Italy

This paper evaluates the potential of grid services in France Italy Norway and Spain to provide an alternative income for electrolysers producing hydrogen from wind power. Grid services are simulated with each country's data for 2017 for energy prices grid services and wind power profiles from relevant wind parks. A novel metric is presented the value of curtailed hydrogen which is independent from several highly uncertain parameters such as electrolyser cost or hydrogen market price. Results indicate that grid services can monetise the unused spare capacity of electrolyser plants improving their economy in the critical deployment phase. For most countries up-regulation yields a value of curtailed hydrogen above 6 V/kg over 3 times higher than the EU's 2030 price target (without incentives). However countries with large hydro power resources such as Norway yield far lower results below 2 V/kg. The value of curtailed hydrogen also decreases with hydrogen production corresponding to the cases of symmetric and down-regulation.

Biomass gasification is a versatile thermochemical process that can be used for direct energy applications and the production of advanced liquid and gaseous energy carriers. In the present work the results are presented concerning the H2 production at a high purity grade from biomass feedstocks via steam/oxygen gasification. The data demonstrating such a process chain were collected at an innovative gasification prototype plant coupled to a portable purification system (PPS). The overall integration was designed for gas conditioning and purification to hydrogen. By using almond shells as the biomass feedstock from a product gas with an average and stable composition of 40%-v H2 21%-v CO 35%-v CO2 2.5%-v CH4 the PPS unit provided a hydrogen stream with a final concentration of 99.99%-v and a gas yield of 66.4%.

Integrating electric technologies such as battery energy storage systems and electric propulsion has become an appealing option for reducing fuel consumption and emissions in the transportation sector making these technologies increasingly popular for research and industrial application in the maritime sector. In addition hydrogen is a promising technology for reducing emissions although hydrogen production technologies significantly influence the overall impact of hydrogen-powered systems. This paper proposes an optimizationbased strategy to minimize the environmental impact of a hybrid propulsion system over a given load profile while furthermore considering the environmental impact resulting from the hydrogen production chain. The propulsion system includes diesel generators hydrogen-powered fuel cells batteries and electric motors; mathematical models and assumptions are discussed in detail. The paper applies the proposed strategy and compares different hybrid solutions considering equivalent CO2 emissions discussing a test case applied to a short-range ferry operating in a marine protected area an area particularly sensitive to the problem of atmospheric emissions. The results demonstrate that the proposed strategy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 73% compared to a conventional mechanical propulsion system.

The purpose of this paper is to give a strategic overview of the existing standards governing the construction and operation of hydrogen refueling stations. A succinct and comprehensive study of hydrogen refueling station standards globally in Europe and in Italy is conducted and discussed in light of the new European Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap. Among the numerous topics examined a particular emphasis is placed on the standards in force for on-site hydrogen production via water electrolysis hydrogen storage both liquid and gaseous and refueling protocols for lightduty and heavy-duty vehicles on an international level through the provision of ISO IEC and SAE standards; on a European level through the examination of the CEN/CENELEC database; and on an Italian national level through the analysis of the UNI database.

Hybrid hydrogen-battery powertrains represent a promising solution for sustainable transport. In these systems a fuel cell converts hydrogen into electricity to power the motors and charge a battery which in turn manages power fluctuations and enables regenerative braking. This study investigates degradation in hybrid powertrain components for the railway sector focusing on optimizing their operation to enhance durability. The analysis applied to a real case study on a non-electrified railway line in northern Italy evaluates different operating strategies by constraining the fuel cell current ramp. The results show that operating the fuel cell with minimal power fluctuations – while relying on the battery to handle power peaks – offers a clear advantage. Specifically reducing the maximum fuel cell current ramp from 1500 A/s (load-following operation) to 1 A/s (near-constant operation) extends fuel cell lifetime by 50.5 % though at the expense of a 25.1 % reduction in battery lifetime.

This paper reports on the experimental data analysis and numerical results carried out by algorithms in order to meet the provisions of Industry 4.0 in the field of research of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell/Electrolyzer. A performance mapping of the analyzed SOFC/SOE systems is developed in order to enhance system efficiency when it is fed by biofuels. The analyses concern the main operative parameters such as pressure temperature fuel compositions and other main system parameters such as fuel and oxidant utilization factors and the recirculation of anode exhaust stream gas.

In recent years new chemical release agents based on silane are being used in the tire industry. Silane is an inorganic chemical compound consisting of a silicon backbone and hydrogen. Silanes can be thermally decomposed into high-purity silicon and hydrogen. If silane is stored and transported in Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) equipped with safety valves in vented semi-confined spaces such as ISO-Containers hydrogen can be accumulated and become explosive mixture with air. A conservative CFD analysis using the GASFLOW-MPI code has been carried out to assess the hydrogen risk inside the vented containers. Two types of containers with different natural ventilation systems were investigated under various hypothetical accident scenarios. A continuous release of hydrogen due to the chemical decomposition of silane from IBCs was studied as the reference case. The effect of the safety valves on hydrogen accumulation in the container which results in small pulsed releases of hydrogen was investigated. The external effects of the sun and wind on hydrogen distribution and ventilation were also evaluated. The results can provide detailed information on hydrogen dispersion and mixing within the vented enclosures and used to evaluate the hydrogen risks such as flammability. Based on the assumptions used in this study it indicates that the geometry of ventilation openings plays a key role in the efficiency of the indoor air exchange process. In addition the use of safety valves makes it possible to reduce the concentration of hydrogen by volume in air compared to the reference case. The effect of the sun which results in a temperature difference between two container walls allows a strong mixing of hydrogen and air which helps to obtain a concentration lower than both the base case and the case of the pulsed releases. But the best results for the venting process are obtained with the wind that can drive the mixture to the downwind wall vent holes.

Concerns related to climate change have shifted global attention towards advanced sustainable and decarbonized energy systems. While renewable resources such as wind and solar energy offer environmentally friendly alternatives their inherent variability and intermittency present significant challenges to grid stability and reliability. The integration of renewable energy sources requires innovative solutions to effectively balance supply and demand in the electricity grid. This review explores the critical role of electrolyzer systems in addressing these challenges by providing ancillary services to modern electricity grids. Electrolyzers traditionally used only for hydrogen production have now emerged as versatile tools capable of responding quickly to grid load variations. They can consume electricity during excess periods or when integrated with fuel cells generate electricity during peak demand contributing to grid stability. Therefore electrolyzer systems can fulfill the dual function of producing hydrogen for the end-user and offering grid balancing services ensuring greater economic feasibility. This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive view of the electrolyzer systems’ role in the provision of ancillary services including frequency control voltage control congestion management and black start. The technical aspects market projects challenges and future prospects of using electrolyzers to provide ancillary services in modern energy systems are explored.

Hydrogen can manage intermittent Renewable Energy Sources (RES) especially in high-RES share systems. The energy transition calls for mature low cost low space solutions bringing the attention to unitized items such as the reversible Solid Oxide Cell (rSOC). This device made of a single unit can work as an electrolyzer and as fuel cell with high efficiency fuel flexibility and producing combined heat. The objective of this review is to identify and classify rSOC applications to the building sector as an effective solution and to show how much this technology is near to its commercialisation. Research & Development projects were analysed and discussed for a comprehensive overview. Conclusions show an increasing interest in the reversible technology although it is still at pre industrialisation stage with few real applications in the building sector of which the majority is reported commented and compared in this paper for the first time.

The road transport sector is one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions as it still largely relies on traditional powertrain solutions. While some progress has been made in the passenger car sector with the diffusion of battery electric vehicles heavy-duty transport remains predominantly dependent on diesel internal combustion engines. This research aims to evaluate and compare three potential solutions for the decarbonisation of heavy-duty freight transport from an economic perspective: Battery Electric Trucks (BETs) Fuel Cell Electric Trucks (FCETs) and Hydrogen-fuelled Internal Combustion Engine Trucks (H2ICETs). The study focuses on the Finnish market and road network where affordable and low-carbon electricity creates an ideal environment for the development of alternative powertrain vehicles. The analysis employs the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) method which allows for a comprehensive assessment of all cost components associated with the vehicles throughout their entire lifecycle encompassing both initial expenses and operational costs. Among the several factors affecting the results the impact of the three powertrain technologies on the admissible payloads has been taken into account. The study specifically focuses on the costs directly incurred by the truck owner. Additionally to evaluate the cost effectiveness of the proposed powertrain technologies under different scenarios a sensitivity analysis on electricity and hydrogen prices is conducted. The outcomes of this study reveal that no single powertrain solution emerges as universally optimal as the most cost-effective choice depends strongly on the truck type and its use (i.e. daily mileage). For relatively small trucks (18 t) covering short driving distances (approximately 100 to 200 km/day) BETs prove to be the best solution due to their higher efficiency and lower vehicle costs compared to FCETs. Conversely for larger trucks (42 and 76 t) engaged in longer hauls (>300 km/day) H2ICETs exhibit larger cost benefits due to their lower vehicle costs among the three options under investigation. Finally for small trucks (18 t) travelling long distances (200 km/day or more) FCETs represent a competitive choice due to their high efficiency and costeffective energy storage system. Considering future advancements in FCETs and BETs in terms of improved performance and reduced investment cost the fuel cell-based solution is expected to emerge as the best option across various combinations of truck sizes and daily mileages.