Publications

With the move to a hydrogen-based primary steel production envisioned for the near future in Europe existing regional industrial clusters loose major assets. Such a restructuring of industries may result in a new geographical distribution of the steel industry and also to another quality of vertical integration at sites. Both implications could turn out as drivers or barriers to invest in new technologies and are thus important in respect to vertical integration of site Read More

A vision of hydrogen based economy and clean sustainable fossil fuels-free world inspires the scientific community to put much effort into the development of visible-light-driven photochemistry and efficient solar energy harvesting. The unique features of plasmonic nanomaterials such as capability of significant electric field amplification an extreme local heating generation of high energy charge carriers and broad tunability of optical properties coupled to Read More

Concentration and velocity measurements are crucial for developing and validating hydrogen jet models which  provide  scientific  bases  for hydrogen  safety  analyses.  The  concentration   fields  have  been visualized and accurately measured using laser diagnostic methods based on lase Rayleigh and Raman scattering  techniques.  However  the  velocity  measurements  are  more   challenging.  Particle  image velocimetry (PIV) has been comm Read More

The first applications of hydrogen in a natural gas grid will be the admixing of low concentrations in an existing distribution grid. For easy quality and process control it is essential to monitor the hydrogen concentration in real time preferably using cost effective monitoring solutions. In this paper we introduce the use of a platinum based hydrogen sensor that can accurately (at 0.1 vol%) and reversibly monitor the concentration of hydrogen in a carrier gas. Read More

Chromium poisoning of the air electrode is a primary degradation mechanism for solid oxide cells (SOCs) operating under fuel cell mode. Recent experimental findings show that reversed pulse operation for SOCs operated as electrolyser cells can reverse this degradation and extend the lifetime. Here we use a multiphysics model of an SOC to investigate the effects of reversed pulse operation for alleviating chromium poisoning of the air electro Read More

In its new report Making the Hydrogen Economy Possible: Accelerating clean hydrogen in an electrified economy the ETC outlines the role of clean hydrogen in achieving a highly electrified net-zero economy. The report sets out how a combination of private-sector collaboration and policy support can drive the initial ramp up of clean hydrogen production and use to reach 50 million tonnes by 2030.Clean hydrogen will play a complementary role to decarb Read More

The development of visible-light-responsive photocatalysts with high efficiency stability and eco-friendly nature is beneficial to the large-scale application of solar hydrogen production. In this work the production of biosynthetic ternary ZnCdS photocatalysts (Eg = 2.35–2.72 eV) by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) under mild conditions was carried out for the first time. The huge amount of biogenic S2− and inherent extracellular proteins (EPs) secreted by SR Read More

Nowadays the integration of multi-energy carriers is one of the most critical matters in smart energy systems with the aim of meeting sustainable energy development indicators. Hydrogen is referred to as one of the main energy carriers in the future energy industry but its integration into the energy system faces different open challenges which have not yet been comprehensively studied. In this paper a novel day-ahead scheduling is presented to rea Read More

Hydrogen is often viewed as an important energy carrier in a future decarbonized world. Currently most hydrogen is produced by steam reforming of methane in natural gas (“gray hydrogen”) with high carbon dioxide emissions. Increasingly many propose using carbon capture and storage to reduce these emissions producing so-called “blue hydrogen” frequently promoted as low emissions. We undertake the first effort in a peer-reviewed paper to ex Read More

In which way and in which sectors will renewable energy be integrated in the German Energy System by 2030 2040 and 2050? How can the resulting energy system be characterised following a −95% greenhouse gas emission reduction scenario? Which role will hydrogen play? To address these research questions techno-economic energy system modelling was performed. Evaluation of the resulting operation of energy technologies was carried out from a sy Read More

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are crystalline porous organic polymers built from covalent organic blocks that can be photochemically active when incorporating organic semiconducting units such as triazine rings or diacetylene bridges. The bandgap charge separation capacity porosity wettability and chemical stability of COFs can be tuned by properly choosing their constitutive building blocks by extension of conjugation by adjustment of the siz Read More

The use of hydrogen energy and the associated technologies is expected to increase in the coming years. The success of hydrogen energy technology (HET) is however dependent on public acceptance of the technology. Developing this new industry in a socially responsible way will require an understanding of the psychology factors that may facilitate or impede its public acceptance. This paper reviews 27 quantitative studies that have explored the relations Read More

A new MgH2–PrF3–Al–Ni composite was prepared by ball milling under hydrogen atmosphere. After initial dehydrogenation and rehydrogenation Pr3Al11 MgF2 PrH3 and Mg2NiH4 nanoparticles formed accompanying the main phase MgH2. The hydrogen absorption-desorption properties were measured by using a Sieverts-type apparatus. The results showed that the MgH2–PrF3–Al–Ni composite improved cycle stability and enhanced hydrogen desorp Read More

The decarboxylation pathway in ethanol steam reforming ultimately favors higher selectivity to hydrogen over the decarbonylation mechanism. The addition of an optimized amount of Cs to Pt/m-ZrO2 catalysts increases the basicity and promotes the decarboxylation route converting ethanol to mainly H2 CO2 and CH4 at low temperature with virtually no decarbonylation being detected. This offers the potential to feed the product stream into a conventional Read More

This review describes recent research in the development of tank systems based on complex metal hydrides for thermolysis and hydrolysis. Commercial applications using complex metal hydrides are limited especially for thermolysis-based systems where so far only demonstration projects have been performed. Hydrolysis-based systems find their way in space naval military and defense applications due to their compatibility with proton exchan Read More

Hydrogen direct reduction has been proposed as a means to decarbonize primary steelmaking. Preferably the hydrogen necessary for this process is produced via water electrolysis. A downside to electrolysis is the large electricity demand. The electricity cost of water electrolysis may be reduced by using a hydrogen storage to exploit variations in electricity price i.e. producing more hydrogen when the electricity price is low and vice versa. In this pap Read More

This review paper examines the possible pathways and possible technologies available that will help the shipping sector achieve the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) deep decarbonization targets by 2050. There has been increased interest from important stakeholders regarding deep decarbonization evidenced by market surveys conducted by Shell and Deloitte. However deep decarbonization will require financial incentives and policies at an int Read More

The Reverse electrodialysis heat engine (REDHE) combines a reverse electrodialysis stack for power generation with a thermal regeneration unit to restore the concentration difference of the salt solutions. Current approaches for converting low-temperature waste heat to electricity with REDHE have not yielded conversion efficiencies and profits that would allow for the industrialization of the technology. This review explores the concept of Heat-to-Hydroge Read More

In this study hydrogen-storage glass microballoons were introduced into emulsion explosives to improve the detonation performance of the explosives. The effect of hydrogen-storage pressure on the detonation characteristics of emulsion explosives was systematically investigated. Detonation velocity experiments shows that the change of sensitizing gas and the increase of hydrogen pressure have different effects on the detonation velocity. The Read More

The STOPIL-H2 project supported by the French Geodenergies research consortium aims to design a demonstrator for underground hydrogen storage in cavern EZ53 of the Etrez gas storage (France) operated by Storengy. Two types of tests are planned in this cavern: a tightness test with nitrogen and hydrogen then a cycling test during which the upper part of the cavern (approximately 200 m3) will be filled with hydrogen during 6 to 9 months. I Read More

This work focuses on the experimental and numerical investigation of maximum overpressure and pressure dynamics during ignited hydrogen releases in a storage enclosure e.g. in marine vessel or rail carriage with limited vent size area i.e. the pressure peaking phenomenon (PPP) revealed theoretically at Ulster University in 2010. The CFD model previously validated against small scale experiments in a 1 m3 enclosure is employed here to simulate r Read More

Recent development shows that carbon-based composites are proving to be the most promising materials in hydrogen energy production storage and conversion applications. In this study composites of the copper-based metal-organic framework with different ratios of graphite oxide have been prepared for hydrogen storage application. The developed materials are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) gravimetric thermal analysis (TGA) scanning e Read More

The extensive usage of fossil fuels has caused significant environmental pollution climate change and energy crises. The significant advantages of hydrogen such as cleanliness high efficiency and a wide range of sources make it quite promising. Hydrogen is prone to material damage which may lead to leakage. High-pressure leaking hydrogen is highly susceptible to spontaneous combustion due to its combustion characteristics which may cause jet fire or Read More

In recent years hydrogen is rapidly developing because it is environmentally friendly and sustainable. In this case hydrogen energy storage systems (HESSs) can be widely used in the distribution network. The application of hybrid electric-hydrogen energy storage systems can solve the adverse effects caused by renewable energy access to the distribution network. In order to ensure the rationality and effectiveness of energy storage systems (ESSs) configu Read More

In this review we provide a short overview of the Molecular Dynamics (MD) method and how it can be used to model the water splitting process in photoelectrochemical hydrogen production. We cover classical non-reactive and reactive MD techniques as well as multiscale extensions combining classical MD with quantum chemical and continuum methods. Selected examples of MD investigations of various aqueous semiconductor interfaces with a Read More

The influence of hydrogen on the mechanical performance of a hot-rolled martensitic steel was studied by means of constant extension rate test (CERT) and constant load test (CLT) followed with thermal desorption spectroscopy measurements. The steel shows a reduction in tensile strength up to 25% of ultimate tensile strength (UTS) at critical hydrogen concentrations determined to be about 1.1 wt.ppm and 50% of UTS at hydrogen concentrations of 2 wt. Read More

This report outlines the key modalities and procedures for the Innovation Fund and focuses on the potential funding implications for CCUS projects. The assessment of the suitability of the Innovation Fund for CCS projects has been completed based on discussion during a workshop hosted by the EU CCUS Projects Network in October 2019. This session was part of the Network’s Thematic Group on Policy Regulation and Public Perception. The session Read More

The European Community requires a vehicle-level bonfire test for vehicles using plastic fuel tanks for conventional fuels (ECE R-34 Annex 5). A similar test could be applied to hydrogen-fuelled vehicles. It would test a realistic vehicle with its complete fuel and safety systems. An advantage of such a test is that the same test could be applied independent of the hydrogen storage technology (compressed gas liquid or hydride). There are currently standard Read More

This paper discusses the optimization of hybrid power systems which consist of solar cells wind turbines fuel cells hydrogen electrolysis chemical hydrogen generation and batteries. Because hybrid power systems have multiple energy sources and utilize different types of storage we first developed a general hybrid power model using the Matlab/SimPowerSystemTM and then tuned model parameters based on the experimental results. This model was s Read More

Hydrogen is an ideal clean energy source that can be used as an energy storage medium for renewable energy sources. The water electrolysis hydrogen production technology which is one of the mainstream hydrogen production methods can be used to produce high-purity hydrogen and other energy sources can be converted into hydrogen storage by electrolysis. Hydrogen production by alkaline water electrolysis and hydrogen production by PEM elect Read More

The electrolysis of water for sustainable hydrogen producing is a crucial segment of various emerging clean-energy technologies. However pursuing an efficient and cheap alternative catalyst to substitute state-of-the-art platinum-group electrocatalysts remains a prerequisite for the commercialization of this technology. Typically precious-metal-free catalysts have always much lower activities towards hydrogen production than that of Pt-group catalysts. Read More

An important contribution to industry standards and to effective installation of hybrid renewable energy systems is evaluation of hydrogen (H2) monitoring techniques under pilot-scale and/or real-world conditions. We have designed a hybrid system to integrate solar power electrolysis and hydrogen fuel cell components in a DC micro-grid with capacity to evaluate novel nanomaterials for enhanced H2 gas sensing performance. In general enhanced hy Read More

The building system is one of key energy consumption sector in the market and low-carbon building will make a significant contribution for the worldwide carbon emission reduction. The multiple energy systems including renewable generations hydrogen energy and energy storage is the perspective answer to the net-zero building system. However the research gap lies in the synergy power management among the renewable flexible loads batteries and Read More

As a promising hydrogen storage material the practical application of magnesium is obstructed by the stable thermodynamics and sluggish kinetics. In this paper three kinds of NiTiO3 catalysts with different mole ratio of Ni to Ti were successfully synthesized and doped into nanocrystalline Mg to improve its hydrogen storage properties. Experimental results indicated that all the Mg-NiTiO3 composites showed prominent hydrogen storage performance. Read More

The current global consumption of natural gas as a fuel is roughly 4 trillion cubic meters per year. In terms of energy the demand for natural gas exceeds the global demand for fossil fuels for transportation. Despite this observation the challenges to natural gas end use that arise when changing the composition of the fuel are largely absent from public policy and research agendas whereas for transportation fuels the issues are more appreciated. Natural gas Read More

The industrial sector is the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gases hence a methodology for decarbonizing factory systems is crucial for achieving global climate goals. Hydrogen is an important medium for the transition towards carbon neutral factories due to its broad applicability within the factory including its use in electricity and heat generation and as a process gas or fuel. One of the main challenges is the identification of economi Read More

The utilization of the captured CO2 as a carbon source for the production of energy storage media offers a technological solution for overcoming crucial issues in current energy systems. Solar energy production generally does not match with energy demand because of its intermittent and non-programmable nature entailing the adoption of storage technologies. Hydrogen constitutes a chemical storage for renewable electricity if it is produced by water Read More

UK homes are primarily heated by fossil fuels and contribute 13% of UK’s carbon footprint (equivalent to all the UK’s 38.4m cars). The report says this is incompatible with UK climate legislation targeting net-zero economy by 2050. New polling finds that consumers are open to cleaner greener ways to heat their homes into the future but that they are “still in the dark about smarter greener heating solutions and lack access to independent advice to h Read More

Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have clear societal and environmental benefits and can help mitigate the issues of climate change urban air pollution and oil dependence. In order for FCVs to have the biggest impact on these issues they need to be employed in large numbers. First though they need to be adopted by consumers. Their acceptance depends on positive consumer attitudes towards the vehicles. Currently there is a limited understanding within th Read More

Under the dual pressure of energy conservation and environmental protection the internal combustion engine industry is facing huge challenges and it is imperative to find new clean energy. Hydrogen energy is expected to replace traditional fossil fuels as an excellent fuel for internal combustion engines because of its clean continuous regeneration and good combustion performance. This review article focuses on the research and development of Read More

Water electrolysis is a promising technology for enabling the storage of surplus electricity produced by intermittent renewable power sources in the form of hydrogen. At the core of this technology is the electrolyte and whether this is acidic or alkaline affects the reaction mechanisms gas purities and is of significant importance for the stability and activity of the electrocatalysts. This article presents a simple but precise physical model to describe the Read More

The Republic of Djibouti has untapped potential in terms of renewable energy resources such as geothermal wind and solar energy. This study examines the economic feasibility of green hydrogen production by water electrolysis using wind and geothermal energy resources in the Asal–Ghoubbet Rift (AG Rift) Republic of Djibouti. It is the first study in Africa that compares the cost per kg of green hydrogen produced by wind and geothermal energy from Read More

The climate changes that are becoming visible today are a challenge for the global research community. The stationary applications sector is one of the most important energy consumers. Harnessing the potential of renewable energy worldwide is currently being considered to find alternatives for obtaining energy by using technologies that offer maximum efficiency and minimum pollution. In this context new energy generation technologies are needed to bo Read More

With the growing success of green hydrogen the general trend is for increased hydrogen production and large quantities of storage. Engie’s projects have grown from a few kilos of hydrogen to the quest for large scale production and associated storage – e.g. several tons or tens of tons. Although a positive sign for Engie’s projects it does inevitably result in challenges in new storage methods and in risks management related to such facilities; particularly w Read More

Renewable energy is considered the one of the most promising solutions to meet sustainable development goals in terms of climate change mitigation. Today we face the problem of further scaling up renewable energy infrastructure which requires the creation of reliable energy storages environmentally friendly carriers like hydrogen and competitive international markets. These issues provoke the involvement of resource-based countries in the energy tra Read More

Magnesium alloys have been widely studied as materials for temporary implants but their use has been limited by their corrosion rate. Recently coatings have been proven to provide an effective barrier. Though only little explored in the field Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) stands out as a coating technology due to the outstanding film conformality and density achievable. Here we provide first insights into the corrosion behavior and the induced biological resp Read More

The application of newly available technologies in the green maritime sector is difficult due to conflicting requirements and the inter-relation of different ecological technological and economical parameters. The governments incentivize radical reductions in harmful emissions as an overall priority. If the politics do not change the continuous implementation of stricter government regulations for reducing emissions will eventually result in the mandatory us Read More

The characterization of liquid hydrogen (LH2) releases has been identified as an international research priority to facilitate the safe use of hydrogen as an energy carrier. Empirical field measurements such as those afforded by Hydrogen Wide Area Monitoring can elucidate the behavior of LH2 releases which can then be used to support and validate dispersion models. Hydrogen Wide Area Monitoring can be defined as the quantitative three-dimensional Read More

With Japan’s current plans to reach a fully decarbonized society by 2050 and establish a hydrogen society substantial changes to its energy system need to be made. Due to the limited land availability in Japan significant amounts of hydrogen are planned to be imported to reach both targets. In this paper a novel stochastic version of the open-source multi-sectoral Global Energy System Model in conjunction with a power system dispatch model is used to an Read More

A new report to the Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy from the Parliamentary Advisory Group on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) advises that that the UK  should kickstart CCS in order to save consumers billions a year from the cost of meeting climate change targets.