Poland

Renewable hydrogen is a promising energy carrier that facilitates greater renewable energy integration while supporting the decarbonization of the industrial and transportation sectors. This study investigates the optimal design and operation of two hydrogen-based energy systems. The first energy system comprises an electrolyser compressor and hydrogen storage system. It aims to supply hydrogen as a drop-in fuel for a future potential hydrogen fleet. The electrolyser provides excess heat and oxygen for a combined heat and power (CHP) plantand ancillary services to the grid for frequency support. In the second energy system the hydrogen stored in the hydrogen tank is used by a fuel cell or gas turbine to sell electricity to the grid following price signals. The optimisation algorithm developed in this study finds the optimal capacities for the hydrogen production and storage systems and optimizes the hourly dispatch of the electrolyser. The profitability of the first investigated hydrogen-based energy system is closely connected to the hydrogen production cost which fluctuates depending on the average electricity price. The profitability is also affected by the average compensation of the ancillary services and to a lesser extent by the value of excess heat and oxygen produced during the electrolysis. Only 2020 marked out by the lowest average electricity price among the investigated years could lead to a profitable investment for the first studied energy system. The breakeven hydrogen selling price varied between 24.13 SEK/kg in 2020 to 65.63 SEK/kg in 2022 while considering the extra revenues of the grid service compensation and heat and oxygen sale. If only hydrogen sale was considered the breakeven hydrogen selling prices varied between 31.28 SEK/kg in 2020 to 86.08 SEK/kg in 2022. For the second investigated hydrogen-based energy system if the threshold electricity price for activating the hydrogen consumption system is the 90th percentile of the electricity prices every week the profitability is never attained. The fuel cell system leads to lower electrolyser and hydrogen tank capacities to meet the targeted power supply given the higher assumed efficiency as compared to the gas turbine. Nevertheless the fuel cell system shows in all the investigated subcases lower net present values as compared to the gas turbine subcases due to the higher investment and running costs. The fuel cell system shows better performances in terms of net present values than the gas turbine only in an optimistic sub case marked out by higher conversion efficiencies and lower investment and running costs for the fuel cell. The profitability of the second investigated hydrogen-based energy system is guaranteed only at an annual average electricity price above 2.7 SEK/kWh.

Maritime and aviation transport are widely recognised as sectors where reducing greenhouse gas emissions is particularly challenging due to their reliance on energy-dense fuels and the challenges associated with direct electrification. These sectors face increasing pressure to defossilise and reduce emissions in line with global climate goals while simultaneously facing unique technological operational and economic uncertainties. This study addresses a key research gap by comparing the maritime and aviation sectors for common factors and sector-specific differences in their transition to green e-fuels produced from renewable electricity and sustainable CO2. A techno-economic assessment is conducted to evaluate alternative fuel and propulsion options using the levelised cost of mobility framework. The analysis also incorporates the pricing of non-CO2 greenhouse gases and air pollutant emissions. Results show that e-ammonia or e-LNG combustion is the most cost-effective option for maritime transport when emission costs are excluded whereas hydrogen fuel cells become more economical when these costs are internalised. In aviation e-kerosene use in conventional aircraft presents the lowest costs regardless of the year or emission pricing. The findings highlight the importance of considering unique characteristics of each sector and tailored defossilisation and decarbonisation strategies that consider sector-specific constraints. To sustainably meet the growing demand for transport fuels rapid investments in renewable electricity generation electrolysers and e-fuel synthesis are essential. Development of strong regulatory frameworks and financial instruments will be critical to support early deployment of e-fuels and minimise the risks.

This article describes an example of using the measurement data from photovoltaic systems and wind turbines to perform practical probabilistic calculations around green hydrogen generation. First the power generated in one month by a ground-mounted photovoltaic system with a peak power of 3 MWp is described. Using the Metalog family of probability distributions the probability of generating selected power levels corresponding to the amount of green hydrogen produced is calculated. Identical calculations are performed for the simulation data allowing us to determine the power produced by a wind turbine with a maximum power of 3.45 MW. After interpolating both time series of the power generated by the renewable energy sources to a common sampling time they are summed. For the sum of the power produced by the photovoltaic system and the wind turbine the probability of generating selected power levels corresponding to the amount of green hydrogen produced is again calculated. The presented calculations allow us to determine with probability distribution accuracy the amount of hydrogen generated from the energy sources constituting a mix of photovoltaics and wind. The green hydrogen production model includes the hardware and the geographic context. It can be used to determine the preliminary assumptions related to the production of large amounts of green hydrogen in selected locations. The calculations presented in this article are a practical example of Business Intelligence.

In response to growing environmental concerns hydrogen production has emerged as a critical element in the transition to a sustainable global economy. We evaluate the impact of hydrogen production on both the financial performance and market value of energy sector companies using balanced panel data from 288 European-listed firms over the period of 2018 to 2022. The findings reveal a paradox. While hydrogen production imposes significant financial constraints it is positively recognized by market participants. Despite short-term financial challenges companies engaged in hydrogen production experience higher market value as investors view these activities as a long-term growth opportunity aligned with global sustainability goals. We contribute to the literature by offering empirical evidence on the financial outcomes and market valuation of hydrogen engagement distinguishing between production and storage activities and further categorizing production into green blue and gray hydrogen. By examining these nuances we highlight the complex relationship between financial market results. While hydrogen production may negatively impact short-term financial performance its potential for long-term value creation driven by decarbonization efforts and sustainability targets makes it attractive to investors. Ultimately this study provides valuable insights into how hydrogen engagement shapes corporate strategies within the evolving European energy landscape.

The search for alternatives to fossil fuels has led to hydrogen becoming an important factor in the powering means of transportation. Its most effective application is in fuel cells. A single fuel cell is not a sufficient source of power which is why a stack of fuel cells is the more common solution. Fuel cells are tested using single units as this allows all cell parameters (the current density flow rates and efficiency) to be evaluated. Therefore the scalability of fuel cells is an essential factor. This paper analyses the scalability of fuel cells with a power of approximately 100 kW and 1.2 kW. Road tests of the fuel cells were compared with stationary tests which allowed the load to be reproduced and scaled. This provided a representation of the scaled current and the scalable power of the fuel cell. The research provided voltage–current characteristics of fuel cell stacks and their individual equivalents. It was concluded that regardless of the power scaling or current values the characteristics obtain similar patterns. A very important element of the research is the awareness of the properties of these cells (the number of cells and active charge exchange area) in order to compare the unit characteristics of fuel cells.

The growing energy crisis and increasing threat of climate change are driving the need to take action regarding the use of alternative fuels in transport including public transport. Hydrogen is undoubtedly a fuel which is environmentally friendly and constitutes an alternative to fossil fuels. The wider deployment of hydrogen-powered vehicles involves the need to adapt infrastructure to support the operation of these vehicles. Such infrastructure includes refuelling stations for hydrogen-powered vehicles. The widespread use of hydrogen-powered vehicles is dependent on the development of a network of hydrogen refuelling stations. The aim of this article is to propose the conceptual location of infrastructure for fuelling public transport vehicles with hydrogen in selected cities of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in particular the cities of Szczecin and Koszalin. The methodology used to determine the number of refuelling stations is described and the concept of the location for the refuelling stations has been proposed. Based on a set assumptions it was stated that two stations may be located in the Voivodeship in 2025 and seven stations in 2040. The research results will be of interest to infrastructure developers public transport companies and municipalities involved in making decisions related to the purchase and operation of hydrogen-powered buses.

This study presents the development of a robust numerical model for simulating underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in salt caverns with a particular focus on the interactions between original gas-methane (CH4) and injected gas represented by hydrogen (H2). Using the Schlumberger Eclipse 300 compositional reservoir simulator the cavern was modelled as a highly permeable porous medium to accurately represent gas flow dynamics. Two principal mixing mechanisms were investigated: physical dispersion modelled by numerical dispersion and molecular diffusion. Multiple cavern configurations and a range of dispersion–diffusion coefficients were assessed. The results indicate that physical dispersion is the primary factor affecting hydrogen purity during storage cycles while molecular diffusion becomes more significant during long-term gas storage. Gas mixing was shown to directly impact the calorific value and quality of withdrawn hydrogen. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of commercial reservoir simulators for UHS analysis and proposes a methodological framework for evaluating hydrogen purity in salt cavern storage operations.