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Optimal Decarbonisation Pathways for the Italian Energy System: Modelling a Long-term Energy Transition to Achieve Zero Emission by 2050
May 2024
Publication
The goal of achieving a zero-emission energy system by 2050 requires accurate energy planning to minimise the overall cost of the energy transition. Long-term energy models based on cost-optimal solutions are extremely dependent on the cost forecasts of different technologies. However such forecasts are inherently uncertain. The aim of the present work is to identify a cost-optimal pathway for the Italian energy system decarbonisation and assess how renewable cost scenarios can affect the optimal solution. The analysis has been carried out with the H2RES model a single-objective optimisation algorithm based on Linear Programming. Different cost scenarios for photovoltaics on-shore and off-shore wind power and lithium-ion batteries are simulated. Results indicate that a 100% renewable energy system in Italy is technically feasible. Power-to-X technologies are crucial for balancing purposes enabling a share of non-dispatchable generation higher than 90%. Renewable cost scenarios affect the energy mix however both on-shore and off-shore wind saturate the maximum capacity potential in almost all scenarios. Cost forecasts for lithium-ion batteries have a significant impact on their optimal capacity and the role of hydrogen. Indeed as battery costs rise fuel cells emerge as the main solution for balancing services. This study emphasises the importance of conducting cost sensitivity analyses in long-term energy planning. Such analyses can help to determine how changes in cost forecasts may affect the optimal strategies for decarbonising national energy systems.
Environmental Life-cycle Analysis of Hydrogen Technology in the United States
Oct 2024
Publication
Hydrogen is a zero-carbon energy carrier with potential to decarbonize industrial and transportation sectors but its life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions depend on its energy supply chain and carbon management measures (e.g. carbon capture and storage). Global support for clean hydrogen production and use has recently intensified. In the United States Congress passed several laws that incentivize the production and use of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022 which provides tax credits of up to $3/kg depending on the carbon intensity of the produced hydrogen. A comprehensive life-cycle accounting of GHG emissions associated with hydrogen production is needed to determine the carbon intensity of hydrogen throughout its value chain. In the United States Argonne’s R&D GREET® (Greenhouse Gases Regulated emissions and Energy use in Technologies) model has been widely used for hydrogen carbon intensity calculations. This paper describes the major hydrogen technology pathways considered in the United States and provides data sources and carbon intensity results for each of the hydrogen production and delivery pathways using consistent system boundaries and most recent technology performance and supply chain data.
Hydrogen Blending in Natural Gas Pipelines: A Comprehensive Review of Material Compatibility and Safety Considerations
Nov 2024
Publication
The increasing demand for energy and the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions have positioned hydrogen as a promising alternative. This review paper explores the potential of hydrogen blending in natural gas pipelines focusing on the compatibility of pipeline materials and the associated safety challenges. Hydrogen blending can significantly reduce carbon emissions from homes and industries as demonstrated by various projects in Canada and globally. However the introduction of hydrogen into natural gas pipelines poses risks such as hydrogenassisted materials degradation which can compromise the integrity of pipeline materials. This study reviews the effects of hydrogen on the mechanical properties of both vintage and modern pipeline steels cast iron copper aluminum stainless steel as well as plastics elastomers and odorants that compose an active natural gas pipeline network. The review highlights the need for updated codes and standards to ensure safe operation and discusses the implications of hydrogen on material selection design and safety considerations. Overall this manuscript aims to provide a comprehensive resource on the current state of pipeline materials in the context of hydrogen blending emphasizing the importance of further research to address the gaps in current knowledge and to develop robust guidelines for the integration of hydrogen into existing natural gas infrastructure.
Great Britain's Hydrogen Infrastructure Development - Investment Priorities and Locational Flexibility
Aug 2024
Publication
Future pathways for Great Britain’s energy system decarbonization have highlighted the importance of lowcarbon hydrogen as an energy carrier and demand flexibility support. However the potential application within various sectors (heating industry transport) and production capacity through different technologies (methane reformation with carbon capture biomass gasification electrolysis) is highly varying introducing substantial uncertainties for hydrogen infrastructure development. This study sets out infrastructure priorities and identifies locational flexibility for hydrogen supply and demand options. Advances on limitations of previous research are made by developing an open-source model of the hydrogen system of Great Britain based on three Net Zero scenarios set out by National Grid in their Future Energy Scenarios in high temporal and spatial resolution. The model comprehensively covers demand sectors and supply options in addition to extending the locational considerations of the Future Energy Scenarios. This study recommends prioritizing the establishment of green hydrogen hubs in the near-term aligning with demands for synthetic fuels production industry and power which can facilitate the subsequent roll out of up to 10GW of hydrogen production capacity by 2050. The analysis quantifies a high proportion of hydrogen supply and demand which can be located flexibly.
Numerical Simulation of Transition to Detonation in a Hydrogen-air Mixture Due to Shock Wave Focusing on a 90-Deg Wedge
Sep 2023
Publication
The interaction of a shock wave with a specific angle or concave wall due to its reflection and focusing is a way to onset the detonation provided sufficiently strong shock wave. In this work we present numerical simulation results of the detonation initiation due to the shock reflection and focusing in a 90-degree wedge for mixtures of H2 and air. The code used was ddtFoam [1–3] that is a component of the larger OpenFOAM open-source CFD package of density-based code for solving the unsteady compressible Navier-Stokes equations. The numerical model represents the 2-D geometry of the experiments performed by Rudy [4]. The numerical results revealed three potential scenarios in the corner after reflection: shock wave reflection without ignition deflagrative ignition with intermediate transient regimes with a delayed transition to detonation in lagging combustion zone at around 1.8 mm from the apex of the wedge and ignition with an instantaneous transition to detonation with the formation of the detonation wave in the corner tip. In the experimental investigation the transition velocity for the stoichiometric mixture was approximately 715 m/s while in the numerical simulation the transition velocity for the stoichiometric mixture was 675.65 m/s 5.5% decrease in velocity.
Climate Change Mitigation Potentials of on Grid-connected Power-to-X Fuels and Advanced Biofuels for the European Maritime Transport
Jul 2023
Publication
This study proposes a country-based life-cycle assessment (LCA) of several conversion pathways related 10 to both on grid-connected Power-to-X (PtX) fuels and advanced biofuel production for maritime transport 11 in Europe. We estimate the biomass resource availability (both agricultural and forest residues and 12 second-generation energy crops from abandoned cropland) electricity mix and a future-oriented 13 prospective LCA to assess how future climate change mitigation policies influence the results. Our results 14 indicate that the potential of PtX fuels to achieve well-to-wake greenhouse gas intensities lower than 15 those of fossil fuels is limited to countries with a carbon intensity of the electricity mix below 100 gCO2eq kWh-1 16 . The more ambitious FuelEU Maritime goal could be achieved with PtX only if connected to electricity sources below ca. 17 gCO2eq kWh-1 17 which can become possible for most of the national 18 electricity mix in Europe by 2050 if renewable energy sources will become deployed at large scales. For 19 drop-in and hydrogen-based biofuels biomass residues have a higher potential to reduce emissions than 20 dedicated energy crops. In Europe the potentials of energy supply from all renewable and low-carbon 21 fuels (RLFs) range from 32-149% of the current annual fuel consumption in European maritime transport. 22 The full deployment of RLFs with carbon capture and storage technologies could mitigate up to 184% of 23 the current well-to-wake shipping emissions in Europe. Overall our study highlights how the strategic use 24 of both hydrogen-based biofuels and PtX fuels can contribute to the climate mitigation targetsfor present 25 and future scenarios of European maritime transport.
Hydrogen as Fuel in the Maritime Sector: From Production to Propulsion
Nov 2024
Publication
The maritime sector plays a crucial role in global trade yet its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions remains significant. The adoption of hydrogen as a clean energy solution is gaining traction to address this. This review paper delves into the opportunities and challenges of integrating hydrogen as a marine fuel. The entire hydrogen supply chain is investigated from production to end use highlighting advancements limitations and potential safety risks. Key findings reveal that while hydrogen offers promise for reducing emissions its widespread adoption requires a well-established production storage and distribution infrastructure. Challenges persist in large-scale storage transportation and bunkering particularly in addressing space limitations and ensuring safety protocols. Propulsion systems such as internal combustion engines gas turbines and fuel cells show po tential for hydrogen adoption yet further research is needed to optimize efficiency and address technical con straints. Safety considerations also appear prominently necessitating comprehensive bunkering operations and hazard management protocols. Addressing knowledge gaps is imperative for successfully integrating hydrogen as a marine fuel. Future research should focus on optimizing storage methods developing efficient propulsion systems and enhancing safety measures to enhance hydrogen utilization in the maritime sector.
Energy Hub Model for the Massive Adoption of Hydrogen in Power Systems
Sep 2024
Publication
A promising energy carrier and storage solution for integrating renewable energies into the power grid currently being investigated is hydrogen produced via electrolysis. It already serves various purposes but it might also enable the development of hydrogen-based electricity storage systems made up of electrolyzers hydrogen storage systems and generators (fuel cells or engines). The adoption of hydrogen-based technologies is strictly linked to the electrification of end uses and to multicarrier energy grids. This study introduces a generic method to integrate and optimize the sizing and operation phases of hydrogen-based power systems using an energy hub optimization model which can manage and coordinate multiple energy carriers and equipment. Furthermore the uncertainty related to renewables and final demands was carefully assessed. A case study on an urban microgrid with high hydrogen demand for mobility demonstrates the method’s applicability showing how the multi-objective optimization of hydrogen-based power systems can reduce total costs primary energy demand and carbon equivalent emissions for both power grids and mobility down to −145%. Furthermore the adoption of the uncertainty assessment can give additional benefits allowing a downsizing of the equipment.
Industrial Decarbonization through Blended Combustion of Natural Gas and Hydrogen
Aug 2024
Publication
The transition to cleaner energy sources particularly in hard-to-abate industrial sectors often requires the gradual integration of new technologies. Hydrogen crucial for decarbonization is explored as a fuel in blended combustions. Blending or replacing fuels impacts combustion stability and heat transfer rates due to differing densities. An extensive literature review examines blended combustion focusing on hydrogen/methane mixtures. While industrial burners claim to accommodate up to 20% hydrogen theoretical support is lacking. A novel thermodynamic analysis methodology is introduced evaluating methane/hydrogen combustion using the Wobbe index. The findings highlight practical limitations beyond 25% hydrogen volume necessitating a shift to “totally hydrogen” combustion. Blended combustion can be proposed as a medium-term strategy acknowledging hydrogen’s limited penetration. Higher percentages require burner and infrastructure redesign.
Green Hydrogen Energy Production: Current Status and Potential
Jan 2024
Publication
The technique of producing hydrogen by utilizing green and renewable energy sources is called green hydrogen production. Therefore by implementing this technique hydrogen will become a sustainable and clean energy source by lowering greenhouse gas emissions and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. The key beneft of producing green hydrogen by utilizing green energy is that no harmful pollutants or greenhouse gases are directly released throughout the process. Hence to guarantee all of the environmental advantages it is crucial to consider the entire hydrogen supply chain involving storage transportation and end users. Hydrogen is a promising clean energy source and targets plan pathways towards decarbonization and net-zero emissions by 2050. This paper has highlighted the techniques for generating green hydrogen that are needed for a clean environment and sustainable energy solutions. Moreover it summarizes an overview outlook and energy transient of green hydrogen production. Consequently its perspective provides new insights and research directions in order to accelerate the development and identify the potential of green hydrogen production.
Well Integrity in Salt Cavern Hydrogen Storage
Jul 2024
Publication
Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in salt caverns is a sustainable energy solution to reduce global warming. Salt rocks provide an exceptional insulator to store natural hydrogen as they have low porosity and permeability. Nevertheless the salt creeping nature and hydrogeninduced impact on the operational infrastructure threaten the integrity of the injection/production wells. Furthermore the scarcity of global UHS initiatives indicates that investigations on well integrity remain insufficient. This study strives to profoundly detect the research gap and imperative considerations for well integrity preservation in UHS projects. The research integrates the salt critical characteristics the geomechanical and geochemical risks and the necessary measurements to maintain well integrity. The casing mechanical failure was found as the most challenging threat. Furthermore the corrosive and erosive effects of hydrogen atoms on cement and casing may critically put the well integrity at risk. The research also indicated that the simultaneous impact of temperature on the salt creep behavior and hydrogen-induced corrosion is an unexplored area that has scope for further research. This inclusive research is an up-to-date source for analysis of the previous advancements current shortcomings and future requirements to preserve well integrity in UHS initiatives implemented within salt caverns.
Hydrogen Production from Low-quality Water: Challenges and Perspectives
Sep 2022
Publication
The Next Generation EU plan fosters the development of a large capacity for hydrogen generation. However water and energy resources are strictly connected to an indissoluble nexus. For that water electrolysis may counteract the coexistence of two primary UNO Sustainable Development Goals humankind must face to achieve a prosperous and equal society namely SDG 7 (Affordable access to renewable energy sources) and SDG 6 (clean water). To design innovative energy systems implementing hydrogen as an efficient and sustainable vector water resources need careful management and energy use ought not to compete with freshwater delivery. Therefore the present study reviews the technologies available for hydrogen production and their fitness to water quality standards. Among the feeding possibilities to be scrutinized wastewaters and saline waters are worth attention. Each source of water asks for a specific design and management of the water treatment pre-process. Since these steps are energydemanding in some applications the direct use of low-quality water to produce hydrogen may be envisaged. An example is the direct feeding of seawater to Solid Oxide Electrolysers (SOE). SOEs appear more promising than commercial low-temperature electrolysis systems since water steam production integrates the function of preliminary water treatment.
A Review of Type V Composite Pressure Vessels and Automated Fibre Placement Based Manufacturing
Feb 2023
Publication
Hydrogen is emerging as a promising future energy medium in a wide range of industries. For mobile applica tions it is commonly stored in a gaseous state within high-pressure composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs). The current state of the art pressure vessel technology known as Type V eliminates the internal polymer gas barrier used in Type IV vessels and instead relies on carbon fibre laminate to provide structural properties and prevent gas leakage. Achieving this functionality at high pressure poses several engineering challenges that have thus far prohibited commercial application. Additionally the traditional manufacturing process for COPVs filament winding has several constraints that limit the design space. Automated fibre placement (AFP) a highly flexible robotic composites manufacturing technique has the potential to replace filament winding for composite pressure vessel manufacturing and provide pathways for further vessel optimi sation. A combination of both AFP and Type V technology could provide an avenue for a new generation of highperformance composite pressure vessels. This critical review presents key work on industry-standard Type IV vessels alongside the current state of Type V CPV technology including manufacturing developments challenges cost relevance to commercial standards and future fabrication solutions using AFP. Additionally a novel Type V CPV design concept for a two-piece AFP produced vessel is presented.
An Overview of the Photocatalytic Water Splitting over Suspended Particles
Jan 2021
Publication
The conversion of solar to chemical energy is one of the central processes considered in the emerging renewable energy economy. Hydrogen production from water splitting over particulate semiconductor catalysts has often been proposed as a simple and a cost-effective method for largescale production. In this review we summarize the basic concepts of the overall water splitting (in the absence of sacrificial agents) using particulate photocatalysts with a focus on their synthetic methods and the role of the so-called “co-catalysts”. Then a focus is then given on improving light absorption in which the Z-scheme concept and the overall system efficiency are discussed. A section on reactor design and cost of the overall technology is given where the possibility of the different technologies to be deployed at a commercial scale and the considerable challenges ahead are discussed. To date the highest reported efficiency of any of these systems is at least one order of magnitude lower than that deserving consideration for practical applications.
A Comparative Total Cost of Ownership Analysis of Heavy Duty On-road and Off-road Vehicles Powered by Hydrogen, Electricity, and Diesel
Dec 2022
Publication
This study investigated the cost competitiveness using total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in heavy duty on and off-road fleet applications as a key enabler in the decarbonisation of the transport sector and compares results to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and diesel internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). Assessments were carried out for a present day (2021) scenario and a sensitivity analysis assesses the impact of changing input parameters on FCEV TCO. This identified conditions under which FCEVs become competitive. A future outlook is also carried out examining the impact of time-sensitive parameters on TCO when net zero targets are to be reached in the UK and EU. Several FCEVs are cost competitive with ICEVs in 2021 but not BEVs under base case conditions. However FCEVs do have potential to become competitive with BEVs under specific conditions favouring hydrogen including the application of purchase grants and a reduced hydrogen price. By 2050 a number of FCEVs running on several hydrogen scenarios show a TCO lower than ICEVs and BEVs using rapid chargers but for the majority of vehicles considered BEVs remain the lowest in cost unless specific FCEV incentives are implemented. This paper has identified key factors hindering the deployment of hydrogen and conducted comprehensive TCO analysis in heavy duty on and off-road fleet applications. The output has direct contribution to the decarbonisation of the transport sector.
Cost and Competitiveness of Green Hydrogen and the Effects of the European Union Regulatory Framework
May 2024
Publication
By passing the delegated acts supplementing the revised Renewable Energy Directive the European Commission has recently set a regulatory benchmark for the classifcation of green hydrogen in the European Union. Controversial reactions to the restricted power purchase for electrolyser operation refect the need for more clarity about the efects of the delegated acts on the cost and the renewable characteristics of green hydrogen. To resolve this controversy we compare diferent power purchase scenarios considering major uncertainty factors such as electricity prices and the availability of renewables in various European locations. We show that the permission for unrestricted electricity mix usage does not necessarily lead to an emission intensity increase partially debilitating concerns by the European Commission and could notably decrease green hydrogen production cost. Furthermore our results indicate that the transitional regulations adopted to support a green hydrogen production ramp-up can result in similar cost reductions and ensure high renewable electricity usage.
Water Electrolysis and Hydrogen in the European Union - Status Report on Technology Development, Trends, Value Chains & Markets
Jan 2024
Publication
This report is an output of the Clean Energy Technology Observatory (CETO) and is an update of the “Water electrolysis and hydrogen in the European Union” 2023 CETO report. CETO’s objective is to provide an evidencebased analysis feeding the policy making process and hence increasing the effectiveness of R&I policies for clean energy technologies and solutions. It monitors EU research and innovation activities on clean energy technologies needed for the delivery of the European Green Deal; and assesses the competitiveness of the EU clean energy sector and its positioning in the global energy market. CETO is being implemented by the Joint Research Centre for DG Research and Innovation Energy in coordination with DG Energy.
Assessment of Hydrogen Transport Aircraft
Sep 2022
Publication
Zero-carbon-dioxide-emitting hydrogen-powered aircraft have in recent decades come back on the stage as promising protagonists in the fght against global warming. The main cause for the reduced performance of liquid hydrogen aircraft lays in the fuel storage which demands the use of voluminous and heavy tanks. Literature on the topic shows that the optimal fuel storage solution depends on the aircraft range category but most studies disagree on which solution is optimal for each category. The objective of this research was to identify and compare possible solutions to the integration of the hydrogen fuel containment system on regional short/medium- and large passenger aircraft and to understand why and how the optimal tank integration strategy depends on the aircraft category. This objective was pursued by creating a design and analysis framework for CS-25 aircraft capable of appreciating the efects that diferent combinations of tank structure fuselage diameter tank layout shape venting pressure and pressure control generate at aircraft level. Despite that no large diferences among categories were found the following main observations were made: (1) using an integral tank structure was found to be increasingly more benefcial with increasing aircraft range/size. (2) The use of a forward tank in combination with the aft one appeared to be always benefcial in terms of energy consumption. (3) The increase in fuselage diameter is detrimental especially when an extra aisle is not required and a double-deck cabin is not feasible. (4) Direct venting has when done efciently a small positive efect. (5) The optimal venting pressure varies with the aircraft confguration performance and mission. The impact on performance from sizing the tank for missions longer than the harmonic one was also quantifed.
Offshore Wind Power—Seawater Electrolysis—Salt Cavern Hydrogen Storage Coupling System: Potential and Challenges
Jan 2025
Publication
Offshore wind power construction has seen significant development due to the high density of offshore wind energy and the minimal terrain restrictions for offshore wind farms. However integrating this energy into the grid remains a challenge. The scientific community is increasingly focusing on hydrogen as a means to enhance the integration of these fluctuating renewable energy sources. This paper reviews the research on renewable energy power generation water electrolysis for hydrogen production and large-scale hydrogen storage. By integrating the latest advancements we propose a system that couples offshore wind power generation seawater electrolysis (SWE) for hydrogen production and salt cavern hydrogen storage. This coupling system aims to address practical issues such as the grid integration of offshore wind power and large-scale hydrogen storage. Regarding the application potential of this coupling system this paper details the advantages of developing renewable energy and hydrogen energy in Jiangsu using this system. While there are still some challenges in the application of this system it undeniably offers a new pathway for coastal cities to advance renewable energy development and sets a new direction for hydrogen energy progress.
New Development Paths through Green Hydrogen? An Ex-ante Assessment of Structure and Agency in Chile and Namibia
Jan 2025
Publication
Many developing countries seek to participate in the emerging global green hydrogen industry not only as exporters of green hydrogen and its derivatives to Europe and the Far East but also to use it for their own energy security and green transition. They hope that new development paths will lead to late-comer industrialisation. This article assesses corresponding prospects in Chile and Namibia two countries that pursue particularly ambitious plans on green hydrogen. To better understand the chances for path creation ex ante the authors draft an innovative framework that refers to context factors – that is structure – and three types of transformative agency. Against the backdrop of information from secondary sources and a series of expert interviews they uncover sound institutional reforms and initiatives of place-based leadership to promote the green hydrogen industry. However Chile and Namibia lack Schumpeterian entrepreneurship. It therefore remains to be seen whether new development paths will be inclusive contributing to in-country development. Typical downsides of extractive industries in resource peripheries might occur.
Simulation of PEM Electrolyzer Power Management with Renewable Generation in Owerri, Nigeria
Jan 2025
Publication
Proton exchange membrane electrolyzers are an attractive technology for hydrogen production due to their high efficiency low maintenance cost and scalability. To receive these benefits however electrolyzers require high power reliability and have relatively high demand. Due to their intermittent nature integrating renewable energy sources like solar and wind has traditionally resulted in a supply too sporadic to consistently power a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer. This study develops an electrolyzer model operating with renewable energy sources at a highly instrumented university site. The simulation uses dynamic models of photovoltaic solar and wind systems to develop models capable of responding to changing climatic and seasonal conditions. The aim therefore is to observe the feasibility of operating a proton exchange membrane system fuel cell yearround at optimal efficiency. To address the problem of feasibility with dynamic renewable generation a case study demonstrates the proposed energy management system. A site with a river onsite is chosen to ensure sufficient wind resources. Aside from assessing the feasibility of pairing renewable generation with proton exchange membrane systems this project shows a reduction in the intermittency plaguing previous designs. Finally the study quantifies the performance and effectiveness of the PEM energy management system design. Overall this study highlights the potential of proton exchange membrane electrolysis as a critical technology for sustainable hydrogen production and the importance of modeling and simulation techniques in achieving its full potential.
Electrochemical Sensor for Hydrogen Leakage Detection at Room Temperature
Jan 2025
Publication
The use of hydrogen as fuel presents many safety challenges due to its flammability and explosive nature combined with its lack of color taste and odor. The purpose of this paper is to present an electrochemical sensor that can achieve rapid and accurate detection of hydrogen leakage. This paper presents both the component elements of the sensor like sensing material sensing element and signal conditioning as well as the electronic protection and signaling module of the critical concentrations of H2. The sensing material consists of a catalyst type Vulcan XC72 40% Pt from FuelCellStore (Bryan TX USA). The sensing element is based on a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) system that includes a cathode electrode an ion-conducting membrane type Nafion 117 from FuelCellStore (Bryan TX USA). and an anode electrode mounted in a coin cell type CR2016 from Xiamen Tob New Energy Technology Co. Ltd (Xiamen City Fujian Province China). The electronic block for electrical signal conditioning which is delivered by the sensing element uses an INA111 from Burr-Brown by Texas Instruments Corporation (Dallas TX USA). instrumentation operational amplifier. The main characteristics of the electrochemical sensor for hydrogen leakage detection are operation at room temperature so it does not require a heater maximum amperometric response time of 1 s fast recovery time of maximum 1 s and extended range of hydrogen concentrations detection in a range of up to 20%.
The Effect of Carbon Taxonomy on Renewable Hydrogen Production: A Techno-economic and Environmental Assessment
Dec 2024
Publication
From navigating the rainbow of colours to the lack of consensus in establishing a common taxonomy the labelling and definition of green or renewable hydrogen presents a growing challenge. In this context carbon taxonomy is understood through five critical aspects: carbon intensity temporal and geographical correlation additionality of renewable energy generation and different system boundaries in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This study examines the effect of carbon taxonomy on the design and operation of Power-to-Gas (PtG) systems for renewable hydrogen production including the electricity supply portfolio via Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and grid-connected electrolysis. To this end an optimisation model combining energy system modelling and LCA is developed and then applied to a case study in the Japanese context. The importance of the PPA portfolio in securing cheap and low-carbon electricity to produce hydrogen is addressed. To support this evaluation process an eco-efficiency metric is introduced and proved to be a comprehensive tool for evaluating renewable hydrogen production. Regarding carbon taxonomies the findings emphasize additionality as the key determinant factor followed by temporal correlation and the definition of carbon intensity thresholds. The application of a cradle-togate LCA boundary influenced the cabron intensity accounting playing an unexpected role on the design and optimal PtG dispatch strategy.
Assessing the Feasibility of a Green Hydrogen Economy in Selected African Regions with Composite Indicators
Jan 2025
Publication
This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the feasibility of green hydrogen economies in Western and Southern African regions focusing on the ECOWAS and SADC countries. Utilizing a novel approach based on composite indicators the research evaluates the potential readiness and overall feasibility of green hydrogen production and export across these regions. The study incorporates various factors including the technical potential of renewable energy sources water resource availability energy security and existing infrastructure for transport and export. Country-specific analyses reveal unique insights into the diverse potential of nations like South Africa Lesotho Ghana Nigeria Angola and Namibia each with its unique strengths and challenges in the context of green hydrogen. The research findings underscore the complexity of developing green hydrogen economies highlighting the need for nuanced region-specific approaches that consider technical socioeconomic geopolitical and environmental factors. The paper concludes that cooperation and integration between countries in the regions may be crucial for the success of a future green hydrogen economy
Bridging the Gap: Public Perception and Acceptance of Hydrogen Technology in the Philippines
Jan 2025
Publication
This study examines the effects of transitioning to hydrogen production in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Palawan Province Philippines focusing on technology environment and stakeholder impact. This research conducted through a July 2022 survey aimed to assess public awareness knowledge risk perception and acceptance of hydrogen and its environmentally friendly variant green hydrogen infrastructure. Disparities were found between urban NCR and rural Palawan with lower awareness in Palawan. Safety concerns were highlighted with NCR respondents generally considering hydrogen production safe while Palawan respondents had mixed feelings particularly regarding nuclear-based hydrogen generation. This report emphasizes the potential ecological advantages of hydrogen technology but highlights potential issues concerning water usage and land impacts. It suggests targeted public awareness campaigns robust safety assurance programs regional pilot projects and integrated environmental plans to facilitate the seamless integration of hydrogen technology into the Philippines’ energy portfolio. This collective effort aims to help the country meet climate action obligations foster sustainable development and enhance energy resilience.
Influence of Safety Culture on Safety Outcomes of a Hydrogen–CCS Plant
Jan 2025
Publication
: This article investigates how safety culture impacts the safety performance of blue hydrogen projects. Blue hydrogen refers to decarbonized hydrogen produced through natural gas reforming with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. It is crucial to decide on a suitable safety policy to avoid potential injuries financial losses and loss of public goodwill. The system dynamics approach is a suitable tool for studying the impact of factors controlling safety culture. This study examines the interactions between influencing factors and implications of various strategies using what-if analyses. The conventional risk and safety assessments fail to consider the interconnectedness between the technical system and its social envelope. After identifying the key factors influencing safety culture a system dynamics model will be developed to evaluate the impact of those factors on the safety performance of the facility. The emphasis on safety culture is directed by the necessity to prevent major disasters that could threaten a company’s survival as well as to prevent minor yet disruptive incidents that may occur during day-to-day operations. Enhanced focus on safety culture is essential for maintaining an organization’s long-term viability. H2-CCS is a complex socio-technical system comprising interconnected subsystems and sub-subsystems. This study focuses on the safety culture sub-subsystem illustrating how human factors within the system contribute to the occurrence of incidents. The findings from this research study can assist in creating effective strategies to improve the sustainability of the operation. By doing so strategies can be formulated that not only enhance the integrity and reliability of an installation as well as its availability within the energy networks but also contribute to earning a good reputation in the community that it serves.
Hydrogen Leakage Location Prediction in a Fuel Cell System of Skid-Mounted Hydrogen Refueling Stations
Jan 2025
Publication
Hydrogen safety is a critical issue during the construction and development of the hydrogen energy industry. Hydrogen refueling stations play a pivotal role in the hydrogen energy chain. In the event of an accidental hydrogen leak at a hydrogen refueling station the ability to quickly predict the leakage location is crucial for taking immediate and effective measures to prevent disastrous consequences. Therefore the development of precise and efficient technologies to predict leakage locations is vital for the safe and stable operation of hydrogen refueling stations. This paper studied the localization technology of high-risk leakage locations in the fuel cell system of a skid-mounted hydrogen refueling station. The hydrogen leakage and diffusion processes in the fuel cell system were predicted using CFD simulations and the hydrogen concentration data at various monitoring points were obtained. Then a multilayer feedforward neural network was developed to predict leakage locations using simulated concentration data as training samples. After multiple adjustments to the network structure and hyperparameters a final model with two hidden layers was selected. Each hidden layer consisted of 10 neurons. The hyperparameters included a learning rate of 0.0001 a batch size of 32 and 10-fold cross-validation. The Softmax classifier and Adam optimizer were used with a training set for 1500 epochs. The results show that the algorithm can predict leakage locations not included in the training set. The accuracy achieved by the model was 95%. This approach addresses the limitations of sensor detection in accurately locating leaks and mitigates the risks associated with manual inspections. This paper provides a feasible method for locating hydrogen leakage in hydrogen energy application scenarios.
Techno-economic and Environmental Assessment of Green Hydrogen Production via Biogas Reforming with Membrane-based CO2 Capture
Jan 2025
Publication
Reduction of the carbon dioxide emissions is a vital important environmental element in achieving the global climate neutrality. The integration of renewables and the Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technologies is seen as an important pillar for overall decarbonization. This work presents several innovative concepts in which the biogas reforming process in integrated with pre- and post-combustion CO2 capture using membranes for green hydrogen production. The assessment evaluates the most relevant techno-economic and environmental performances for 100 MWth green hydrogen plant capacity. Several biogas reforming designs with and without CO2 capture capability were evaluated. In respect to the CO2 capture rate several pre- and postcombustion systems provided decarbonization yields between 55% up to 99%. The results show that the decarbonized membrane-based green hydrogen production shows attractive performances such as high energy efficiency (55–60%) reduced energy and cost penalties for CO2 capture (3.6–15.5 net efficiency points depending on the carbon capture rate) low specific CO2 emissions at system level (down to 2 kg/MWh green hydrogen) and overall negative carbon emission for whole biogas value chain (up to − 468 kg/MWh green hydrogen). This analysis clearly shows how the integration of renewables with CCUS technologies can deliver applications with negative CO2 emissions for climate neutrality.
HYDRIDE4MOBILITY: An EU Project on Hydrogen Powered Forklift using Metal Hydrides for Hydrogen Storage and H2 Compression
Jan 2025
Publication
Volodymyr A. Yartys,
Mykhaylo V. Lototskyy,
Ivan Tolj,
José Bellosta von Colbe,
Roman V. Denys,
Moegamat Wafeeq Davids,
S. Nyallang Nyamsi,
Dana Swanepoel,
V.V. Berezovets,
I.Yu. Zavaliy,
Suwarno Suwarno,
I.J. Puszkiel,
Julian Jepsen,
Inês Abreu Ferreira,
Claudio Pistidda,
Yuanyuan Shang,
Sivakumar Pasupathi and
Vladimir Linkov
The EU Horizon2020 RISE project 778307 “Hydrogen fuelled utility and their support systems utilising metal hydrides” (HYDRIDE4MOBILITY) worked on the commercialization of hydrogen powered forklifts using metal hydride (MH) based hydrogen stores. The project consortium joined forces of 9 academic and industrial partners from 4 countries. The work program included a) Development of the materials for hydrogen storage and compression; b) Theoretical modelling and optimisation of the materials performance and system integration; c) Advanced fibre reinforced composite cylinder systems for H2 storage and compression; d) System validation. Materials development was focused on i) Zr/Ti-based Laves type high entropy alloys; ii) Mg-rich composite materials; iii) REMNiSn intermetallics; iv) Mg based materials for the hydrolysis process; v) Cost-efficient alloys. For the optimized AB2±x alloys the Zr/Ti content was optimized at A = Zr78-88Ti12–22 while B=Ni10Mn5.83VFe. These alloys provided a) Low hysteresis of hydrogen absorption-desorption; b) Excellent kinetics of charge and discharge; c) Tailored thermodynamics; d) Long cycle life. Zr0.85Ti0.15TM2 alloy provided a reversible H storage and electrochemical capacity of 1.6 wt% H and 450 mAh/g. The tanks development targeted: i) High efficiency of heat and hydrogen exchange; ii) Reduction of the weight and increasing the working H2 pressure; iii) Modelling testing and optimizing the H2 stores with fast performance. The system for power generation was validated at the Implats plant in a fuel cell powered forklift with on-board MH hydrogen storage and on-site H2 refuelling. The outcome on the HYDRIDE4MOBILITY project (2017–2024) (http://hydride4mobility.fesb.unist. hr) was presented in 58 publications.
Mapping Local Green Hydrogen Cost-potentials by a Multidisciplinary Approach
Sep 2024
Publication
S. Ishmam,
Heidi Heinrichs,
C. Winkler,
B. Bayat,
Amin Lahnaoui,
Solomon Nwabueze Agbo,
E.U. Pena Sanchez,
David Franzmann,
N. Oijeabou,
C. Koerner,
Y. Michael,
B. Oloruntoba,
C. Montzka,
H. Vereecken,
H. Hendricks Franssen,
J. Brendtf,
S. Brauner,
S. Venghaus,
Daouda Kone,
Bruno Korgo,
Kehinde Olufunso Ogunjobi,
V. Chiteculo,
Jane Olwoch,
Z. Getenga,
Jochen Linßen,
Detlef Stolten and
Wilhelm Kuckshinrichs
For fast-tracking climate change response green hydrogen is key for achieving greenhouse gas neutral energy systems. Especially Sub-Saharan Africa can benefit from it enabling an increased access to clean energy through utilizing its beneficial conditions for renewable energies. However developing green hydrogen strategies for Sub-Saharan Africa requires highly detailed and consistent information ranging from technical environmental economic and social dimensions which is currently lacking in literature. Therefore this paper provides a comprehensive novel approach embedding the required range of disciplines to analyze green hydrogen costpotentials in Sub-Saharan Africa. This approach stretches from a dedicated land eligibility based on local preferences a location specific renewable energy simulation locally derived sustainable groundwater limitations under climate change an optimization of local hydrogen energy systems and a socio-economic indicator-based impact analysis. The capability of the approach is shown for case study regions in Sub-Saharan Africa highlighting the need for a unified interdisciplinary approach.
Setting Thresholds to Define Indifferences and Preferences in PROMETHEE for Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of European Hydrogen Production
Jun 2021
Publication
The Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) is a proven method for sustainability assessment. However the interpretation phase of an LCSA is challenging because many different single results are obtained. Additionally performing a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) is one way—not only for LCSA—to gain clarity about how to interpret the results. One common form of MCDAs are outranking methods. For these type of methods it becomes of utmost importance to clarify when results become preferable. Thus thresholds are commonly used to prevent decisions based on results that are actually indifferent between the analyzed options. In this paper a new approach is presented to identify and quantify such thresholds for Preference Ranking Organization METHod for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) based on uncertainty of Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methods. Common thresholds and this new approach are discussed using a case study on finding a preferred location for sustainable industrial hydrogen production comparing three locations in European countries. The single LCSA results indicated different preferences for the environmental economic and social assessment. The application of PROMETHEE helped to find a clear solution. The comparison of the newly-specified thresholds based on LCIA uncertainty with default thresholds provided important insights of how to interpret the LCSA results regarding industrial hydrogen production.
Essentials of Hydrogen Storage and Power Systems for Green Shipping
Jan 2025
Publication
This paper establishes a framework of boundary conditions for implementing hydrogen energy systems in ships identifying what is feasible within maritime constraints. To support a comprehensive understanding of hydrogen systems onboard vessels an extensive technical review of hydrogen storage and power systems is provided covering the entire power value chain. Key aspects include equipment arrangement integration of fuel cell powertrain and presentation of the complete storage system in compliance with regulations. Engineering considerations such as material selection and insulation equipment specifications (e.g. pressure relief valves and hydrogen purity) and system configurations are analysed. Key findings reveal that fuel cells must achieve operational lifespans exceeding 46000 h to be viable for maritime applications. Additionally reliance solely on volumetric energy density underestimates storage needs necessitating provisions for cofferdams ullage space tank heels and hydrogen conditioning areas. Regulatory gaps are identified including inadequate safety provisions and inappropriate material guidelines.
Renewable Hydrogen Trade, in a Global Decarbonised Energy System
Jan 2025
Publication
Renewable hydrogen has emerged as a potentially critical energy carrier for achieving climate change mitigation goals. International trade could play a key role in meeting hydrogen demand in a globally decarbonized energy system. To better understand this role we have developed a modelling framework that incorporates hydrogen supply and demand curves and a market equilibrium model to maximize social welfare. Applying this framework we investigate two scenarios: an unrestricted trade scenario where hydrogen trade is allowed between all regions globally and a regional independence scenario where trade is restricted to be intra-regional only. Under the unrestricted trade scenario global hydrogen demand could reach 234 Mt by 2050 with 31.2% met through international trade. Key trade routes identified include North Africa to Europe the Middle East to Developing Asia and South America to Japan and South Korea. In the regional independence scenario most regions could meet their demand domestically except for Japan and South Korea due to self-insufficiency. Finally this analysis reveals that producers in North Africa and South America are likely to gain more economic value from international trade compared to other producing regions. The results offer key insights for policymakers and investors for shaping future hydrogen trade policies and investment decisions.
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