reduce environmental impact in the design and operation of green hydrogen production systems. International cooperation and collaborative efforts are crucial for the development of this technology and the realization of its full benefits.
Wettability of Shale–brine–H2 System and H2-brine Interfacial Tension for Assessment of the Sealing Capacities of Shale Formations During Underground Hydrogen Storage
Jul 2022
Publication
Replacement of fossil fuels with clean hydrogen has been recognized as the most feasible approach of implementing CO2-free hydrogen economy globally. However large-scale storage of hydrogen is a critical component of hydrogen economy value chain because hydrogen is the lightest molecule and has moderately low volumetric energy content. To achieve successful storage of buoyant hydrogen at the subsurface and convenient withdrawal during the period of critical energy demand the integrity of the underground storage rock and overlying seal (caprock) must be assured. Presently there is paucity of information on hydrogen wettability of shale and the interfacial properties of H2/brine system. In this research contact angles of shale/H2/brine system and hydrogen/brine interfacial tension (IFT) were measured using Krüss drop shape analyzer (DSA 100) at 50 ◦C and varying pressure (14.7–1000 psi). A modified form of sessile drop approach was used for the contact angles measurement whereas the H2- brine IFT was measured through the pendant drop method. H2-brine IFT values decreased slightly with increasing pressure ranging between 63.68◦ at 14.7 psia and 51.29◦ at 1000 psia. The Eagle-ford shale with moderate total organic carbon (TOC) of 3.83% attained fully hydrogen-wet (contact angle of 99.9◦ ) and intermediate-wet condition (contact angle of 89.7◦ ) at 14.7 psi and 200 psi respectively. Likewise the Wolf-camp shale with low TOC (0.30%) attained weakly water-wet conditions with contact angles of 58.8◦ and 62.9◦ at 14.7 psi and 200 psi respectively. The maximum height of hydrogen that can be securely trapped by the Wolf-camp shale was approximately 325 meters whereas the value was merely 100 meters for the Eagle-ford shale. Results of this study will aid in assessment of hydrogen storage capacity of organic-rich shale (adsorption trapping) as well as evaluation of the sealing potentials of low TOC shale (caprock) during underground hydrogen storage.
Design and Implementation of an Intelligent Energy Management System for Smart Home Utilizing a Multi-agent System
Jul 2022
Publication
Green Hydrogen Microgrid System has been selected as a source of clean and renewable alternative energy because it is undergoing a global revolution and has been identified as a source of clean energy that may aid the country in achieving net-zero emissions in the coming years. The study proposes an innovative Microgrid Renewable hybrid system to achieve these targets. The proposed hybrid renewable energy system combines a photovoltaic generator (PVG) a fuel cell (FC) a supercapacitor (SC) and a home vehicle power supply (V2H) to provide energy for a predefined demand. The proposed architecture is connected to the grid and is highly dependent on solar energy during peak periods. During the night or shading period it uses FC as a backup power source. The SC assists the FC with high charge power. SC performs this way during load transients or quick load changes. A multi-agent system (MAS) was used to build a real energy management system (RT-HEMS) for intelligent coordination between components (MAS). The scheduling algorithm reduces energy consumption by managing the required automation devices without the need for additional network power. It will meet household energy requirements regardless of weather conditions including bright cloudy or rainy conditions. Implementation and discussion of the RT-HEMS ensures that the GHS is functioning properly and that the charge request is satisfied.
Cost, Footprint, and Reliability Implications of Deploying Hydrogen in Off-grid Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: A GIS-assisted Study for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Jul 2022
Publication
For the first time we quantify cost footprint and reliability implications of deploying hydrogen-based generation in off-grid electric vehicle charging stations (CS) using an optimization model coupled with a geographic information system (GIS) analysis for the city of Riyadh Saudi Arabia. We also account for the challenges associated with wind energy deployment as a candidate generation technology within city centers. The analysis was restricted to carbon-free technologies: photovoltaics (PV) wind battery and hydrogen fuel-cells. At current prevailing technology costs hydrogen can reduce the required footprint of off-grid CSs by 25% at a small incremental cost increase without impacting the charging reliability. By 2030 however hydrogen will simultaneously provide the footprint and cost advantages. If we allow as little as 5% of the annual load to be unmet the required footprint of the CS decreases by 60%. The levelized cost of energy values for the CS by 2030 can range between 0.13 and 0.20 $/kWh depending on learning-curve assumptions. The footprints calculated are then mapped to five land parcel categories in Riyadh: gas station hospital mall school and university. Incorporating hydrogen in CS design increases the number of parcels that could accommodate CSs by 15e45% via reducing the required PV array (i.e. footprint).
Comparative Study of Spark-Ignited and Pre-Chamber Hydrogen-Fueled Engine: A Computational Approach
Nov 2022
Publication
Hydrogen is a promising future fuel to enable the transition of transportation sector toward carbon neutrality. The direct utilization of H2 in internal combustion engines (ICEs) faces three major challenges: high NOx emissions severe pressure rise rates and pre-ignition at mid to high loads. In this study the potential of H2 combustion in a truck-size engine operated in spark ignition (SI) and pre-chamber (PC) mode was investigated. To mitigate the high pressure rise rate with the SI configuration the effects of three primary parameters on the engine combustion performance and NOx emissions were evaluated including the compression ratio (CR) the air–fuel ratio and the spark timing. In the simulations the severity of the pressure rise was evaluated based on the maximum pressure rise rate (MPRR). Lower compression ratios were assessed as a means to mitigate the auto-ignition while enabling a wider range of engine operation. The study showed that by lowering CR from 16.5:1 to 12.5:1 an indicated thermal efficiency of 47.5% can be achieved at 9.4 bar indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) conditions. Aiming to restrain the auto-ignition while maintaining good efficiency growth in λ was examined under different CRs. The simulated data suggested that higher CRs require a higher λ and due to practical limitations of the boosting system λ at 4.0 was set as the limit. At a fixed spark timing using a CR of 13.5 combined with λ at 3.33 resulted in an indicated thermal efficiency of 48.6%. It was found that under such lean conditions the exhaust losses were high. Thus advancing the spark time was assessed as a possible solution. The results demonstrated the advantages of advancing the spark time where an indicated thermal efficiency exceeding 50% was achieved while maintaining a very low NOx level. Finally the optimized case in the SI mode was used to investigate the effect of using the PC. For the current design of the PC the results indicated that even though the mixture is lean the flame speed of H2 is sufficiently high to burn the lean charge without using a PC. In addition the PC design used in the current work induced a high MPRR inside the PC and MC leading to an increased tendency to engine knock. The operation with PC also increased the heat transfer losses in the MC leading to lower thermal efficiency compared to the SI mode. Consequently the PC combustion mode needs further optimizations to be employed in hydrogen engine applications.
Advances in Hydrogen Production from Natural Gas Reforming
Jun 2021
Publication
Steam natural gas reforming is the preferred technique presently used to produce hydrogen. Proposed in 1932 the technique is very well established but still subjected to perfections. Herein first the improvements being sought in catalysts and processes are reviewed and then the advantage of replacing the energy supply from burning fuels with concentrated solar energy is discussed. It is especially this advance that may drastically reduce the economic and environmental cost of hydrogen production. Steam reforming can be easily integrated into concentrated solar with thermal storage for continuous hydrogen production.
Maximizing Green Hydrogen Production from Water Electrocatalysis: Modeling and Optimization
Mar 2023
Publication
The use of green hydrogen as a fuel source for marine applications has the potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the industry. The development of a sustainable and cost-effective method for producing green hydrogen has gained a lot of attention. Water electrolysis is the best and most environmentally friendly method for producing green hydrogen-based renewable energy. Therefore identifying the ideal operating parameters of the water electrolysis process is critical to hydrogen production. Three controlling factors must be appropriately identified to boost hydrogen generation namely electrolysis time (min) electric voltage (V) and catalyst amount (µg). The proposed methodology contains the following two phases: modeling and optimization. Initially a robust model of the water electrolysis process in terms of controlling factors was established using an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) based on the experimental dataset. After that a modern pelican optimization algorithm (POA) was employed to identify the ideal parameters of electrolysis duration electric voltage and catalyst amount to enhance hydrogen production. Compared to the measured datasets and response surface methodology (RSM) the integration of ANFIS and POA improved the generated hydrogen by around 1.3% and 1.7% respectively. Overall this study highlights the potential of ANFIS modeling and optimal parameter identification in optimizing the performance of solar-powered water electrocatalysis systems for green hydrogen production in marine applications. This research could pave the way for the more widespread adoption of this technology in the marine industry which would help to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint and promote sustainability.
Investigating the Impact of Economic Uncertainty on Optimal Sizing of Grid-Independent Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems
Aug 2021
Publication
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 and inflation rates is deemed a benchmark case. The techno-economic-environmental and reliability results suggest a standalone solar/wind/electrolyzer/hydrogen-based fuel cell integrated with a hydrogen-based boiler system is the best alternative. Moreover to ascertain the impact of economic uncertainty on optimal unit sizing of the nominated model the fluctuations of the nominal discount rate and inflation respectively constitute within the range of 15–20% and 10–26%. The findings of economic uncertainty analysis imply that total net present cost (TNPC) fluctuates around the benchmark value symmetrically between $478704 and $814905. Levelized energy cost varies from an amount 69% less than the benchmark value up to two-fold of that. Furthermore photovoltaic (PV) optimal size starts from a value 23% less than the benchmark case and rises up to 55% more. The corresponding figures for wind turbine (WT) are respectively 21% and 29%. Eventually several practical policies are introduced to cope with economic uncertainty.
Hydrogen Combustion, Production, and Applications: A Review
May 2024
Publication
The demand for fossil fuels is rising rapidly leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen has emerged as a promising clean energy alternative that could help meet future demands way sustainably especially if produced using renewable methods. For hydrogen to meaningfully contribute to energy transitions it needs more integration into sectors like transportation buildings and power that currently have minimal hydrogen usage. This requires developing extensive cross-sector hydrogen infrastructure. This review examines hydrogen combustion as a fuel by exploring and comparing production techniques enriching ammonia with hydrogen as a CO2-free option and hydrogen applications in engines. Additionally a techno-economic environmental risk analysis is discussed. Results showed steam methane reforming is the most established and cost-effective production method at $1.3–1.5/kg H2 and 70–85% efficiency but generates CO2. Biomass gasification costs $1.25–2.20/kg H2 and pyrolysis $1.77–2.05/kg H2 offering renewable options. However bio-photolysis currently has high costs of $1.42–2.13/kg H2 due to low conversion rates requiring large reactors. Blending H2/NH3 could enable carbon-free combustion aiding carbon neutrality pursuits but minimizing resultant NOx is crucial. Hydrogen’s wide uses from transportation to power underline its potential as a transformational energy carrier.
Performance, Emissions, and Combustion Characteristics of a Hydrogen-Fueled Spark-Ignited Engine at Different Compression Ratios: Experimental and Numerical Investigation
Jul 2023
Publication
This paper investigates the performance of hydrogen-fueled spark-ignited single-cylinder Cooperative Fuel Research using experimental and numerical approaches. This study examines the effect of the air–fuel ratio on engine performance emissions and knock behaviour across different compression ratios. The results indicate that λ significantly affects both engine performance and emissions with a λ value of 2 yielding the highest efficiency and lowest emissions for all the tested compression ratios. Combustion analysis reveals normal combustion at λ ≥ 2 while knocking combustion occurs at λ < 2 irrespective of the tested compression ratios. The Livenwood–Wu integral approach was evaluated to assess the likelihood of end-gas autoignition based on fuel reactivity demonstrating that both normal and knocking combustion possibilities are consistent with experimental investigations. Combustion analysis at the ignition timing for maximum brake torque conditions demonstrates knock-free stable combustion up to λ = 3 with increased end-gas autoignition at lower λ values. To achieve knock-free combustion at those low λs the spark timings are significantly retarded to after top dead center crank angle position. Engine-out NOx emissions consistently increase in trend with a decrease in the air–fuel ratio of up to λ = 3 after which a distinct variation in NOx is observed with an increase in the compression ratio.
Palladium-alloy Membrane Reactors for Fuel Reforming and Hydrogen Production: Hydrogen Production Modelling
Jul 2023
Publication
Endeavors have recently been concentrated on minimizing the dependency on fossil fuels in order to mitigate the ever-increasing problem of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Hydrogen energy is regarded as an alternative to fossil fuels due to its cleaner emission attributes. Reforming of hydrocarbon fuels is amongst the most popular and widely used methods for hydrogen production. Hydrogen produced from reforming processes requires additional processes to separate from the reformed gases. In some cases further purification of hydrogen has to be carried out to use the hydrogen in power generation applications. Metallic membranes especially palladium (Pd)-based ones have demonstrated sustainable hydrogen separation potential with around 99.99% hydrogen purity. Comprehensive and critical research investigations must be performed to optimize membrane-assisted reforming as well as to maximize the production of hydrogen. The computational fluid dynamic (CFD) can be an excellent tool to analyze and visualize the flow/reaction/permeation mechanisms at a lower cost in contrast with the experiments. In order to provide the necessary background knowledge on membrane reactor modeling this study reviews summarizes and analyses the kinetics of different fuel reforming processes equations to determine hydrogen permeation and lastly various geometry and operating condition adopted in the literature associated with membrane-reactor modeling works. It is indicated that hydrogen permeation through Pd-membranes depends highly on the difference in hydrogen pressure. It is found that hydrogen permeation can be improved by employing different pressure configuration introducing sweep flow on the permeate side of the membrane reducing retentate side flow rate and increasing the temperature.
Industrial Waste Gases as a Resource for Sustainable Hydrogen Production: Resource Availability, Production Potential, Challenges, and Prospects
May 2024
Publication
Industrial sectors pivotal for the economic prosperity of nations rely heavily on affordable reliable and environmentally friendly energy sources. Industries like iron and steel oil refineries and coal-fired power plants while instrumental to national economies are also the most significant contributors to waste gases that contain substantial volumes of carbon monoxide (CO). CO can be converted to a highly efficient and carbon free fuel hydrogen (H2) through a well-known water gas shift reaction. However the untapped potential of H2 from waste industrial streams is yet to be explored. This is the first article that investigates the potential of H2 production from industrial waste gases. The available resource (i.e. CO) and its H2 production potential are estimated. The article also provides insights into the principal challenges and potential avenues for long-term adoption. The results showed that 249.14 MTPY of CO are available to produce 17.44 MTPY of H2 annually. This suggests a significant potential for H2 production from waste gases to revolutionize industrial waste management and contribute significantly towards Sustainable Development Goals 7 9 and 13ensuring access to affordable reliable sustainable and modern energy for all and taking decisive climate action respectively.
An Analysis of Hybrid Renewable Energy-Based Hydrogen Production and Power Supply for Off-Grid Systems
Jun 2024
Publication
Utilizing renewable energy sources to produce hydrogen is essential for promoting cleaner production and improving power utilization especially considering the growing use of fossil fuels and their impact on the environment. Selecting the most efficient method for distributing power and capacity is a critical issue when developing hybrid systems from scratch. The main objective of this study is to determine how a backup system affects the performance of a microgrid system. The study focuses on power and hydrogen production using renewable energy resources particularly solar and wind. Based on photovoltaics (PVs) wind turbines (WTs) and their combinations including battery storage systems (BSSs) and hydrogen technologies two renewable energy systems were examined. The proposed location for this study is the northwestern coast of Saudi Arabia (KSA). To simulate the optimal size of system components and determine their cost-effective configuration the study utilized the Hybrid Optimization Model for Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) software (Version 3.16.2). The results showed that when considering the minimum cost of energy (COE) the integration of WTs PVs a battery bank an electrolyzer and a hydrogen tank brought the cost of energy to almost 0.60 USD/kWh in the system A. However without a battery bank the COE increased to 0.72 USD/kWh in the same location because of the capital cost of system components. In addition the results showed that the operational life of the fuel cell decreased significantly in system B due to the high hours of operation which will add additional costs. These results imply that long-term energy storage in off-grid energy systems can be economically benefited by using hydrogen with a backup system.
Biohydrogen Production from Biomass Sources: Metabolic Pathways and Economic Analysis
Sep 2021
Publication
The commercialization of hydrogen as a fuel faces severe technological economic and environmental challenges. As a method to overcome these challenges microalgal biohydrogen production has become the subject of growing research interest. Microalgal biohydrogen can be produced through different metabolic routes the economic considerations of which are largely missing from recent reviews. Thus this review briefly explains the techniques and economics associated with enhancing microalgae-based biohydrogen production. The cost of producing biohydrogen has been estimated to be between $10 GJ-1 and $20 GJ−1 which is not competitive with gasoline ($0.33 GJ−1 ). Even though direct biophotolysis has a sunlight conversion efficiency of over 80% its productivity is sensitive to oxygen and sunlight availability. While the electrochemical processes produce the highest biohydrogen (>90%) fermentation and photobiological processes are more environmentally sustainable. Studies have revealed that the cost of producing biohydrogen is quite high ranging between $2.13 kg−1 and 7.24 kg−1 via direct biophotolysis $1.42kg−1 through indirect biophotolysis and between $7.54 kg−1 and 7.61 kg−1 via fermentation. Therefore low-cost hydrogen production technologies need to be developed to ensure long-term sustainability which requires the optimization of critical experimental parameters microalgal metabolic engineering and genetic modification.
Towards a Sustainable Future: Bio-hydrogen Production from Food Waste for Clean Energy Generation
Jan 2024
Publication
To address climate change energy security and waste management new sustainable energy sources must be developed. This study uses Aspen Plus software to extract bio-H2 from food waste with the goal of efficiency and environmental sustainability. Anaerobic digestion optimised to operate at 20-25°C and keep ammonia at 3% greatly boosted biogas production. The solvent [Emim][FAP] which is based on imidazolium had excellent performance in purifying biogas. It achieved a high level of methane purity while consuming a minimal amount of energy with a solvent flow rate of 13.415 m³/h. Moreover the utilization of higher temperatures (600-700°C) during the bio-H2 generation phase significantly enhanced both the amount and quality of hydrogen produced. Parametric and sensitivity assessments were methodically performed at every stage. This integrated method was practicable and environmentally friendly according to the economic assessment. H2 generation using steam reforming results in a TCC of 1.92×106 USD. The CO2 separation step has higher costs (TCC of 2.15×107 USD) due to ionic liquid washing and CO2 liquefaction. Compressor electricity consumption significantly impacts total operating cost (TOC) totaling 4.73×108 USD. showing its ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions optimize resource utilization and promote energy sustainability. This study presents a sustainable energy solution that addresses climate and waste challenges.
Modeling Green Hydrogen Production Using Power-to-x: Saudi and German Contexts
Apr 2024
Publication
This study assesses the competitiveness of producing green hydrogen (H2) in Saudi Arabia and Germany using a power-to-carrier (P2X) model in PLEXOS for 2030 and beyond. The target amount of H2 to be produced serves as the only exogenous input allowing the model which runs on an hourly temporal resolution to endogenously optimize the electrolyzer technology (alkaline proton exchange membrane or solid oxide electrolyzer cell) the capacity of the electrolyzer to be built and the optimal carbon-free energy mix. Results suggest the overall investment needs in Saudi Arabia are approximately 25% lower than those for wind-based hydrogen production in Germany with the best-case scenario to produce 0.213 Mt of green H2 costing a net present value of $6.20 billion in Saudi Arabia compared to $8.11 billion in Germany. The findings indicate that alkaline electrolyzers dominate the production process favored for their low cost despite the higher efficiencies of other electrolyzer types. Moreover the model opts to dump excess energy rather than construct battery storage. Based on 16 scenarios the study determines a levelized cost of hydrogen of 2.34–3.08 $/kg for Saudi Arabia compared with 3.06–3.69 $/kg in Germany. Subsequently a detailed sensitivity analysis considers various discount rates for both countries. It is concluded that even when considering shipment costs from Saudi Arabia to Germany (~1 $/kg) green H2 can still be competitively delivered from Saudi Arabia to Germany.
Solid Air Hydrogen Liquefaction, the Missing Link of the Hydrogen Economy
Mar 2023
Publication
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 N2 and 27.3% using O2. Solid air hydrogen liquefaction (SAHL) can be the missing link for implementing a global hydrogen economy.
Review on Techno-economics of Hydrogen Production Using Current and Emerging Processes: Status and Perspectives
Feb 2024
Publication
This review presents a broad exploration of the techno economic evaluation of different technologies utilized in the production of hydrogen from both renewable and non-renewable sources. These encompass methods ranging from extracting hydrogen from fossil fuels or biomass to employing microbial processes electrolysis of water and various thermochemical cycles. A rigorous techno-economic evaluation of hydrogen production technologies can provide a critical cost comparison for future resource allocation priorities and trajectory. This evaluation will have a great impact on future hydrogen production projects and the development of new approaches to reduce overall production costs and make it a cheaper fuel. Different methods of hydrogen production exhibit varying efficiencies and costs: fast pyrolysis can yield up to 45% hydrogen at a cost range of $1.25 to $2.20 per kilogram while gasification operating at temperatures exceeding 750°C faces challenges such as limited small-scale coal production and issues with tar formation in biomass. Steam methane reforming which constitutes 48% of hydrogen output experiences cost fluctuations depending on scale whereas auto-thermal reforming offers higher efficiency albeit at increased costs. Chemical looping shows promise in emissions reduction but encounters economic hurdles and sorptionenhanced reforming achieves over 90% hydrogen but requires CO2 storage. Renewable liquid reforming proves effective and economically viable. Additionally electrolysis methods like PEM aim for costs below $2.30 per kilogram while dark fermentation though cost-effective grapples with efficiency challenges. Overcoming technical economic barriers and managing electricity costs remains crucial for optimizing hydrogen production in a low-carbon future necessitating ongoing research and development efforts.
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