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Can Hydrogen Production Be Economically Viable on the Existing Gas-Fired Power Plant Location? New Empirical Evidence
Apr 2023
Publication
The paper provides an economic model for the assessment of hydrogen production at the site of an existing thermal power plant which is then integrated into the existing gas grid. The model uses projections of electricity prices natural gas prices and CO2 prices as well as estimates of the cost of building a power-to-gas system for a 25-year period. The objective of this research is to calculate the yellow hydrogen production price for each lifetime year of the Power-to-gas system to evaluate yellow hydrogen competitiveness compared to the fossil alternatives. We test if an incentive scheme is needed to make this technology economically viable. The research also provides several sensitivity scenarios of electricity natural gas and CO2 price changes. Our research results clearly prove that yellow hydrogen is not yet competitive with fossil alternatives and needs incentive mechanisms for the time being. At given natural gas and CO2 prices the incentive for hydrogen production needs to be 52.90 EUR/MWh in 2025 and 36.18 EUR/MWh in 2050. However the role of hydrogen in the green transition could be very important as it provides ancillary services and balances energy sources in the power system.
Energy Efficiency Analysis of a Fuel Cell Bus Model Using Real Scenarios Generated by Data Collection
Feb 2024
Publication
Modernizing public transportation is crucial given the ongoing call for sustainable mobility. Growing concerns about climate change and the increasingly stringent emissions standards have compelled public transport operators to embrace alternative propulsion vehicles on a broader scale. For the past years the Battery Electric Buses (BEBs) have been the vehicle of choice for public transportation. However an emerging contender in this sector is the Fuel Cell Electric Bus (FCEB). This paper aims to evaluate the way one such vehicle would perform in terms of energy efficiency while being exploited in an urban scenario generated from collected data.
Parametric Study and Optimization of Hydrogen Production Systems Based on Solar/Wind Hybrid Renewable Energies: A Case Study in Kuqa, China
Jan 2024
Publication
Based on the concept of sustainable development to promote the development and application of renewable energy and enhance the capacity of renewable energy consumption this paper studies the design and optimization of renewable energy hydrogen production systems. For this paper six different scenarios for grid-connected and off-grid renewable energy hydrogen production systems were designed and analyzed economically and technically and the optimal grid-connected and off-grid systems were selected. Subsequently the optimal system solution was optimized by analyzing the impact of the load data and component capacity on the grid dependency of the grid-connected hydrogen production system and the excess power rate of the off-grid hydrogen production system. Based on the simulation results the most matched load data and component capacity of different systems after optimization were determined. The grid-supplied power of the optimized grid-connected hydrogen production system decreased by 3347 kWh and the excess power rate of the off-grid hydrogen production system decreased from 38.6% to 10.3% resulting in a significant improvement in the technical and economic performance of the system.
Optimal Energy Management of an Integrated Energy System with Multiple Hydrogen Sources
Sep 2023
Publication
Hydrogen is considered a promising alternative to fossil fuels in an integrated energy system (IES). In order to reduce the cost of hydrogen energy utilization and the carbon emissions of the IES this paper proposes a low-carbon dispatching strategy for a coordinated integrated energy system using green hydrogen and blue hydrogen. The strategy takes into account the economic and low-carbon complementarity between hydrogen production by water electrolysis and hydrogen production from natural gas. It introduces the green hydrogen production–storage–use module (GH-PSUM) and the blue hydrogen production–storage–use module (BH-PSUM) to facilitate the refined utilization of different types of hydrogen energy. Additionally the flexibility in hydrogen load supply is analyzed and the dynamic response mechanism of the hydrogen load supply structure (DRM-HLSS) is proposed to further reduce operating costs and carbon emissions. Furthermore a carbon trading mechanism (CTM) is introduced to constrain the carbon emissions of the integrated energy system. By comprehensively considering the constraints of each equipment the proposed model aims to minimize the total economic cost which includes wind power operation and curtailment penalty costs energy purchase costs blue hydrogen purification costs and carbon transaction costs. The rationality of the established scheduling model is verified through a comparative analysis of the scheduling results across multiple operating scenarios.
An Experimental Investigation of Hydrogen Production through Biomass Electrolysis
Jan 2024
Publication
This work investigated hydrogen production from biomass feedstocks (i.e. glucose starch lignin and cellulose) using a 100 mL h-type proton exchange membrane electrolysis cell. Biomass electrolysis is a promising process for hydrogen production although low in technology readiness level but with a series of recognised advantages: (i) lower-temperature conditions (compared to thermochemical processes) (ii) minimal energy consumption and low-cost post-production (iii) potential to synthesise high-volume H2 and (iv) smaller carbon footprint compared to thermochemical processes. A Lewis acid (FeCl3 ) was employed as a charge carrier and redox medium to aid in the depolymerisation/oxidation of biomass components. A comprehensive analysis was conducted measuring the H2 and CO2 emission volume and performing electrochemical analysis (i.e. linear sweep voltammetry and chronoamperometry) to better understand the process. For the first time the influence of temperature on current density and H2 evolution was studied at temperatures ranging from ambient temperature (i.e. 19 ◦C) to 80 ◦C. The highest H2 volume was 12.1 mL which was produced by FeCl3 -mediated electrolysis of glucose at ambient temperature which was up to two times higher than starch lignin and cellulose at 1.20 V. Of the substrates examined glucose also showed a maximum power-to-H2 -yield ratio of 30.99 kWh/kg. The results showed that hydrogen can be produced from biomass feedstock at ambient temperature when a Lewis acid (FeCl3 ) is employed and with a higher yield rate and a lower electricity consumption compared to water electrolysis.
Literature Review on Life Cycle Assessment of Transportation Alternative Fuels
Aug 2023
Publication
Environmental concerns such as global warming and human health damage are intensifying and the transportation sector significantly contributes to carbon and harmful emissions. This review examines the life cycle assessment (LCA) of alternative fuels (AF) evaluating current research on fuel types LCA framework development life cycle inventory (LCI) and impact selection. The objectives of this paper are: (1) to compare various AF LCA frameworks and develop a comprehensive framework for the transportation sector; (2) to identify emission hotspots of different AFs through simulations and real-world cases; (3) to review AF LCA research; (4) to extract valuable information for potential future research directions. The analysis reveals that all stages except for hydrogen use have an environmental impact. LCA boundaries and LCIs vary considerably depending on the raw materials production processes and products involved leading to different emission hotspots. Due to knowledge or data limitations some stages remain uncalculated in the current study emphasizing the need for further refinement of the AF LCI. Future research should also explore the various impacts of widespread adoption of alternative fuels in transportation encompassing social economic and environmental aspects. Lastly the review provides structured recommendations for future research directions.
Methanol, a Plugin Marine Fuel for Green House Gas Reduction—A Review
Jan 2024
Publication
The escalating global demand for goods transport via shipping has heightened energy consumption impacting worldwide health and the environment. To mitigate this international organizations aim to achieve complete fuel desulphurization and decarbonization by 50% by 2050. Investigating eco-friendly fuels is crucial particularly those with a reduced carbon and zero sulfur content. Methanol derived mainly from renewable sources and produced by carbon dioxide’s hydrogenation method stands out as an effective solution for GHG reduction. Leveraging its favorable properties global scalability and compatibility with the existing infrastructure especially LNGs methanol proves to be a cost-efficient and minimally disruptive alternative. This review explores methanol’s role as a hybrid maritime fuel emphasizing its ecological production methods advantages and challenges in the shipping industry’s green transition. It discusses the environmental impacts of methanol use and analyzes economic factors positioning methanol not only as an ecofriendly option but also as a financially prudent choice for global shipping. Methanol is efficient and cost-effective and excels over MGO especially in new ships. It is economically advantageous with decreasing investment costs compared to LNG while providing flexibility without specialized pressure tanks. Global marine fuel trends prioritize fuel traits accessibility and environmental considerations incorporating factors like policies emissions bunkering and engine adaptability during transitions.
Total Cost of Ownership Analysis of Fuel Cell Electric Bus with Different Hydrogen Supply Alternatives
Dec 2023
Publication
In the transition to sustainable public transportation with zero-emission buses hydrogen fuel cell electric buses have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional diesel buses. However assessing their economic viability is crucial for widespread adoption. This study carries out a comprehensive examination encompassing both sensitivity and probabilistic analyses to assess the total cost of ownership (TCO) for the bus fleet and its corresponding infrastructure. It considers various hydrogen supply options encompassing on-site electrolysis on-site steam methane reforming and off-site hydrogen procurement with both gaseous and liquid delivery methods. The analysis covers critical cost elements encompassing bus acquisition costs infrastructure capital expenses and operational and maintenance costs for both buses and infrastructure. This paper conducted two distinct case studies: one involving a current small bus fleet of five buses and another focusing on a larger fleet set to launch in 2028. For the current small fleet the off-site gray hydrogen purchase with a gaseous delivery option is the most cost-effective among hydrogen alternatives but it still incurs a 26.97% higher TCO compared to diesel buses. However in the case of the expanded 2028 fleet the steam methane-reforming method without carbon capture emerges as the most likely option to attain the lowest TCO with a high probability of 99.5%. Additionally carbon emission costs were incorporated in response to the growing emphasis on environmental sustainability. The findings indicate that although diesel buses currently represent the most economical option in terms of TCO for the existing small fleet steam methane reforming with carbon capture presents a 69.2% likelihood of being the most cost-effective solution suggesting it is a strong candidate for cost efficiency for the expanded 2028 fleet. Notably substantial investments are required to increase renewable energy integration in the power grid and to enhance electrolyzer efficiency. These improvements are essential to make the electrolyzer a more competitive alternative to steam methane reforming. Overall the findings in this paper underscore the substantial impact of the hydrogen supply chain and carbon emission costs on the TCO of zero-emission buses.
Performance and Cost Analysis of Hydrogen Production from Steam Reforming and Dehydrogenation of Ethanol
Aug 2020
Publication
Mitigation of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission has been a worldwide concern. Decreasing CO2 emission by converting it into higher value products such as methanol can be a promising way. However hydrogen (H2) cost and availability are one of key barriers to CO2 conversion. Ethanol can be a sustainable source for H2 due to its renewable nature and easy conversion to H2-rich gas mixtures through ethanol steam reforming process. Nevertheless steam reforming of ethanol generates CO2. Hence this research is focused on different methods of H2 productions about a 1665.47 t/y from ethanol for supplying to methanol plants was performed using Aspen PLUS V10. The ethanol steam reforming process required the lowest required ethanol feed for a certain amount of H2. In contrast the ethanol steam reforming process presented significant amount of CO2 emission from reaction and electricity consumption. But the ethanol dehydrogenation of ethanol not only generates H2 without CO2 emission from the reaction but also ethyl acetate or acetaldehyde which are value chemicals. However ethanol dehydrogenation processes in case II and III presented relatively higher cost because by-products (ethyl acetate or acetaldehyde) were rather difficult to be separated.
Challenges of Industrial-Scale Testing Infrastructure for Green Hydrogen Technologies
Apr 2023
Publication
Green hydrogen is set to become the energy carrier of the future provided that production technologies such as electrolysis and solar water splitting can be scaled to global dimensions. Testing these hydrogen technologies on the MW scale requires the development of dedicated new test facilities for which there is no precedent. This perspective highlights the challenges to be met on the path to implementing a test facility for large-scale water electrolysis photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic water splitting and aims to serve as a much-needed blueprint for future test facilities based on the authors’ own experience in establishing the Hydrogen Lab Leuna. Key aspects to be considered are the electricity and utility requirements of the devices under testing the analysis of the produced H2 and O2 and the safety regulations for handling large quantities of H2 . Choosing the right location is crucial not only for meeting these device requirements but also for improving financial viability through supplying affordable electricity and providing a remunerated H2 sink to offset the testing costs. Due to their lower TRL and requirement for a light source large-scale photocatalysis and photoelectrochemistry testing are less developed and the requirements are currently less predictable.
Hydrogen in Aviation: A Simulation of Demand, Price Dynamics, and CO2 Emission Reduction Potentials
Mar 2024
Publication
Aviation contributes to anthropogenic climate change by emitting both carbon dioxide (CO2) and non-CO2 emissions through the combustion of fossil fuels. One approach to reduce the climate impact of aviation is the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel. Two distinct technological options are presently under consideration for the implementation of hydrogen in aviation: hydrogen fuel cell architectures and the direct combustion of hydrogen. In this study a hydrogen demand model is developed that considers anticipated advancements in liquid hydrogen aircraft technologies forecasted aviation demand and aircraft startup and retirement cycles. The analysis indicates that global demand for liquid hydrogen in aviation could potentially reach 17 million tons by 2050 leading to a 9% reduction in CO2 emissions from global aviation. Thus the total potential of hydrogen in aviation extends beyond this considering that the total market share of hydrogen aircraft on suitable routes in the model is projected to be only 27% in 2050 due to aircraft retirement cycles. Additionally it is shown that achieving the potential demand for hydrogen in aviation depends on specific market prices. With anticipated declines in current production costs hydrogen fuel costs would need to reach about 70 EUR/MWh by 2050 to fulfill full demand in aviation assuming biofuels provide the cheapest option for decarbonization alongside hydrogen. If e-fuels are the sole option for decarbonization alongside hydrogen which is the more probable scenario the entire hydrogen demand potential in aviation would be satisfied according to this study’s estimates at significantly higher hydrogen prices approximately 180 EUR/MWh.
An Insight into Underground Hydrogen Storage in Italy
Apr 2023
Publication
Hydrogen is a key energy carrier that could play a crucial role in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Hydrogen-related technologies are considered flexible solutions to support the large-scale implementation of intermittent energy supply from renewable sources by using renewable energy to generate green hydrogen during periods of low demand. Therefore a short-term increase in demand for hydrogen as an energy carrier and an increase in hydrogen production are expected to drive demand for large-scale storage facilities to ensure continuous availability. Owing to the large potential available storage space underground hydrogen storage offers a viable solution for the long-term storage of large amounts of energy. This study presents the results of a survey of potential underground hydrogen storage sites in Italy carried out within the H2020 EU Hystories “Hydrogen Storage In European Subsurface” project. The objective of this work was to clarify the feasibility of the implementation of large-scale storage of green hydrogen in depleted hydrocarbon fields and saline aquifers. By analysing publicly available data mainly well stratigraphy and logs we were able to identify onshore and offshore storage sites in Italy. The hydrogen storage capacity in depleted gas fields currently used for natural gas storage was estimated to be around 69.2 TWh.
Conceptual Design of a Hydrogen-Hybrid Dual-Fuel Regional Aircraft Retrofit
Jan 2024
Publication
A wide range of aircraft propulsion technologies is being investigated in current research to reduce the environmental impact of commercial aviation. As the implementation of purely hydrogenpowered aircraft may encounter various challenges on the airport and vehicle side combined hydrogen and kerosene energy sources may act as an enabler for the first operations with liquid hydrogen propulsion technologies. The presented studies describe the conceptual design of such a dual-fuel regional aircraft featuring a retrofit derived from the D328eco under development by Deutsche Aircraft. By electrically assisting the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) burning conventional turboprop engines with the power of high-temperature polymer-electrolyte fuel cells the powertrain architecture enables a reduction of SAF consumption. All aircraft were modeled and investigated using the Bauhaus Luftfahrt Aircraft Design Environment. A description of this design platform and the incorporated methods to model the hydrogen-hybrid powertrain is given. Special emphasis was laid on the implications of the hydrogen and SAF dual-fuel system design to be able to assess the potential benefits and drawbacks of various configurations with the required level of detail. Retrofit assumptions were applied particularly retaining the maximum takeoff mass while reducing payload to account for the propulsion system mass increase. A fuel cell power allocation of 20% led to a substantial 12.9% SAF consumption decrease. Nonetheless this enhancement necessitated an 18.1% payload reduction accompanied by a 34.5% increment in propulsion system mass. Various additional studies were performed to assess the influence of the power split. Under the given assumptions the design of such a retrofit was deemed viable.
Is Greece Ready for a Hydrogen Energy Transition?—Quantifying Relative Costs in Hard to Abate Industries
Apr 2024
Publication
During the past few years hydrogen use has come to be considered as an alternative energy carrier in a future decarbonized world. Many developed nations are undergoing a shift towards low-carbon energy sources driven by the excessive reliance on fossil fuels and the detrimental effects of climate change. This study aims to investigate the potential for hydrogen deployment in the Greek energy market during the next few decades. In this context green hydrogen’s potential application in the Greek market is being assessed employing an integrated techno-economic model grounded in worldwide trends and localized expenses. The forthcoming years will see an analysis of both the challenges and opportunities surrounding the integration and implementation of hydrogen in new and existing processes within Greece. Many alternative ways to produce hydrogen in Greece are investigated contemplating different production paths. We evaluate how fluctuations in hydrogen oil and carbon prices affect the economics of green hydrogen adoption in oil refining as is detailed in the draft of the European Union delegated act published in May 2022. The Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) for different scenarios is calculated for the time frame up until 2050. A sensitivity analysis reveals that investment costs electricity prices electrolyzer efficiency and carbon taxes significantly influence the LCOH ultimately impacting the economic competitiveness of hydrogen production. These findings underscore the importance of aligning public–private partnership agendas in hydrogen production to create optimal conditions for investment attraction and development.
Research on Multi-market Strategies for Virtual Power Plants with Hydrogen Energy Storage
Oct 2023
Publication
As the main body of resource aggregation Virtual Power Plant (VPP) not only needs to participate in the external energy market but also needs to optimize the management of internal resources. Different from other energy storage hydrogen energy storage systems can participate in the hydrogen market in addition to assuming the backup supplementary function of electric energy. For the Virtual Power Plant Operator (VPPO) it needs to optimize the scheduling of internal resources and formulate bidding strategies for the electric-hydrogen market based on external market information. In this study a two-stage model is constructed considering the internal and external interaction mechanism. The first stage model optimizes the operation of renewable energy flexible load extraction storage and hydrogen energy storage system based on the complementary characteristics of internal resources; the second stage model optimizes the bidding strategy to maximize the total revenue of the electricity energy market auxiliary service market and hydrogen market. Finally a typical scenario is constructed and the rationality and effectiveness of the strategy are verified. The results show that the hybrid VPP with hydrogen storage has better economic benefits resource benefits and reliability.
3E Analysis of a Virtual Hydrogen Valley Supported by Railway-based H2 Delivery for Multi-transportation Service
Nov 2023
Publication
In Southern Italy near the Mediterranean Sea mobility services like cars bicycles scooters and materialhandling forklifts are frequently required in addition to multimodal local transportation services such as trains ferry boats and airplanes. This research proposes an innovative concept of hydrogen valley virtually simulated in Matlab/Simulink environment located in Calabria. As a novelty hydrogen is produced centrally and delivered via fuel cell hybrid trains to seven hydrogen refueling stations serving various mobility hubs. The centralized production facility operates with a nominal capacity of about 4 tons/day producing hydrogen via PEM electrolysis and storing hydrogen at 200 bar with a hydrogen compressor. As the size of vehicle fleets and the cost of acquiring renewable energy through power purchase agreements vary the hydrogen valley is examined from both a technical and an economic perspective analyzing: the values of the levelized cost of hydrogen the energy consumption and the energy efficiency of the energy systems. Specifically the levelized cost of hydrogen reached competitive values close to 5 €/kg of hydrogen under the most optimistic scenarios with fleet conversions of more than 60 % and a power purchase agreement price lower than 150 €/MWh. Then the benefits of hydrogen rail transport in terms of emissions reduction and health from an economic standpoint are compared to conventional diesel trains and fully electric trains saving respectively 3.2 ktons/year and 0.4 ktons/year of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and corresponding economic benefits of respectively 51 and 0.548 million euros.
2021 Standards Report
Jul 2021
Publication
Purpose: The standards module of the FCHO presents a large number of standards relevant for the deployment of hydrogen and fuel cells. The standards are categorized per application enhancing ease of access and findability. The development of sector-relevant standards facilitate and enhance economies of scale interoperability comparability safety and many other issues. https://www.fchobservatory.eu/observatory/Policy-and-RCS/Standards Scope: This report presents the developments in European and international standards for the year 2020.Standards from the following standards developing organizations are included: CEN CENELEC ISO IEC OIML. Key Findings: The development of sector relevant standards on an international level continued to grow in 2020; on a European level many standards are still in the process of being drafted. In 2020 12 new standards have been published mainly on the subject of fuel cell technologies. The recently established committee CEN-CLC JTC 6 (Hydrogen in energy systems) has not published standards yet but is working on drafting standards on for example Guarantees of Origin. Previous Reports The first report was published in September 2020. This report is the 2nd Annual report.
The Roadmap for a Green Hydrogen Economy in Trinidad & Tobago
Nov 2022
Publication
This publication presents the results of a pre-feasibility study to introduce a green hydrogen (GH2) market in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). The study analyzed the potential supply and competitiveness of producing GH2 in T&T and the actions needed to build a foundation for producing green ammonia and methanol. The study updated previous estimates of renewable energy generation potential in the country. The study also highlighted Trinidad and Tobago's comparative advantage to produce GH2 with its ability to capitalize on existing infrastructure its know-how and capabilities and its long-standing trade relations. Lastly the study identifies demonstration projects and created a roadmap for developing a low carbon hydrogen economy in Trinidad and Tobago.
Energy Storage in Urban Areas: The Role of Energy Storage Facilities, a Review
Feb 2024
Publication
Positive Energy Districts can be defined as connected urban areas or energy-efficient and flexible buildings which emit zero greenhouse gases and manage surpluses of renewable energy production. Energy storage is crucial for providing flexibility and supporting renewable energy integration into the energy system. It can balance centralized and distributed energy generation while contributing to energy security. Energy storage can respond to supplement demand provide flexible generation and complement grid development. Photovoltaics and wind turbines together with solar thermal systems and biomass are widely used to generate electricity and heating respectively coupled with energy system storage facilities for electricity (i.e. batteries) or heat storage using latent or sensible heat. Energy storage technologies are crucial in modern grids and able to avoid peak charges by ensuring the reliability and efficiency of energy supply while supporting a growing transition to nondepletable power sources. This work aims to broaden the scientific and practical understanding of energy storage in urban areas in order to explore the flexibility potential in adopting feasible solutions at district scale where exploiting the space and resource-saving systems. The main objective is to present and critically discuss the available options for energy storage that can be used in urban areas to collect and distribute stored energy. The concerns regarding the installation and use of Energy Storage Systems are analyzed by referring to regulations and technical and environmental requirements as part of broader distribution systems or as separate parts. Electricity heat energy and hydrogen are the most favorable types of storage. However most of them need new regulations technological improvement and dissemination of knowledge to all people with the aim of better understanding the benefits provided.
Efficient Use of Low-Emission Power Supply for Means of Transport
Apr 2023
Publication
The paper presents the possibilities of low-emission-powered vehicles based mainly on compressed hydrogen. It shows currently used forms of powering vehicles based on their genesis process of obtention and popularity. They are also compared to each other presenting the advantages and disadvantages of a given solution. The share of electricity in transport its forecasts for the future and the possibilities of combination with conventional energy sources are also described. Based on current technological capabilities hydrogen plays a crucial role as presented in the above work constituting a fundamental basis for future transport solutions.
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