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Evaluation of the Potential for Distributed Generation of Green Hydrogen Using Metal-hydride Storage Methods
May 2023
Publication
This study presents methodology for the evaluation of appropriateness of a hydrogen generator for gas production in multiple distributed plants based on renewable energy sources. The general idea is to form hydrogen clusters integrated with storage and transportation. The paper focuses on the financial viability of the plants presenting the results of economic evaluation together with sensitivity analysis for various economic factors. The analyzed case study proves that over a wide range of parameters alkaline electrolyzers show favorable economic characteristics however a PEM-based plant is more resilient to changes in the price of electricity which is the main cost component in hydrogen generation. The study is enriched with an experimental investigation of low-pressure storage methods based on porous metal hydride tanks. The effectiveness of the tanks (β) compared to pressurized hydrogen tanks in the same volume and pressure is equal to β = 10.2. A solution is proposed whereby these can be used in a distributed hydrogen generation concept due to their safe and simple operation without additional costly equipment e.g. compressors. A method for evaluation of the avoided energy consumption as a function of the effectiveness of the tanks is developed. Avoided energy consumption resulting from implementing MH tanks equals 1.33 – 1.37 kWh per kilogram of hydrogen depending on the number of stages of a compressor. The methods proposed in this paper are universal and can be used for various green hydrogen facilities.
EU Decarbonization under Geopolitical Pressure: Changing Paradigms and Implications for Energy and Climate Policy
Mar 2023
Publication
This paper aims to assess the impact of EU energy and climate policy as a response to Russia’s war in Ukraine on the EU decarbonization enterprise. It showcases how the Russian invasion was a crunch point that forced the EU to abandon its liberal market dogma and embrace in practice an open strategic autonomy approach. This led to an updated energy and climate policy with significant changes underpinning its main pillars interdependence diversification and the focus of market regulation and build-up. The reversal of enforced interdependence with Russia and the legislative barrage to support and build-up a domestic clean energy market unlocks significant emission reduction potential with measures targeting energy efficiency solar wind and hydrogen development; an urban renewable revolution and electricity and carbon market reforms standing out. Such positive decarbonization effects however are weakened by source and fuel diversification moves that extend to coal and shale gas especially when leading to an infrastructure build-up and locking-in gas use in the mid-term. Despite these caveats the analysis overall vindicates the hypothesis that geopolitics constitutes a facilitator and accelerator of EU energy transition.
Hydrogen Release Modelling for Analysis Using Data-driven Autoencoder with Convolutional Neural Networks
Sep 2023
Publication
High-accuracy gas dispersion models are necessary for predicting hydrogen movement and for reducing the damage caused by hydrogen release accidents in chemical processes. In urban areas where obstacles are large and abundant computational fluid dynamics (CFD) would be the best choice for simulating and analyzing scenarios of the accidental release of hydrogen. However owing to the large computation time required for CFD simulation it is inappropriate in emergencies and real-time alarm systems. In this study a non-linear surrogate model based on deep learning is proposed. Deep convolutional layer data-driven autoencoder and batch normalized deep neural network is used to analyze the effects of wind speed wind direction and release degree on hydrogen concentration in real-time. The typical parameters of hydrogen diffusion accidents at hydrogen refuelling stations were acquired by CFD numerical simulation approach and a database of hydrogen diffusion accident parameters is established. By establishing an appropriate neural network structure and associated activation function a deep learning framework is created and then a deep learning model is constructed. The accuracy and timeliness of the model are assessed by comparing the results of the CFD simulation with those of the deep learning model. To develop a dynamic reconfiguration prediction model for the hydrogen refuelling station diffusion scenario the algorithm is continuously enhanced and the model is improved. After training is finished the model's prediction time is measured in seconds which is 105 times quicker than field CFD simulations. The deep learning model of hydrogen release in hydrogen refuelling stations is established to realize timely and accurate prediction and simulation of accident consequences and provide decision-making suggestions for emergency rescue and personnel evacuation which is of great significance for the protection of human life health and property safety.
Understanding Degradation Effects of Elevated Temperature Operating Conditions in Polymer Electrolyte Water Electrolyzers
Apr 2021
Publication
The cost of polymer electrolyte water electrolysis (PEWE) is dominated by the price of electricity used to power the water splitting reaction. We present a liquid water fed polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer cell operated at a cell temperature of 100 °C in comparison to a cell operated at state-of-the-art operation temperature of 60 °C over a 300 h constant current period. The hydrogen conversion efficiency increases by up to 5% at elevated temperature and makes green hydrogen cheaper. However temperature is a stress factor that accelerates degradation causes in the cell. The PEWE cell operated at a cell temperature of 100 °C shows a 5 times increased cell voltage loss rate compared to the PEWE cell at 60 °C. The initial performance gain was found to be consumed after a projected operation time of 3500 h. Elevated temperature operation is only viable if a voltage loss rate of less than 5.8 μV h−1 can be attained. The major degradation phenomena that impact performance loss at 100 °C are ohmic (49%) and anode kinetic losses (45%). Damage to components was identified by post-test electron-microscopic analysis of the catalyst coated membrane and measurement of cation content in the drag water. The chemical decomposition of the ionomer increases by a factor of 10 at 100 °C vs 60 °C. Failure by short circuit formation was estimated to be a failure mode after a projected lifetime 3700 h. At elevated temperature and differential pressure operation hydrogen gas cross-over is limiting since a content of 4% hydrogen in oxygen represents the lower explosion limit.
Hydrogen in the Natural Gas Network—Relevance for Existing Fire Precautions
Jun 2024
Publication
Power-to-gas technology can be used to convert excess power from renewable energies to hydrogen by means of water electrolysis. This hydrogen can serve as “chemical energy storage” and be converted back to electricity or fed into the natural gas grid. In the presented study a leak in a household pipe in a single-family house with a 13 KW heating device was experimentally investigated. An admixture of up to 40% hydrogen was set up to produce a scenario of burning leakage. Due to the outflow and mixing conditions a lifted turbulent diffusion flame was formed. This led to an additional examination point and expanded the aim and novelty of the experimental investigation. In addition to the fire safety experimental simulation of a burning leakage the resulting complex properties of the flame namely the lift-off height flame length shape and thermal radiation have also been investigated. The obtained results of this show clearly that as a consequence of the hydrogen addition the main properties of the flame such as lifting height flame temperature thermal radiation and total heat flux densities along the flame have been changed. To supplement the measurements with thermocouples imaging methods based on the Sobel gradient were used to determine the lifting height and the flame length. In order to analyze the determined values a probability density function was created.
Assessment of Fuel Switching as a Decarbonization Strategy in the Cement Sector
May 2024
Publication
Limiting global warming and the pursuit of a net-zero global society by 2050 emphasizes the need to transform the hard-to-abate industrial sectors. The cement sector is the second-largest source of global industrial emissions accounting for 8% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. Fuel switching in the cement sector is a decarbonization pathway that has not been explored in detail; previous studies involving fuel switching in the sector either view it from an energy efficiency lens or focus on a single technology. In this study a framework is developed to evaluate and directly compare six fuel switching options (including hydrogen biomass municipal solid waste and natural gas) from 2020 to 2050. Capital costs non-energy operating costs energy costs and carbon costs are used to calculate marginal abatement costs and emulate cost based-market decisions. The developed framework is used to conduct a case study for Canada using the LEAP-Canada model. This study shows that cumulative energy-related greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by up to 21% between 2020 and 2050 with negative marginal abatement costs. Multiple fuel switching decarbonization pathways were established reducing the likelihood that locality prevents meaningful emissions reduction and suggesting that with low-carbon fuel and electricity policies the sector can take significant steps towards emissions reduction. The developed framework can be applied to jurisdictions around the world for decision making as nations move towards eliminating emissions from cement production.
Inter-Zone Optimal Scheduling of Rural Wind–Biomass-Hydrogen Integrated Energy System
Aug 2023
Publication
To solve the problems of low utilization of biomass and uncertainty and intermittency of wind power (WP) in rural winter an interval optimization model of a rural integrated energy system with biogas fermentation and electrolytic hydrogen production is constructed in this paper. Firstly a biogas fermentation kinetic model and a biogas hydrogen blending model are developed. Secondly the interval number is used to describe the uncertainty of WP and an interval optimization scheduling model is developed to minimize daily operating cost. Finally a rural integrated energy system in Northeast China is taken as an example and a sensitivity analysis of electricity price gas production and biomass price is conducted. The simulation results show that the proposed strategy can significantly reduce the wind abandonment rate and improve the economy by 3.8–22.3% compared with conventional energy storage under optimal dispatch.
A Web-based Decision Support System (DSS) for Hydrogen Refueling Station Location and Supply Chain Optimisation
Jun 2023
Publication
This study presents a novel web-based decision support system (DSS) that optimizes the locations of hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) and hydrogen supply chains (HSCs). The system is developed with a design science approach that identifies key design requirements and features through interviews and literature reviews. Based on the findings a system architecture and data model were designed incorporating scenario management optimization model visualization and data management components. The DSS provides a two-stage solution model that links demand to HRSs and production facilities to HRSs. A prototype is demonstrated with a plan for 2025 and 2030 in the Republic of Korea where 450 to 660 stations were deployed nationwide and linked to production facilities. User evaluation confirmed the effectiveness of the DSS in solving optimization problems and its potential to assist the government and municipalities in planning hydrogen infrastructure.
Techno-Economic Analysis of Hydrogen Production from Swine Manure Biogas via Steam Reforming in Pilot-Scale Installation
Sep 2023
Publication
The main purpose of this paper is the techno-economic analysis of hydrogen production from biogas via steam reforming in a pilot plant. Process flow modeling based on mass and energy balance is used to estimate the total equipment purchase and operating costs of hydrogen production. The pilot plant installation produced 250.67 kg/h hydrogen from 1260 kg/h biomethane obtained after purification of 4208 m3/h biogas using a heat and mass integration process. Despite the high investment cost the plant shows a great potential for biomethane reduction and conversion to hydrogen an attractive economic path with ecological possibilities. The conversion of waste into hydrogen is a possibility of increasing importance in the global energy economy. In the future such a plant will be expanded with a CO2 reduction module to increase economic efficiency and further reduce greenhouse gases in an economically viable manner.
Integration of Renewable-Energy-Based Green Hydrogen into the Energy Future
Sep 2023
Publication
There is a growing interest in green hydrogen with researchers institutions and countries focusing on its development efficiency improvement and cost reduction. This paper explores the concept of green hydrogen and its production process using renewable energy sources in several leading countries including Australia the European Union India Canada China Russia the United States South Korea South Africa Japan and other nations in North Africa. These regions possess significant potential for “green” hydrogen production supporting the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy and promoting environmental sustainability through the electrolysis process a common method of production. The paper also examines the benefits of green hydrogen as a future alternative to fossil fuels highlighting its superior environmental properties with zero net greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover it explores the potential advantages of green hydrogen utilization across various industrial commercial and transportation sectors. The research suggests that green hydrogen can be the fuel of the future when applied correctly in suitable applications with improvements in production and storage techniques as well as enhanced efficiency across multiple domains. Optimization strategies can be employed to maximize efficiency minimize costs and reduce environmental impact in the design and operation of green hydrogen production systems. International cooperation and collaborative efforts are crucial for the development of this technology and the realization of its full benefits.
A Comprehensive Resilience Assessment Framework for Hydrogen Energy Infrastructure Development
Jun 2023
Publication
In recent years sustainable development has become a challenge for many societies due to natural or other disruptive events which have disrupted economic environmental and energy infrastructure growth. Developing hydrogen energy infrastructure is crucial for sustainable development because of its numerous benefits over conventional energy sources. However the complexity of hydrogen energy infrastructure including production utilization and storage stages requires accounting for potential vulnerabilities. Therefore resilience needs to be considered along with sustainable development. This paper proposes a decision-making framework to evaluate the resilience of hydrogen energy infrastructure by integrating resilience indicators and sustainability contributing factors. A holistic taxonomy of resilience performance is first developed followed by a qualitative resilience assessment framework using a novel Intuitionistic fuzzy Weighted Influence Nonlinear Gauge System (IFWINGS). The results highlighted that Regulation and legislation Government preparation and Crisis response budget are the most critical resilience indicators in the understudy hydrogen energy infrastructure. A comparative case study demonstrates the practicality capability and effectiveness of the proposed approach. The results suggest that the proposed model can be used for resilience assessment in other areas.
Green Hydrogen: Resources Consumption, Technological Maturity, and Regulatory Framework
Aug 2023
Publication
Current climate crisis makes the need for reducing carbon emissions more than evident. For this reason renewable energy sources are expected to play a fundamental role. However these sources are not controllable but depend on the weather conditions. Therefore green hydrogen (hydrogen produced from water electrolysis using renewable energies) is emerging as the key energy carrier to solve this problem. Although different properties of hydrogen have been widely studied some key aspects such as the water and energy footprint as well as the technological development and the regulatory framework of green hydrogen in different parts of the world have not been analysed in depth. This work performs a data-driven analysis of these three pillars: water and energy footprint technological maturity and regulatory framework of green hydrogen technology. Results will allow the evaluation of green hydrogen deployment both the current situation and expectations. Regarding the water footprint this is lower than that of other fossil fuels and competitive with other types of hydrogen while the energy footprint is higher than that of other fuels. Additionally results show that technological and regulatory framework for hydrogen is not fully developed and there is a great inequality in green hydrogen legislation in different regions of the world.
An Assessment Methodology for International Hydrogen Competitiveness: Seven Case Studies Compared
Jun 2024
Publication
Currently the global energy structure is undergoing a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources with the hydrogen economy playing a pivotal role. Hydrogen is not only an important energy carrier needed to achieve the global goal of energy conservation and emission reduction it represents a key object of the future international energy trade. As hydrogen trade expands nations are increasingly allocating resources to enhance the international competitiveness of their respective hydrogen industries. This paper introduces an index that can be used to evaluate international hydrogen competitiveness and elucidate the most competitive countries in the hydrogen trade. To calculate the competitiveness scores of seven major prospective hydrogen market participants we employed the entropy weight method. This method considers five essential factors: potential resources economic and financial base infrastructure government support and institutional environment and technological feasibility. The results indicate that the USA and Australia exhibit the highest composite indices. These findings can serve as a guide for countries in formulating suitable policies and strategies to bolster the development and international competitiveness of their respective hydrogen industries.
Phasing Out Steam Methane Reformers with Water Electrolysis in Producing Renewable Hydrogen and Ammonia: A Case Study Based on the Spanish Energy Markets
Jul 2023
Publication
Deploying renewable hydrogen presents a significant challenge in accessing off-takers who are willing to make long-term investments. To address this challenge current projects focus on large-scale deployment to replace the demand for non-renewable hydrogen particularly in ammonia synthesis for fertiliser production plants. The traditional process involving Steam Methane Reformers (SMR) connected to Haber-Bosch synthesis could potentially transition towards decarbonisation by gradually integrating water electrolysis. However the coexistence of these processes poses limitations in accommodating the integration of renewable hydrogen thereby creating operational challenges for industrial hubs. To tackle this issue this paper proposes an optimal dispatch model for producing green hydrogen and ammonia while considering the coexistence of different processes. Furthermore the objective is to analyse external factors that could determine the appropriate regulatory and pricing framework to facilitate the phase-out of SMR in favour of renewable hydrogen production. The paper presents a case study based in Spain utilising data from 2018 2022 and 2030 perspectives on the country's renewable resources gas and electricity wholesale markets pricing ranges and regulatory constraints to validate the model. The findings indicate that carbon emissions taxation and the availability and pricing of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) will play crucial roles in this transition - the carbon emission price required for total phasing out SMR with water electrolysis would be around 550 EUR/ton CO2.
Hydrogen Production from Methanol–Water Solution and Pure Water Electrolysis Using Nanocomposite Perfluorinated Sulfocationic Membranes Modified by Polyaniline
Oct 2022
Publication
In this work we report the preparation of Nafion membranes containing two different nanocomposite MF-4SC membranes modified with polyaniline (PANI) by the casting method through two different polyaniline infiltration procedures. These membranes were evaluated as a polymer electrolyte membrane for water electrolysis. Operating conditions were optimized in terms of current density stability and methanol concentration. A study was made on the effects on the cell performance of various parameters such as methanol concentration water and cell voltage. The energy required for pure water electrolysis was analyzed at different temperatures for the different membranes. Our experiments showed that PEM electrolyzers provide hydrogen production of 30 mL/min working at 160 mA/cm2 . Our composite PANI membranes showed an improved behavior over pristine perfluorinated sulfocationic membranes (around 20% reduction in specific energy). Methanol–water electrolysis required considerably less (around 65%) electrical power than water electrolysis. The results provided the main characteristics of aqueous methanol electrolysis in which the power consumption is 2.34 kW h/kg of hydrogen at current densities higher than 0.5 A/cm2 . This value is ~20-fold times lower than the electrical energy required to produce 1 kg of hydrogen by water electrolysis.
Performance Analysis of a Diabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage System Fueled with Green Hydrogen
Oct 2023
Publication
The integration of an increasing share of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) requires the availability of suitable energy storage systems to improve the grid flexibility and Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) systems could be a promising option. In this study a CO2 -free Diabatic CAES system is proposed and analyzed. The plant configuration is derived from a down-scaled version of the McIntosh Diabatic CAES plant where the natural gas is replaced with green hydrogen produced on site by a Proton Exchange Membrane electrolyzer powered by a photovoltaic power plant. In this study the components of the hydrogen production system are sized to maximize the self-consumption share of PV energy generation and the effect of the design parameters on the H2 -CAES plant performance are analyzed on a yearly basis. Moreover a comparison between the use of natural gas and hydrogen in terms of energy consumption and CO2 emissions is discussed. The results show that the proposed hydrogen fueled CAES can effectively match the generation profile and the yearly production of the natural gas fueled plant by using all the PV energy production while producing zero CO2 emissions.
Numerical Investigation of Hydrogen Jet Dispersion Below and Around a Car in a Tunnel
Sep 2023
Publication
Accidental release from a hydrogen car tank in a confined space like a tunnel poses safety concerns. This Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) study focuses on the first seconds of such a release which are the most critical. Hydrogen leaks through a Thermal Pressure Relief Device (TPRD) forms a high-speed jet that impinges on the street spreads horizontally recirculates under the chassis and fills the area below it in about one second. The “fresh-air entrainment effect” at the back of the car changes the concentrations under the chassis and results in the creation of two “tongues” of hydrogen at the rear corners of the car. Two other tongues are formed near the front sides of the vehicle. In general after a few seconds hydrogen starts moving upwards around the car mainly in the form of buoyant blister-like structures. The average hydrogen volume concentrations below the car have a maximum of 71% which occurs at 2 s. The largest “equivalent stoichiometric flammable gas cloud size Q9” is 20.2 m3 at 2.7 s. Smaller TPRDs result in smaller hydrogen flow rates and smaller buoyant structures that are closer to the car. The investigation of the hydrogen dispersion during the initial stages of the leak and the identification of the physical phenomena that occur can be useful for the design of experiments for the determination of the TPRD characteristics for potential safety measures and for understanding the further distribution of the hydrogen cloud in the tunnel.
Dynamic Simulation and Thermoeconomic Analysis of a Power to Gas System
Sep 2023
Publication
Power to gas technology is an innovative solution to promote the use of renewable energy technologies also including e-fuels. This work presents a techno-economic analysis of a novel concept of a renewable power to gas plant. A 2.4 MW solid oxide electrolyzer fed by a 3.1 MW photovoltaic field is coupled with a biomethane production unit to produce synthetic methane by means of a 2.4 MW methanation unit. The hydrogen produced by the electrolyzer is used for the methanation reaction aiming at producing natural gas at net zero carbon emissions. The CO2 is obtained as a byproduct of the membrane separation in a biogas upgrading unit. The methanation unit and the electrolyzer models are developed in MatLab and integrated in TRNSYS to perform a dynamic simulation of all the components and the system as a whole. Dynamic simulation results show a 42% increase in the production of natural gas from renewable energy sources. The thermoeconomic analysis shows a remarkable primary energy saving index of 176% and a total amount of 896 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions saved. As expected the critical point is the economic feasibility since the simple payback is 9 years in case local incentives and subsidies are considered. The parametric analysis on the photovoltaic capacity shows that the simple payback dramatically depends on such design parameter varying from 6 years in the best case scenario to 92 years in the worst case scenario.
A Perspective on the Overarching Role of Hydrogen, Ammonia, and Methanol Carbon-Neutral Fuels towards Net Zero Emission in the Next Three Decades
Dec 2022
Publication
Arguably one of the most important issues the world is facing currently is climate change. At the current rate of fossil fuel consumption the world is heading towards extreme levels of global temperature rise if immediate actions are not taken. Transforming the current energy system from one largely based on fossil fuels to a carbon-neutral one requires unprecedented speed. Based on the current state of development direct electrification of the future energy system alone is technically challenging and not enough especially in hard-to-abate sectors like heavy industry road trucking international shipping and aviation. This leaves a considerable demand for alternative carbon-neutral fuels such as green ammonia and hydrogen and renewable methanol. From this perspective we discuss the overarching roles of each fuel in reaching net zero emission within the next three decades. The challenges and future directions associated with the fuels conclude the current perspective paper.
Mapping the Future of Green Hydrogen: Integrated Analysis of Poland and the EU’s Development Pathways to 2050
Aug 2023
Publication
This article presents the results of a comparative scenario analysis of the “green hydrogen” development pathways in Poland and the EU in the 2050 perspective. We prepared the scenarios by linking three models: two sectoral models for the power and transport sectors and a Computable General Equilibrium model (d-Place). The basic precondition for the large-scale use of hydrogen in both Poland and in European Union countries is the pursuit of ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets. The EU plans indicate that the main source of hydrogen will be renewable energy (RES). “Green hydrogen” is seen as one of the main methods with which to balance energy supply from intermittent RES such as solar and wind. The questions that arise concern the amount of hydrogen required to meet the energy needs in Poland and Europe in decarbonized sectors of the economy and to what extent can demand be covered by internal production. In the article we estimated the potential of the production of “green hydrogen” derived from electrolysis for different scenarios of the development of the electricity sector in Poland and the EU. For 2050 it ranges from 76 to 206 PJ/y (Poland) and from 4449 to 5985 PJ/y (EU+). The role of hydrogen as an energy storage was also emphasized highlighting its use in the process of stabilizing the electric power system. Hydrogen usage in the energy sector is projected to range from 67 to 76 PJ/y for Poland and from 1066 to 1601 PJ/y for EU+ by 2050. Depending on the scenario this implies that between 25% and 35% of green hydrogen will be used in the power sector as a long-term energy storage.
Game-Theory-Based Design and Analysis of a Peer-to-Peer Energy Exchange System between Multi-Solar-Hydrogen-Battery Storage Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Jun 2024
Publication
As subsidies for renewable energy are progressively reduced worldwide electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) powered by renewable energy must adopt market-driven approaches to stay competitive. The unpredictable nature of renewable energy production poses major challenges for strategic planning. To tackle the uncertainties stemming from forecast inaccuracies of renewable energy this study introduces a peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading strategy based on game theory for solar-hydrogen-battery storage electric vehicle charging stations (SHS-EVCSs). Firstly the incorporation of prediction errors in renewable energy forecasts within four SHS-EVCSs enhances the resilience and efficiency of energy management. Secondly employing game theory’s optimization principles this work presents a day-ahead P2P interactive energy trading model specifically designed for mitigating the variability issues associated with renewable energy sources. Thirdly the model is converted into a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) problem through dual theory allowing for resolution via CPLEX optimization techniques. Case study results demonstrate that the method not only increases SHS-EVCS revenue by up to 24.6% through P2P transactions but also helps manage operational and maintenance expenses contributing to the growth of the renewable energy sector.
A Multicriteria Modeling Approach for Evaluating Power Generation Scenarios Under Uncertainty: The Case of Green Hydrogen in Greece
Oct 2023
Publication
Clean energy technological innovations are widely acknowledged as a prerequisite to achieving ambitious longterm energy and climate targets. However the optimal speed of their adoption has been parsimoniously studied in the literature. This study seeks to identify the optimal intensity of moving to a green hydrogen electricity sector in Greece using the OSeMOSYS energy modeling framework. Green hydrogen policies are evaluated first on the basis of their robustness against uncertainty and afterwards against conflicting performance criteria and for different decision-making profiles towards risk by applying the VIKOR and TOPSIS multi-criteria decision aid methods. Although our analysis focuses exclusively on the power sector and compares different rates of hydrogen penetration compared to a business-as-usual case without considering other game-changing innovations (such as other types of storage or carbon capture and storage) we find that a national transition to a green hydrogen economy can support Greece in potentially cutting at least 16 MtCO2 while stimulating investments of EUR 10–13 bn. over 2030–2050.
Feasibility Assessment of Alternative Clean Power Systems onboard Passenger Short-Distance Ferry
Sep 2023
Publication
In order to promote low-carbon fuels such as hydrogen to decarbonize the maritime sector it is crucial to promote clean fuels and zero-emission propulsion systems in demonstrative projects and to showcase innovative technologies such as fuel cells in vessels operating in local public transport that could increase general audience acceptability thanks to their showcase potential. In this study a short sea journey ferry used in the port of Genova as a public transport vehicle is analyzed to evaluate a ”zero emission propulsion” retrofitting process. In the paper different types of solutions (batteries proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)) and fuels (hydrogen ammonia natural gas and methanol) are investigated to identify the most feasible technology to be implemented onboard according to different aspects: ferry daily journey and scheduling available volumes and spaces propulsion power needs energy storage/fuel tank capacity needed economics etc. The paper presents a multi-aspect analysis that resulted in the identification of the hydrogen-powered PEMFC as the best clean power system to guarantee for this specific case study a suitable retrofitting of the vessel that could guarantee a zero-emission journey
Selected Materials and Technologies for Electrical Energy Sector
Jun 2023
Publication
Ensuring the energy transition in order to decrease CO2 and volatile organic compounds emissions and improve the efficiency of energy processes requires the development of advanced materials and technologies for the electrical energy sector. The article reviews superconducting materials functional nanomaterials used in the power industry mainly due to their magnetic electrical optical and dielectric properties and the thin layers of amorphous carbon nitride which properties make them an important material from the point of view of environmental protection optoelectronic photovoltaic and energy storage. The superconductivity-based technologies material processing and thermal and nonthermal plasma generation have been reviewed as technologies that can be a solution to chosen problems in the electrical energy sector and environment. The study explains directly both—the basics and application potential of low and high-temperature superconductors as well as peculiarities of the related manufacturing technologies for Roebel cables 1G and 2G HTS tapes and superconductor coil systems. Among the superconducting materials particular attention was paid to the magnesium di-boride MgB2 and its potential applications in the power industry. The benefits of the use of carbon films with amorphous structures in electronics sensing technologies solar cells FETs and memory devices were discussed. The article provides the information about most interesting from the R&D point of view groups of materials for PV applications. It summarises the advantages and disadvantages of their use regarding commercial requirements such as efficiency lifetime light absorption impact on the environment costs of production and weather dependency. Silicon processing inkjet printing vacuum deposition and evaporation technologies that allow obtaining improved and strengthened materials for solar cell manufacturing are also described. In the case of the widely developed plasma generation field waste-to-hydrogen technology including both thermal and non-thermal plasma techniques has been discussed. The review aims to draw attention to the problems faced by the modern power industry and to encourage research in this area because many of these problems can only be solved within the framework of interdisciplinary and international cooperation.
Assessing Fluctuating Wind to Hydrogen Production via Long-term Testing of Solid Oxide Electrolysis Stacks
Mar 2024
Publication
The Danish government plans two energy islands to collect offshore wind power for power distribution and green fuel production. Wind power is often criticized for lacking stability which challenges downstream fuel synthesis processes. Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC) are promising for green hydrogen production on a commercial scale but the impact of fluctuating power on SOEC remains uncertain. This paper explores the feasibility of a Wind-SOEC coupled system by conducting a 2104-h durability test with the state-of-the-art Topsoe TSP-1 stack. Three periods of steady operation and two periods of dynamic operation were conducted. Wind power fluctuation was simulated during the dynamic period and two control strategies were used to handle it. The constant flow (CF) and constant conversion (CC) strategies maintain the feedstock flow rate and conversion ratio of steamto‑hydrogen respectively. Compared to steady operation the stack shows no signs of additional degradation in dynamic operation. Thus the TSP-1 stack has been proven robust and flexible enough to handle fluctuating wind power supplies under both operation strategies. Further stack performance during dynamic periods was compared and analyzed by removing degradation effects. Accordingly SOEC stacks with CC control will consume less external heat than CF to maintain a heat balance. Nevertheless SOEC systems with CF and CC control strategies may have different efficiency or hydrogen production costs. Tech-economic analyses will be needed to investigate control strategies at the system level.
Hydrogen Supply Chain and Refuelling Network Design: Assessment of Alternative Scenarios for the Long-haul Road Freight in the UK
Mar 2023
Publication
Shifting from fossil fuels to clean alternative fuel options such as hydrogen is an essential step in decarbonising the road freight transport sector and facilitating an efficient transition towards zero-emissions goods distribution of the future. Designing an economically viable and competitive Hydrogen Supply Chain (HSC) to support and accelerate the widespread adoption of hydrogen powered Heavy Goods Vehicles (H2-HGVs) is however significantly hindered by the lack of the infrastructure required for producing storing transporting and distributing the required hydrogen. This paper focuses on a bespoke design of a hydrogen supply chain and distribution network for the long-haul road freight transportation in the UK and develops an improved end-to-end and spatially-explicit optimisation tool to perform scenario analysis and provide important first-hand managerial and policy making insights. The proposed methodology improves over existing grid-based methodologies by incorporating spatially-explicit locations of Hydrogen Refuelling Stations (HRSs) and allowing further flexibility and accuracy. Another distinctive feature of the method and the analyses carried out in the paper pertains to the inclusion of bulk geographically agnostic as well as geological underground hydrogen storage options and reporting on significant cost saving opportunities. Finally the curve for H2-HGVs penetration levels safety stock period decisions and the transport mode capacity against hydrogen levelized cost at pump have been generated as important policy making tools to provide decision support and insights into cost resilience and reliability of the HSC.
Enhancing Safety of Liquid and Vaporised Hydrogen Transfer Technologies in Public Areas for Mobile Applications
Sep 2023
Publication
Federico Ustolin,
Donatella Cirrone,
Vladimir V. Molkov,
Dmitry Makarov,
Alexandros G. Venetsanos,
Stella G. Giannissi,
Giordano Emrys Scarponi,
Alessandro Tugnoli,
Ernesto Salzano,
Valerio Cozzani,
Daniela Lindner,
Birgit Gobereit,
Bernhard Linseisen,
Stuart J. Hawksworth,
Thomas Jordan,
Mike Kuznetsov,
Simon Jallais and
Olga Aneziris
International standards related to cryogenic hydrogen transferring technologies for mobile applications (filling of trucks ships stationary tanks) are missing and there is lack of experience. The European project ELVHYS (Enhancing safety of liquid and vaporized hydrogen transfer technologies in public areas for mobile applications) aims to provide indications on inherently safer and efficient cryogenic hydrogen technologies and protocols in mobile applications by proposing innovative safety strategies which are the results of a detailed risk analysis. This is carried out by applying an inter-disciplinary approach to study both the cryogenic hydrogen transferring procedures and the phenomena that may arise from the loss of containment of a piece of equipment containing hydrogen. ELVHYS will provide critical inputs for the development of international standards by creating inherently safer and optimized procedures and guidelines for cryogenic hydrogen transferring technologies thus increasing their safety level and efficiency. The aim of this paper is twofold: present the state of the art of liquid hydrogen transfer technologies by focusing on previous research projects such as PRESLHY and introduce the objectives and methods planned in the new EU project ELVHYS.
Hybrid Model Predictive Control of Renewable Microgrids and Seasonal Hydrogen Storage
Jun 2023
Publication
Optimal energy management of microgrids enables efficient integration of renewable energies by considering all system flexibilities. For systems with significant seasonal imbalance between energy production and demand it may be necessary to integrate seasonal storage in order to achieve fully decarbonized operation. This paper develops a novel model predictive control strategy for a renewable microgrid with seasonal hydrogen storage. The strategy relies on data-based prediction of the energy production and consumption of an industrial power plant and finds optimized energy flows using a digital twin optimizer. To enable seasonal operation incentives for long-term energy shifts are provided by assigning a cost value to the storage charge and adding it to the optimization target function. A hybrid control scheme based on rule-based heuristics compensates for imperfect predictions. With only 6% oversizing compared to the optimal system layout the strategy manages to deliver enough energy to meet all demand while achieving balanced hydrogen production and consumption throughout the year.
Techno-Economic Analysis of a Hydrogen-Based Power Supply Backup System for Tertiary Sector Buildings: A Case Study in Greece
May 2023
Publication
In view of the European Union’s strategy on hydrogen for decarbonization and buildings’ decarbonization targets the use of hydrogen in buildings is expected in the future. Backup power in buildings is usually provided with diesel generators (DGs). In this study the use of a hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) power supply backup system is studied. Its operation is compared to a DG and a techno-economic analysis of the latter’s replacement with an HFC is conducted by calculating relevant key performance indicators (KPIs). The developed approach is presented in a case study on a school building in Greece. Based on the school’s electricity loads which are calculated with a dynamic energy simulation and power shortages scenarios the backup system’s characteristics are defined and the relevant KPIs are calculated. It was found that the HFC system can reduce the annual CO2 emissions by up to 400 kg and has a lower annual operation cost than a DG. However due to its high investment cost its levelized cost of electricity is higher and the replacement of an existing DG is unviable in the current market situation. The techno-economic study reveals that subsidies of around 58–89% are required to foster the deployment of HFC backup systems in buildings.
Use of Existing Gas Infrastructure in European Hydrogen Economy
Apr 2023
Publication
The rapidly increasing production volume of clean hydrogen creates challenges for transport infrastructure. This study improves understanding of hydrogen transport options in Europe and provides more detailed analysis on the prospects for hydrogen transport in Finland. Previous studies and ongoing pipeline projects were reviewed to identify potential and barriers to hydrogen transport. A fatigue life assessment tool was built because material challenges have been one of the main concerns of hydrogen transportation. Many European countries aim at utilizing existing gas infrastructure for hydrogen. Conducted studies and pilot facilities have provided promising results. Hydrogen reduces the fatigue life of the pipeline but existing pipelines can be used for hydrogen if pressure variation is maintained at a reasonable level and the maximum operation pressure is limited. Moreover the use of existing pipelines can reduce hydrogen transport costs but the suitability of every pipeline for hydrogen must be analyzed and several issues such as leakage leakage detection effects of hydrogen on pipeline assets and end users corrosion maintenance and metering of gas flow must be considered. The development of hydrogen transport will vary within countries depending on the structure of the existing gas infrastructure and on the future hydrogen use profile.
Accelerating the Green Hydrogen Revolution: A Comprehensive Analysis of Technological Advancements and Policy Interventions
Apr 2024
Publication
Promoting green hydrogen has emerged as a pivotal discourse in the contemporary energy landscape driven by pressing environmental concerns and the quest for sustainable energy solutions. This paper delves into the multifaceted domain of C-Suite issues about green hydrogen encompassing both technological advancements and policy considerations. The question of whether green hydrogen is poised to become the focal point of the upcoming energy race is explored through an extensive analysis of its potential as a clean and versatile energy carrier. The transition from conventional fossil fuels to green hydrogen is considered a fundamental shift in energy paradigms with far-reaching implications for global energy markets. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art green hydrogen technologies including fuel cells photocatalysts photo electrocatalysts and hydrogen panels. In tandem with technological advancements the role of policy and strategy in fostering the development of green hydrogen energy assumes paramount significance. The paper elucidates the critical interplay between government policies market dynamics and corporate strategies in shaping the green hydrogen landscape. It delves into policy mechanisms such as subsidies carbon pricing and renewable energy mandates shedding light on their potential to incentivize the production and adoption of green hydrogen. This paper offers a nuanced exploration of C-Suite issues surrounding green hydrogen painting a comprehensive picture of the technological and policy considerations that underpin its emergence as a transformative energy source. As the global community grapples with the imperatives of climate change mitigation and the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions understanding these issues becomes imperative for executives policymakers and stakeholders alike.
Feasibility Study into Water Requirement for Hydrogen Production
Nov 2022
Publication
Low carbon hydrogen can be produced by a variety of processes that require substantial quantities of water. Several major hydrogen projects are proposed in Scotland; as an energy storage medium allowing new renewable power capacity to operate and as a direct alternative to displace natural gas as a primary fuel source. The additional water consumption associated with these hydrogen projects presents an infrastructure challenge.
The aims of the study are to evaluate the water requirements of new hydrogen production facilities and the associated implications for water infrastructure and to develop a strategic framework for assessing these aspects of hydrogen projects throughout the UK. The initial focus of the study is on Scotland; however the methodology developed in the project will be used throughout the UK
Benefits
Low carbon hydrogen can be produced by a variety of processes all of which require substantial quantities of water. Several major hydrogen projects are proposed in Scotland; both as an energy storage medium allowing new renewable power capacity (particularly wind) to operate and as a direct alternative to displace natural gas as a primary fuel source. The additional water consumption associated with these hydrogen projects presents an infrastructure challenge e.g. the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) recently highlighted Scotland’s vulnerability to dry weather and climate-induced changes in the availability and functioning of water resources.
The project in partnership with Ramboll will look to deliver a technical assessment and feasibility study into water requirements for hydrogen production in Scotland. The aims of the study are to evaluate the water requirements of new hydrogen production facilities and the associated implications for water infrastructure and to develop a strategic framework for assessing these aspects of hydrogen projects throughout the UK. The initial focus of the study is on Scotland; however the methodology developed in the project will be used throughout the UK.
The research paper can be found on their website.
The aims of the study are to evaluate the water requirements of new hydrogen production facilities and the associated implications for water infrastructure and to develop a strategic framework for assessing these aspects of hydrogen projects throughout the UK. The initial focus of the study is on Scotland; however the methodology developed in the project will be used throughout the UK
Benefits
Low carbon hydrogen can be produced by a variety of processes all of which require substantial quantities of water. Several major hydrogen projects are proposed in Scotland; both as an energy storage medium allowing new renewable power capacity (particularly wind) to operate and as a direct alternative to displace natural gas as a primary fuel source. The additional water consumption associated with these hydrogen projects presents an infrastructure challenge e.g. the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) recently highlighted Scotland’s vulnerability to dry weather and climate-induced changes in the availability and functioning of water resources.
The project in partnership with Ramboll will look to deliver a technical assessment and feasibility study into water requirements for hydrogen production in Scotland. The aims of the study are to evaluate the water requirements of new hydrogen production facilities and the associated implications for water infrastructure and to develop a strategic framework for assessing these aspects of hydrogen projects throughout the UK. The initial focus of the study is on Scotland; however the methodology developed in the project will be used throughout the UK.
The research paper can be found on their website.
Rethinking "BELVE Explosion" After Liquid Hydrogen Storage Tank Rupture in a Fire
Sep 2022
Publication
The underlying physical mechanisms leading to the generation of blast waves after liquid hydrogen (LH2) storage tank rupture in a fire are not yet fully understood. This makes it difficult to develop predictive models and validate them against a very limited number of experiments. This study aims at the development of a CFD model able to predict maximum pressure in the blast wave after the LH2 storage tank rupture in a fire. The performed critical review of previous works and the thorough numerical analysis of BMW experiments (LH2 storage pressure in the range 2.0e11.3 bar abs) allowed us to conclude that the maximum pressure in the blast wave is generated by gaseous phase starting shock enhanced by combustion reaction of hydrogen at the contact surface with heated by the shock air. The boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion (BLEVE) pressure peak follows the gaseous phase blast and is smaller in amplitude. The CFD model validated recently against high-pressure hydrogen storage tank rupture in fire experiments is essentially updated in this study to account for cryogenic conditions of LH2 storage. The simulation results provided insight into the blast wave and combustion dynamics demonstrating that combustion at the contact surface contributes significantly to the generated blast wave increasing the overpressure at 3 m from the tank up to 5 times. The developed CFD model can be used as a contemporary tool for hydrogen safety engineering e.g. for assessment of hazard distances from LH2 storage.
Assessment of the Green Hydrogen Value Chain in Cases of the Local Industry in Chile Applying an Optimization Model
May 2024
Publication
This study assessed the feasibility of integrating a green hydrogen value chain into the local industry examining two case studies by comparing four scenarios. The optimization focused on generating electricity from stationary renewable sources such as solar or through Power Purchase Agreements to produce sufficient hydrogen in electrolyzers. Current demand profiles renewable participation targets electricity supply sources levelized costs of energy and hydrogen and technology options were considered. The most cost-effective scenario showed a levelized cost of energy of 0.032 and 0.05 US$/kWh and a hydrogen cost below 1.0 US$/kgH2 for cases 1 and 2 respectively. A sensitivity analysis highlighted the critical influence of fuel cell technology on cost modification underscoring the importance of focusing cost reduction strategies on these technologies to enhance the economic viability of the green hydrogen value chain. Specifically a high sensitivity towards reducing the levelized costs of energy and hydrogen in the port sector with adjustments in fuel cell technology costs was identified indicating the need for specific policies and supports to facilitate their adoption.
A Green Route for Hydrogen Producton from Alkaline Thermal Treatment (ATT) of Biomass with Carbon Storage
Apr 2023
Publication
Hydrogen a green energy carrier is one of the most promising energy sources. However,it is currently mainly produced from depleting fossil fuels with high carbon emissions which has serious negative effects on the economy and environment. To address this issue sustainable hydrogen production from bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (HyBECCS) is an ideal technology to reduce global carbon emissions while meeting energy demand. This review presents an overview of the latest progress in alkaline thermal treatment (ATT) of biomass for hydrogen production with carbon storage especially focusing on the technical characteristics and related challenges from an industrial application perspective. Additionally the roles of alkali and catalyst in the ATT process are critically discussed and several aspects that have great influences on the ATT process such as biomass types reaction parameters and reactors are expounded. Finally the potential solutions to the general challenges and obstacles to the future industrial-scale application of ATT of biomass for hydrogen production are proposed.
Research on Power Optimization for Energy System of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Wheel-Driven Electric Tractor
Apr 2024
Publication
Hydrogen fuel cell tractors are emerging as a new power source for tractors. Currently there is no mature energy management control method available. Existing methods mostly rely on engineers’ experience to determine the output power of the fuel cell and the power battery resulting in relatively low energy utilization efficiency of the energy system. To address the aforementioned problems a power optimization method for the energy system of hydrogen fuel cell wheel-driven electric tractor was proposed. A dynamic model of tractor ploughing conditions was established based on the system dynamics theory. From this based on the equivalent hydrogen consumption theory the charging and discharging of the power battery were equivalent to the fuel consumption of the hydrogen fuel cell forming an equivalent hydrogen consumption model for the tractor. Using the state of charge (SOC) of the power battery as a constraint and with the minimum equivalent hydrogen consumption as the objective function an instantaneously optimized power allocation method based on load demand in the energy system is proposed by using a traversal algorithm. The optimization method was simulated and tested based on the MATLAB simulation platform and the results showed under ploughing conditions compared with the rule-based control strategy the proposed energy system power optimization method optimized the power output of hydrogen fuel cells and power batteries allowing the energy system to work in a high-efficiency range reducing the equivalent hydrogen consumption of the tractor by 7.79% and solving the energy system power distribution problem.
Experimental Investigation of Stress Corrosion on Supercritical CO2 Transportation Pipelines Against Leakage for CCUS Applications
Nov 2022
Publication
Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) is one of the key technologies that will determine how humans address global climate change. For captured CO2 in order to avoid the complications associated with two-phase flow most carbon steel pipelines are operated in the supercritical state on a large scale. A pipeline has clear Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) sensitivity under the action of stress and corrosion medium which will generally cause serious consequences. In this study X70 steel was selected to simulate an environment in the process of supercritical CO2 transportation by using high-temperature high-pressure Slow Strain Rate Tensile (SSRT) tests and high-temperature high-pressure electrochemical test devices with different O2 and SO2 contents. Studies have shown that 200 ppm SO2 shows a clear SCC sensitivity tendency which is obvious when the SO2 content reaches 600 ppm. The SCC sensitivity increases with the increase of SO2 concentration but the increase amplitude decreases. With the help of advanced microscopic characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) through the analysis of fracture and side morphology the stress corrosion mechanism of a supercritical CO2 pipeline containing SO2 and O2 impurities was obtained by hydrogen embrittlement fracture characteristics. With the increase of SO2 content the content of Fe element decreases and the corrosion increases demonstrating that SO2 plays a leading role in electrochemical corrosion. This study further strengthens the theoretical basis of stress corrosion of supercritical CO2 pipelines plays an important role in preventing leakage of supercritical CO2 pipelines and will provide guidance for the industrial application of CCUS.
Risk Assessment of a Hydrogen Refueling Station in an Urban Area
May 2023
Publication
After the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015 many countries worldwide focused on the hydrogen economy aiming for eco-friendly and renewable energy by moving away from the existing carbon economy which has been the primary source of global warming. Hydrogen is the most common element on Earth. As a light substance hydrogen can diffuse quickly; however it also has a small risk of explosion. Representative explosion accidents have included the Muskingum River Power Plant Vapor Cloud Explosion accident in 2007 and the Silver Eagle Refinery Vapor Cloud Explosion accident in 2009. In addition there was an explosion in a hydrogen tank in Gangneung Korea in May 2019 and a hydrogen refueling station (HRS) in Norway exploded in 2018. Despite this risk Korea is promoting the establishment of HRSs in major urban centers including downtown areas and public buildings by using the Regulatory Sandbox to install HRSs. This paper employed the Hydrogen Risk Assessment Model (HyRAM) of Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) program specialized in hydrogen energy for HRSs installed in major urban hubs. A feasibility evaluation of the site conditions of an HRS was conducted using the French land use planning method based on the results obtained through evaluation using the HyRAM and the overpressure results of PHAST 8.0. After a risk assessment we confirmed that an HRS would be considered safe even if it was installed in the city center within a radius of influence of jet fires and overpressure.
Potential of Salt Caverns for Hydrogen Storage in Southern Ontario, Canada
Jul 2023
Publication
Salt caverns produced by solution mining in Southern Ontario provide ideal spaces for gas storage due to their low permeability. Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) is an important part of the future renewable energy market in Ontario in order to achieve global carbon neutrality and to fill the gap left by retiring nuclear power plants. However large-scale hydrogen storage is still restricted by limited storage space on the ground’s surface. In this study hydrogen’s physical and chemical properties are first introduced and characterized by low molecular weight high diffusivity low solubility and low density. Then the geological conditions of the underground reservoirs are analyzed especially salt caverns. Salt caverns with their inert cavity environments and stable physical properties offer the most promising options for future hydrogen storage. The scales heights and thicknesses of the roof and floor salt layers and the internal temperatures and pressures conditions of salt caverns can affect stabilities and storage capacities. Finally several potential problems that may affect the safe storage of hydrogen in salt caverns are discussed. Through the comprehensive analysis of the influencing factors of hydrogen storage in salt caverns this study puts forward the most appropriate development strategy for salt caverns which provides theoretical guidance for UHS in the future and helps to reduce the risk of large-scale storage design.
The Impact of Sustainable Energy Technologies and Demand Response Programs on the Hub's Planning by the Practical Consideration of Tidal Turbines as a Novel Option
Apr 2023
Publication
This paper investigates a multi-objective optimal energy planning strategy for a hub incorporating renewable and non-renewable resources like PV tidal turbine fuel-cell CHP boiler micro-turbine reactor reformer electrolyzer and energy storage by utilizing the time of use program (TOU). In this strategy tidal turbine fuel-cell and reformer technologies are considered novel technologies that simultaneously reduce the proposed hub’s cost and pollution. The hub’s total cost and pollution are considered objective functions. To make the results more realistic characteristics of the tidal turbine are investigated by utilizing the manufactory’s company information. The problem is then modeled as real mixed integer programming (RMIP) and is solved in GAMS software using a CPLEX solver. Epsilon constraints method and fuzzy satisfying approach are used to select the optimal solution based on the proposed model. Finally a sensitivity analysis is performed to assess the effective parameters that affect the planning’s results. The results show that the overall pollution is reduced by about 9% by assuming the proposed planning and the total profit is increased by about 30%.
Ireland National Hydrogen Strategy
Jul 2023
Publication
The National Hydrogen Strategy sets out the strategic vision on the role that hydrogen will play in Ireland’s energy system looking to its long-term role as a key component of a zero-carbon economy and the short-term actions that need to be delivered over the coming years to enable the development of the hydrogen sector in Ireland.<br/>The Strategy is being developed for three primary reasons:<br/>1. Decarbonising our economy providing a solution to hard to decarbonise sectors where electrification is not feasible or cost-effective<br/>2. Enhancing our energy security through the development of an indigenous zero carbon renewable fuel which can act as an alternative to the 77% of our energy system which today relies on fossil fuel imports<br/>3. Developing industrial opportunities through the potential development of export markets for renewable hydrogen and other areas such as Sustainable Aviation Fuels<br/>The Strategy considers the needs of the entire hydrogen value chain including production end-uses transportation and storage safety regulation markets innovation and skills.<br/>It also sets out that Ireland will focus its efforts on the scale up and production of renewable ""green"" hydrogen as it supports both our decarbonisation needs and energy security needs given our vast indigenous renewable resources. Renewable hydrogen is a renewable and zero-carbon fuel that can play a key role in the ""difficult-to-decarbonise"" sectors of our economy where other solutions such as direct electrification are not feasible or cost effective.<br/>In the coming years renewable hydrogen is envisioned to play an important role as a zero-emission source of dispatchable flexible electricity as a long duration store of renewable energy in decarbonising industrial processes and as a transport fuel in sectors such as heavy goods transport maritime and aviation. The Strategy will provide clarity for stakeholders on how we expect the hydrogen economy to develop and scale up over the coming decades across the entire value chain.
Energy Futures and Green Hydrogen Production: Is Saudi Arabia Trend?
May 2023
Publication
This paper explores the potential for hydrogen energy to become a future trend in Saudi Arabia energy industry. With the emergence of hydrogen as a promising clean energy source there has been growing interest and investment in this area globally. This study investigated whether the country is likely to pursue this trend given its current energy mix and policies. A study was conducted to provide an overview of the global trends and best practices in hydrogen energy adoption and investment. The outcomes of the analysis show that the country current energy mix has the potential to produce green hydrogen energy. The evaluation of its readiness and potential obstacles for hydrogen energy adoption has been drowned and there are several challenges that need to be addressed. The study outcomes also conclude with policy implications and recommendations for the country energy industry.
Microfluidic Storage Capacity and Residual Trapping During Cyclic Injections: Implications for Underground Storage
Apr 2023
Publication
Long-term and large-scale H2 storage is vital for a sustainable H2 economy. Research in underground H2 storage (UHS) in porous media is emerging but the understanding of H2 reconnection and recovery mechanisms under cyclic loading is not yet adequate. This paper reports a qualitative and quantitative investigation of H2 reconnection and recovery mechanisms in repeated injection-withdrawal cycles. Here we use microfluidics to experimentally investigate up to 5 cycles of H2 injection and withdrawal under a range of injection rates at shallow reservoir storage conditions. We find that H2 storage capacities increase with increasing injection rate and range between ~10% and 60%. The residual H2 saturation is in the same range between cycles (30e40%) but its distribution in the pore space visually appears to be hysteretic. In most cases the residually trapped H2 reconnects in the subsequent injection cycle predominantly in proximity to the large pore clusters. Our results provide valuable experimental data to advance the understanding of multiple H2 injection cycles in UHS schemes.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions of a Hydrogen Engine for Automotive Application through Life-Cycle Assessment
May 2024
Publication
Hydrogen combustion engine vehicles have the potential to rapidly enter the market and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) compared to conventional engines. The ability to provide a rapid market deployment is linked to the fact that the industry would take advantage of the existing internal combustion engine production chain. The aim of this paper is twofold. First it aims to develop a methodology for applying life-cycle assessment (LCA) to internal combustion engines to estimate their life-cycle GHG emissions. Also it aims to investigate the decarbonization potential of hydrogen engines produced by exploiting existing diesel engine technology and assuming diverse hydrogen production routes. The boundary of the LCA is cradle-to-grave and the assessment is entirely based on primary data. The products under study are two monofuel engines: a hydrogen engine and a diesel engine. The hydrogen engine has been redesigned using the diesel engine as a base. The engines being studied are versatile and can be used for a wide range of uses such as automotive cogeneration maritime off-road and railway; however this study focuses on their application in pickup trucks. As part of the redesign process certain subsystems (e.g. combustion injection ignition exhaust gas recirculation and exhaust gas aftertreatment) have been modified to make the engine run on hydrogen. Results revealed that employing a hydrogen engine using green hydrogen (i.e. generated from water electrolysis using wind-based electricity) might reduce GHG emission by over 90% compared to the diesel engine This study showed that the benefits of the new hydrogen engine solution outweigh the increase of emissions related to the redesign process making it a potentially beneficial solution also for reconditioning current and used internal combustion engines.
The Transition to a Renewable Energy Electric Grid in the Caribbean Island Nation of Antigua and Barbuda
Aug 2023
Publication
The present study describes the development and application of a model of the national electricity system for the Caribbean dual-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda to investigate the cost optimal mix of solar photovoltaics (PVs) wind and in the most novel contribution concentrating solar power (CSP). These technologies together with battery and hydrogen energy storage can enable the aim of achieving 100% renewable electricity and zero carbon emissions. The motivation for this study was that while most nations in the Caribbean rely largely on diesel fuel or heavy fuel oil for grid electricity generation many countries have renewable resources beyond wind and solar energy. Antigua and Barbuda generates 93% of its electricity from diesel-fueled generators and has set the target of becoming a net-zero nation by 2040 as well as having 86% renewable energy generation in the electricity sector by 2030 but the nation has no hydroelectric or geothermal resources. Thus this study aims to demonstrate that CSP is a renewable energy technology that can help assist Antigua and Barbuda in its transition to a renewable energy electric grid while also decreasing electricity generation costs. The modeled optimal mix of renewable energy technologies presented here was found for Antigua and Barbuda by assessing the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for systems comprising various combinations of energy technologies and storage. Other factors were also considered such as land use and job creation. It was found that 100% renewable electricity systems are viable and significantly less costly than current power systems and that there is no single defined pathway towards a 100% renewable energy grid but several options are available.
Study on the Effects of the Hydrogen Substitution Rate on the Performance of a Hydrogen–Diesel Dual-Fuel Engine under Different Loads
Aug 2023
Publication
Due to having zero carbon emissions and renewable advantages hydrogen has great prospects as a renewable form of alternate energy. Engine load and hydrogen substitution rate have a considerable influence on a hydrogen–diesel dual-fuel engine’s efficiency. This experiment’s objective is to study the influence of hydrogen substitution rate on engine combustion and emission under different loads and to study the impact of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) technology or main injection timing on the engine’s capability under high load and high hydrogen substitution rate. The range of the maximum hydrogen substitution rate was determined under different loads (30%~90%) at 1800 rpm and then the effects of the EGR rate (0%~15%) and main injection timing (−8 ◦CA ATDC~0 ◦CA ATDC) on the engine performance under 90% high load were studied. The research results show that the larger the load the smaller the maximum hydrogen substitution rate that can be added to the dual-fuel engine. Under each load with the increase of the hydrogen substitution rate the cylinder pressure and the peak heat release rate (HRR) increase the equivalent brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFCequ) decreases the thermal efficiency increases the maximum thermal efficiency is 43.1% the carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emission is effectively reduced by 35.2% and the nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission decreases at medium and low loads and the maximum increase rate is 20.1% at 90% load. Under high load with the increase of EGR rate or the delay of main injection timing the problem of NOx emission increases after hydrogen doping can be effectively solved. As the EGR rate rises from 0% to 15% the maximum reduction of NOx is 63.1% and with the delay of main injection timing from −8 ◦CA ATDC to 0 ◦CA ATDC the maximum reduction of NOx is 44.5%.
The Long Term Price Elastic Demand of Hydrogen - A Multi-model Analysis for Germany
May 2024
Publication
Hydrogen and its derivatives are important components to achieve climate policy goals especially in terms of greenhouse gas neutrality. There is an ongoing controversial debate about the applications in which hydrogen and its derivatives should be used and to what extent. Typically the estimation of hydrogen demand relies on scenario-based analyses with varying underlying assumptions and targets. This study establishes a new framework consisting of existing energy system simulation and optimisation models in order to assess the long-term price-elastic demand of hydrogen. The aim of this work is to shift towards an analysis of the hydrogen demand that is primarily driven by its price. This is done for the case of Germany because of the expected high hydrogen demand for the years 2025–2045. 15 wholesale price pathways were established with final prices in 2045 between 56 €/MWh and 182 €/MWh. The results suggest that – if climate targets are to be achieved - even with high hydrogen prices (252 €/MWh in 2030 and 182 €/MWh in 2045) a significant hydrogen demand in the industry sector and the energy conversion sector is expected to emerge (318 TWh). Furthermore the energy conversion sector has a large share of price sensitive hydrogen demand and therefore its demand strongly increases with lower prices. The road transportation sector will only play a small role in terms of hydrogen demand if prices are low. In the decentralised heating for buildings no relevant demand will be seen over the considered price ranges whereas the centralised supply of heat via heat grids increases as prices fall.
The Role of Hydrogen for the Defossilization of the German Chemical Industry
Apr 2023
Publication
Within the European Green Deal the European industry is summoned to transform towards a green and circular economy to reduce CO2-emissions and reach climate goals. Special focus is on the chemical industry to boost recycling processes for plastics exploit resource efficiency potentials and switch to a completely renewable feedstock (defossilization). Despite common understanding that drastic changes have to take place it is yet unknown how the industrial transformation should be accomplished. This work explains how a cost-optimal defossilization of the chemical industry in the context of national greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation strategies look like. The central part of this investigation is based on a national energy system model to optimize the future energy system design of Germany as a case study for a highly industrialized country. A replacement of fossil-based feedstocks by renewable feedstocks leads to a significant increase in hydrogen demand by þ40% compared to a reference scenario. The resulting demand of hydrogen-based energy carriers including the demand for renewable raw materials must be produced domestically or imported. This leads to cumulative additional costs of the transformation that are 32% higher than those of a reference scenario without defossilization of the industry. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and the methanol-to-olefins route can be identified as key technologies for the defossilization of the chemical industry.
Technology Transfer from Fuel Processing for Fuel Cells to Fuel Synthesis from Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide
Aug 2023
Publication
Improving the energy efficiency of existing technologies such as the on-board power supply of trucks ships and aircraft is an important endeavor for reducing primary energy consumption. The approach consists of using fuel cell technology in conjunction with hydrogen production from liquid fuels. However the energy transition with the goal of complete climate-neutrality requires technological changes in the use of hydrogen produced from renewable energy via electrolysis. Synthetic fuels are an important building block for drive systems that will continue to require liquid energy carriers in the future due to their range. This study addresses the question of whether technical devices that were developed for the generation of hydrogen from liquid fuels for fuel cells to generate electricity are now suitable for the reverse process chain or can play an important role in it. The new process chain produces hydrogen from sustainable electricity combining it with carbon dioxide to create a synthetic liquid fuel.
A Review on Hydrogen Embrittlement and Risk-based Inspection of Hydrogen Technologies
May 2023
Publication
Hydrogen could gradually replace fossil fuels mitigating the human impact on the environment. However equipment exposed to hydrogen is subjected to damaging effects due to H2 absorption and permeation through metals. Hence inspection activities are necessary to preserve the physical integrity of the containment systems and the risk-based (RBI) methodology is considered the most beneficial approach. This review aims to provide relevant information regarding hydrogen embrittlement its effect on materials’ properties and the synergistic interplay of the factors influencing its occurrence. Moreover an overview of predictive maintenance strategies is presented focusing on the RBI methodology. A systematic review was carried out to identify examples of the application of RBI to equipment exposed to hydrogenated environments and to identify the most active research groups. In conclusion a significant lack of knowledge has been highlighted along with difficulties in applying the RBI methodology for equipment operating in a pure hydrogen environment.
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