Ecuador

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) produce electricity with high electrical efficiency and fuel flexibility without pollution for example CO₂ NO_x SO_x and particles. Still numerous issues hindered the large‐scale commercialization of fuel cell at a large scale such as fuel storage mechanical failure catalytic degradation electrode poisoning from fuel and air for example lifetime in relation to cost. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) couples various physical fields which is vital to reduce the redundant workload required for SOFC development. Modeling of SOFCs includes the coupling of charge transfer electrochemical reactions fluid flow energy transport and species transport. The Butler‐Volmer equation is frequently used to describe the coupling of electrochemical reactions with current density. The most frequently used is the activation‐ and diffusion‐controlled Butler‐Volmer equation. Three different electrode reaction models are examined in the study which is named case 1 case 2 and case 3 respectively. Case 1 is activation controlled while cases 2 and 3 are diffusion‐controlled which take the concentration of redox species into account. It is shown that case 1 gives the highest reaction rate followed by case 2 and case 3. Case 3 gives the lowest reaction rate and thus has a much lower current density and temperature. The change of activation overpotential does not follow the change of current density and temperature at the interface of the anode and electrolyte and interface of cathode and electrolyte which demonstrates the non‐linearity of the model. This study provides a reference to build electrochemical models of SOFCs and gives a deep understanding of the involved electrochemistry.

This work presents a study of the effects that integration of electrolysis facilities for Power-to-X processes have on the power grid. The novel simulation setup combines a high-resolution grid optimization model and a detailed scheduling model for alkaline water electrolysis. The utilization and congestion of power lines in northern Germany is investigated by setting different installed capacities and production strategies of the electrolysis facility. For electrolysis capacities up to 300 MW (~50 ktH2/a) local impacts on the grid are observed while higher capacities cause supra-regional impacts. Thereby impacts are defined as deviations from the average line utilization greater than 5%. In addition the minimum line congestion is determined to coincide with the dailyconstrained production strategy of the electrolysis facility. Our result show a good compromise for the integrated grid-facility operation with minimum production cost and reduced impact on the grid.

The transition to 100% renewable energy systems is critical for achieving global sustainability and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Island power systems due to their geographical isolation limited interconnectivity and reliance on imported fuels face unique challenges in this transition. These systems’ vulnerability to supply–demand imbalances voltage instability and frequency deviations necessitates tailored strategies for achieving grid stability. This study conducts a systematic review of the technical and operational challenges associated with transitioning island energy systems to fully renewable generation following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses (PRISMA) methodology. Out of 991 identified studies 81 high-quality articles were selected focusing on key aspects such as grid stability energy storage technologies and advanced control strategies. The review highlights the importance of energy storage solutions like battery energy storage systems hydrogen storage pumped hydro storage and flywheels in enhancing grid resilience and supporting frequency and voltage regulation. Advanced control strategies including grid-forming and grid-following inverters as well as digital twins and predictive analytics emerged as effective in maintaining grid efficiency. Real-world case studies from islands such as El Hierro Hawai’i and Nusa Penida illustrate successful strategies and best practices emphasizing the role of supportive policies and community engagement. While the findings demonstrate that fully renewable island systems are technically and economically feasible challenges remain including regulatory financial and policy barriers.

The reliance on fossil fuels for electricity production in insular regions creates critical environmental economic and logistical challenges particularly for ecologically fragile islands. Transitioning to renewable energy is essential to mitigate these impacts enhance energy security and preserve unique ecosystems. This systematic review addresses key research questions: what practical strategies have proven effective in reducing fossil fuel dependency in island contexts and what barriers hinder their widespread adoption? By applying the PRISMA methodology this study examines a decade (2014–2024) of research on renewable energy systems highlighting successful initiatives such as the integration of solar and wind systems in Hawaii energy storage advancements in La Graciosa hybrid renewable grids in the Galápagos Islands and others. Specific barriers include high upfront costs regulatory challenges and technical limitations such as grid instability due to renewable energy intermittency. This review contributes by synthesizing lessons from diverse case studies and identifying innovative approaches like hydrogen storage predictive control systems and community-driven renewable projects. The findings offer actionable insights for policymakers and researchers to accelerate the transition towards sustainable energy systems in island environments.

This manuscript presents a comprehensive technical review of low-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (LT-PEMFCs) focusing on their performance applications and current challenges within commercial contexts. LT-PEMFCs have reached commercial deployment in light-duty vehicles buses trains heavy-duty trucks stationary combined heat and power units and early maritime platforms. This review consolidates datasheetbased specifications and reconstructed performance parameters from leading manufacturers complemented by qualitative evidence from large-scale deployments in Japan and China to provide the first cross-sectoral benchmarking of LT-PEMFC systems. The analysis is structured around the key performance indicators (KPIs) of the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking and the U.S. Department of Energy which define quantitative targets for 2024 and 2030. Results show that while several light-duty and bus platforms already meet or approach KPI compliance for hydrogen consumption and efficiency other sectors such as heavy-duty stationary and maritime remain below target ranges due to integration constraints and limited transparency in datasheet reporting. The study further highlights divergences between laboratory-reported stack metrics and commercial module specifications demonstrating the need for harmonized definitions of volumetric power density efficiency at rated power and durability. By situating catalogue-only and prototype systems within the technological pipeline the review clarifies how near-term developments may close performance gaps and reduce platinum dependency while also acknowledging the economic and infrastructural dimensions that condition future adoption. This includes recent advances in PGM-free catalysts alloyed and core–shell architectures and ionomer-free electrodes which complement low-PGM approaches in reducing material cost and supply risk. The contribution lies in delivering a transparent and replicable framework that not only maps the current state of LT-PEMFC commercialization but also provides directionality for research policy and industrial innovation on the pathway to 2030 deployment objectives. This represents the first systematic cross-sectoral benchmarking of LTPEMFCs that integrates datasheet-derived and reconstructed specifications with DOE and CHJU KPI frameworks providing both quantitative visualizations and a replicable methodology that clarifies current achievements while indicating where targeted innovation is needed to reach 2030 objectives.

The existing gas transmission pipeline network can be a convenient and cost-effective way to transport hydrogen. However hydrogen can cause hydrogen embrittlement (HE) of the steels used in pipeline construction. HE is typically manifested as a reduction in fracture toughness and ductility. To ensure structural integrity it is thus important to understand the fracture toughness of pipeline steels in hydrogen gas at pipeline pressures. This paper reviews (i) the influence of hydrogen on the fracture toughness of pipeline steels and (ii) the phenomena that occurs during fracture toughness tests of pipeline steel in air and hydrogen. Also reviewed are (i) the in fluence of hydrogen on tensile properties and (ii) the diffusion and solubility of hydrogen in pipeline steels under conditions relevant to hydrogen transport in gas transmission pipelines.

Due to the privileged location of Ecuador in terms of solar radiation the analysis and use of renewable energy system (RES) using solar energy has been of great interest during the last years. At the same time the supply support of RES in terms of direct current (DC) can be faced by using fuel cell (FC) systems which can give to the systems fully autonomy from fossil fuels. The aim of this paper is to propose the design of a hybrid photovoltaic-fuel cell-battery (PV-FC-B) system to supply the required electrical energy for residential use in the city of Guayaquil. The feasibility analysis constitutive elements of the system and adjusted variables are computed and presented using a computational tool. The results evidence that this system is not economically viable since the cost of energy (COE) in Ecuador is low compared to the COE of the proposed system. However a more detailed analysis considering the inherent benefits of no emission of pollutant gases is required to have a complete outlook.

Green hydrogen production is a sustainable energy solution with great potential offering advantages such as adaptability storage capacity and ease of transport. However there are challenges such as high energy consumption production costs demand and regulation which hinder its largescale adoption. This study explores the role of simulation models in optimizing the technical and economic aspects of green hydrogen production. The proposed system which integrates photovoltaic and energy storage technologies significantly reduces the grid dependency of the electrolyzer achieving an energy self-consumption of 64 kWh per kilogram of hydrogen produced. By replacing the high-fidelity model of the electrolyzer with a reduced-order model it is possible to minimize the computational effort and simulation times for different step configurations. These findings offer relevant information to improve the economic viability and energy efficiency in green hydrogen production. This facilitates decision-making at a local level by implementing strategies to achieve a sustainable energy transition.