Saudi Arabia
How Do Dissolved Gases Affect the Sonochemical Process of Hydrogen Production: An Overview of Thermodynamic and Mechanistic Effects – On the “Hot Spot Theory”
Dec 2020
Publication
Although most of researchers agree on the elementary reactions behind the sonolytic formation of molecular hydrogen (H2) from water namely the radical attack of H2O and H2O2 and the free radicals recombination several recent papers ignore the intervention of the dissolved gas molecules in the kinetic pathways of free radicals and hence may wrongly assess the effect of dissolved gases on the sonochemical production of hydrogen. One may fairly ask to which extent is it acceptable to ignore the role of the dissolved gas and its eventual decomposition inside the acoustic cavitation bubble? The present opinion paper discusses numerically the ways in which the nature of dissolved gas i.e. N2 O2 Ar and air may influence the kinetics of sonochemical hydrogen formation. The model evaluates the extent of direct physical effects i.e. dynamics of bubble oscillation and collapse events if any against indirect chemical effects i.e. the chemical reactions of free radicals formation and consequently hydrogen emergence it demonstrates the improvement in the sonochemical hydrogen production under argon and sheds light on several misinterpretations reported in earlier works due to wrong assumptions mainly related to initial conditions. The paper also highlights the role of dissolved gases in the nature of created cavitation and hence the eventual bubble population phenomena that may prevent the achievement of the sonochemical activity. This is particularly demonstrated experimentally using a 20 kHz Sinaptec transducer and a Photron SA 5 high speed camera in the case of CO2-saturated water where degassing bubbles are formed instead of transient cavitation.
A Process for Hydrogen Production from the Catalytic Decomposition of Formic Acid over Iridium—Palladium Nanoparticles
Jun 2021
Publication
The present study investigates a process for the selective production of hydrogen from the catalytic decomposition of formic acid in the presence of iridium and iridium–palladium nanoparticles under various conditions. It was found that a loading of 1 wt.% of 2% palladium in the presence of 1% iridium over activated charcoal led to a 43% conversion of formic acid to hydrogen at room temperature after 4 h. Increasing the temperature to 60 °C led to further decomposition and an improvement in conversion yield to 63%. Dilution of formic acid from 0.5 to 0.2 M improved the decomposition reaching conversion to 81%. The reported process could potentially be used in commercial applications.
Energy Management System for Hybrid PV/Wind/Battery/Fuel Cell in Microgrid-Based Hydrogen and Economical Hybrid Battery/Super Capacitor Energy Storage
Sep 2021
Publication
The present work addresses the modelling control and simulation of a microgrid integrated wind power system with Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) using a hybrid energy storage system. In order to improve the quality of the waveforms (voltages and currents) supplied to the grid instead of a two level-inverter the rotor of the DFIG is supplied using a three-level inverter. A new adaptive algorithm based on combined Direct Reactive Power Control (DRPC) and fuzzy logic controls techniques is applied to the proposed topology. In this work two topologies are proposed. In the first one the active power injected into the grid is smoothened by using an economical hybrid battery and supercapacitor energy storage system. However in the second one the excess wind energy is used to produce and store the hydrogen and then a solid oxide fuel cell system (SOFC) is utilized to regenerate electricity by using the stored hydrogen when there is not enough wind energy. To avoid overcharging deep discharging of batteries to mitigate fluctuations due to wind speed variations and to fulfil the requirement of the load profile a power management algorithm is implemented. This algorithm ensures smooth output power in the first topology and service continuity in the second. The modelling and simulation results are presented and analysed using Matlab/Simulin.
Catalytic and Photocatalytic Electrospun Nanofibers for Hydrogen Generation from Ammonia Borane Complex: A Review
Jul 2021
Publication
Hydrogen (H2) is a promising renewable energy source that can replace fossil fuels since it can solve several environmental and economic issues. However the widespread usage of H2 is constrained by its storage and safety issues. Many researchers consider solid materials with an excellent capacity for H2 storage and generation as the solution for most H2-related issues. Among solid materials ammonia borane (abbreviated hereafter as AB) is considered one of the best hydrogen storage materials due to its extraordinary H2 content and small density. However the process must be conducted in the presence of efficient catalysts to obtain a reasonable amount of generated H2. Electrospun nanofibrous catalysts are a new class of efficient catalysts that involves the usage of polymers. Here a comprehensive review of the ceramic-supported electrospun NF catalysts for AB hydrolysis is presented with a special focus on catalytic and photolytic performance and preparation steps. Photocatalytic AB hydrolysis was discussed in detail due to its importance and promising results. AB photocatalytic hydrolysis mechanisms under light were also explained. Electrospun catalysts show excellent activity for AB hydrolysis with good recyclability. Kinetics studies show that the AB hydrolysis reaction is independent of AB concentration and the first-order reaction of NF catalysts.
Clean Hydrogen Production by Ultrasound (Sonochemistry): The Effect of Noble Gases
Feb 2022
Publication
Power ultrasonic (> 100 kHz) splits water into free radicals and hydrogen. As a result water sonochemistry is considered as an alternative clean and fossil-fuel-free hydrogen production technique. In this research work the impact of rare gases (Xe Ar and He) on the sonochemical production of hydrogen as well as the population of active bubbles has been investigated computationally for various sonicated frequencies (213-515 kHz) and intensities (1-2 W/cm²). It has been found that both the H2 yielding and the bubble population size for H2 yielding are in the order Xe>Ar>He whatever the imposed sonolytic parameters (i.e. frequency and power). These findings were principally ascribed to the thermal conductivity of the saturating gases which is in the reverse order (He>Ar>Xe). Besides the difference between Ar and Xe is condensed in comparison with the He gas. For wave frequencies larger than 213 kHz however all saturating gases (Xe Ar and He) behave identically with the influence of thermal conductivity of these gases on the optimal radius muted. At 213 kHz however this impact is plainly visible (Ropt (Ar and Xe)>Ropt (He)). As per the results obtained helium's inefficiency as a saturating gas for hydrogen production is verified but xenon's maximal efficacy is reached when water is saturated with it. These results support the fewer experimental data reported in this emerging branch of sonochemistry while the discussed results in the present (i.e. noble gases effect on sono-hydrogen production) are treated for the first time consequently our work is considered as a guideline for increasing the efficacy of hydrogen production in a sonochemical reactor.
Ranking Locations for Hydrogen Production Using Hybrid Wind-Solar: A Case Study
Apr 2021
Publication
Observing the growing energy demand of modern societies many countries have recognized energy security as a looming problem and renewable energies as a solution to this issue. Renewable hydrogen production is an excellent method for the storage and transfer of energy generated by intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar so that they can be used at a place and time of our choosing. In this study the suitability of 15 cities in Fars province Iran for renewable hydrogen production was investigated and compared by the use of multiple multi-criteria decision-making methods including ARAS SAW CODAS and TOPSIS. The obtained rankings were aggregated by rank averaging Borda method and Copeland method. Finally the partially ordered set ranking technique was used to reach a general consensus about the ranking. The criteria that affect hydrogen production were found to be solar energy potential wind energy potential population air temperature natural disasters altitude relative humidity land cost skilled labor infrastructure topographic condition and distance from main roads. These criteria were weighted using the best–worst method (BWM) based on the data collected by a questionnaire. Solar energy potential was estimated using the Angstrom model. Wind energy potential was estimated by using the Weibull distribution function for each month independently. The results of the multi-criteria decision-making methods showed Izadkhast to be the most suitable location for renewable hydrogen production in the studied area.
A Critical Review of Renewable Hydrogen Production Methods: Factors Affecting Their Scale-Up and Its Role in Future Energy Generation
Feb 2022
Publication
An increase in human activities and population growth have significantly increased the world’s energy demands. The major source of energy for the world today is from fossil fuels which are polluting and degrading the environment due to the emission of greenhouse gases. Hydrogen is an identified efficient energy carrier and can be obtained through renewable and non-renewable sources. An overview of renewable sources of hydrogen production which focuses on water splitting (electrolysis thermolysis and photolysis) and biomass (biological and thermochemical) mechanisms is presented in this study. The limitations associated with these mechanisms are discussed. The study also looks at some critical factors that hinders the scaling up of the hydrogen economy globally. Key among these factors are issues relating to the absence of a value chain for clean hydrogen storage and transportation of hydrogen high cost of production lack of international standards and risks in investment. The study ends with some future research recommendations for researchers to help enhance the technical efficiencies of some production mechanisms and policy direction to governments to reduce investment risks in the sector to scale the hydrogen economy up.
Design and Analysis of Photovoltaic/wind Operations at MPPT for Hydrogen Production using a PEM Electrolyzer: Towards Innovations in Green Technology
Jul 2023
Publication
In recent times renewable energy systems (RESs) such as Photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine (WT) are being employed to produce hydrogen. This paper aims to compare the efficiency and performance of PV and WT as sources of RESs to power polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzer (PEMEL) under different conditions. The study assessed the input/ output power of PV and WT the efficiency of the MPPT controller the calculation of the green hydrogen production rate and the efficiency of each system separately. The study analyzed variable irradiance from 600 to 1000 W/m2 for a PV system and a fixed temperature of 25˚C while for the WT system it considered variable wind speed from 10 to 14 m/s and zero fixed pitch angle. The study demonstrated that the applied controllers were effective fast low computational and highly accurate. The obtained results showed that WT produces twice the PEMEL capacity while the PV system is designed to be equal to the PEMEL capacity. The study serves as a reference for designing PV or WT to feed an electrolyzer. The MATLAB program validated the proposed configurations with their control schemes.
Hybrid Electric Vehicle: Design and Control of a Hybrid System (Fuel Cell/Battery/Ultra-Capacitor) Supplied by Hydrogen
Apr 2019
Publication
Due to its high efficiency and reduced emissions new zero-emission hybrid electric vehicles have been selected as an attractive challenge for future transport applications. New zero -emission hybrid electric on the other hand has some major drawbacks from the complicated charging process. The hybrid electrical fuel cell system is introduced as the main source to intelligently control multi-source activities. An ultra-capacitor system is selected as the energy recovery assistance to monitor the fuel cell’s fast transient and peak power during critical periods. To regulate energy demand and supply an intelligent energy management system is proposed and tested through several constraints. The proposed approach system aims to act quickly against sudden circumstances related to hydrogen depletion in the prediction of the required fuel consumption basis. The proposed strategy tends to define the proper operating system according to energy demand and supply. The obtained results show that the designed system meets the targets set for the energy management unit by referring to an experimental velocity database.
Wettability of Shale–brine–H2 System and H2-brine Interfacial Tension for Assessment of the Sealing Capacities of Shale Formations During Underground Hydrogen Storage
Jul 2022
Publication
Replacement of fossil fuels with clean hydrogen has been recognized as the most feasible approach of implementing CO2-free hydrogen economy globally. However large-scale storage of hydrogen is a critical component of hydrogen economy value chain because hydrogen is the lightest molecule and has moderately low volumetric energy content. To achieve successful storage of buoyant hydrogen at the subsurface and convenient withdrawal during the period of critical energy demand the integrity of the underground storage rock and overlying seal (caprock) must be assured. Presently there is paucity of information on hydrogen wettability of shale and the interfacial properties of H2/brine system. In this research contact angles of shale/H2/brine system and hydrogen/brine interfacial tension (IFT) were measured using Krüss drop shape analyzer (DSA 100) at 50 ◦C and varying pressure (14.7–1000 psi). A modified form of sessile drop approach was used for the contact angles measurement whereas the H2- brine IFT was measured through the pendant drop method. H2-brine IFT values decreased slightly with increasing pressure ranging between 63.68◦ at 14.7 psia and 51.29◦ at 1000 psia. The Eagle-ford shale with moderate total organic carbon (TOC) of 3.83% attained fully hydrogen-wet (contact angle of 99.9◦ ) and intermediate-wet condition (contact angle of 89.7◦ ) at 14.7 psi and 200 psi respectively. Likewise the Wolf-camp shale with low TOC (0.30%) attained weakly water-wet conditions with contact angles of 58.8◦ and 62.9◦ at 14.7 psi and 200 psi respectively. The maximum height of hydrogen that can be securely trapped by the Wolf-camp shale was approximately 325 meters whereas the value was merely 100 meters for the Eagle-ford shale. Results of this study will aid in assessment of hydrogen storage capacity of organic-rich shale (adsorption trapping) as well as evaluation of the sealing potentials of low TOC shale (caprock) during underground hydrogen storage.
One-dimensional Numerical Investigation on Multi-cylinder Gasoline Engine Fueled by Micro-emulsions, CNG, and Hydrogen in Dual Fuel Mode
Aug 2022
Publication
This research work is the novel state-of-the-art technology performed on multi-cylinder SI engine fueled compressed natural gas emulsified fuel and hydrogen as dual fuel. This work predicts the overall features of performance combustion and exhaust emissions of individual fuels based on AVL Boost simulation technology. Three types of alternative fuels have been compared and analyzed. The results show that hydrogen produces 20% more brake power than CNG and 25% more power than micro-emulsion fuel at 1500 r/min which further increases the brake power of hydrogen CNG and micro-emulsions in the range of 25% 20% and 15% at higher engine speeds of 2500–4000 r/min respectively. In addition the brake-specific fuel consumption is the lowest for 100% hydrogen followed by CNG 100% and then micro-emulsions at 1500 r/min. At 2500– 5000 r/min there is a significant drop in brake-specific fuel consumption due to a lean mixture at higher engine speeds. The CO HC and NOx emissions significantly improve for hydrogen CNG and micro-emulsion fuel. Hydrogen fuel shows zero CO and HC emissions and is the main objective of this research to produce 0% carbon-based emissions with a slight increase in NOx emissions and CNG shows 30% lower CO emissions than micro-emulsions and 21.5% less hydrocarbon emissions than micro-emulsion fuel at stoichiometric air/fuel ratio.
Development and Mechanistic Studies of Ternary Nanocomposites for Hydrogen Production from Water Splitting to Yield Sustainable/Green Energy and Environmental Remediation
Mar 2022
Publication
Photocatalysts lead vitally to water purifications and decarbonise environment each by wastewater treatment and hydrogen (H2 ) production as a renewable energy source from waterphotolysis. This work deals with the photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and H2 production by novel silver-nanoparticle (AgNPs) based ternary-nanocomposites of thiolated reducegraphene oxide graphitic carbon nitride (AgNPs-S-rGO2%@g-C3N4 ) material. Herein the optimised balanced ratio of thiolated reduce-graphene oxide in prepared ternary-nanocomposites played matchlessly to enhance activity by increasing the charge carriers’ movements via slowing down charge-recombination ratios. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) >2 wt.% or < 10 nm. Therefore AgNPs-S-rGO2%@g-C3N4 has 3772.5 µmolg−1 h −1 H2 production which is 6.43-fold higher than g-C3N4 having cyclic stability of 96% even after four consecutive cycles. The proposed mechanism for AgNPs-S-rGO2%@g-C3N4 revealed that the photo-excited electrons in the conduction-band of g-C3N4 react with the adhered water moieties to generate H2 .
Advancing Hydrogen: A Closer Look at Implementation Factors, Current Status and Future Potential
Dec 2023
Publication
This review article provides a comprehensive analysis of the hydrogen landscape outlining the imperative for enhanced hydrogen production implementation and utilisation. It places the question of how to accelerate hydrogen adoption within the broader context of sustainable energy transitions and international commitments to reduce carbon emissions. It discusses influencing factors and policies for best practices in hydrogen energy application. Through an in-depth exploration of key factors affecting hydrogen implementation this study provides insights into the complex interplay of both technical and logistical factors. It also discusses the challenges of planning constructing infrastructure and overcoming geographical constraints in the transition to hydrogen-based energy systems. The drive to achieve net-zero carbon emissions is contingent on accelerating clean hydrogen development with blue and green hydrogen poised to complement traditional fuels. Public–private partnerships are emerging as catalysts for the commercialisation of hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies fostering hydrogen demonstration projects worldwide. The anticipated integration of clean hydrogen into various sectors in the coming years signifies its importance as a complementary energy source although specific applications across industries remain undefined. The paper provides a good reference on the gradual integration of hydrogen into the energy landscape marking a significant step forward toward a cleaner greener future.
Future Technological Directions for Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines in Transport Applications
Oct 2024
Publication
The paper discusses some of the requirements drivers and resulting technological paths for manufacturers to develop hydrogen combustion engines for use in two types of market application – onroad heavy- and light-duty. One of the main requirements is legislative certainty and this has now been afforded – at least in the major market of Europe – by the European Union’s recent adoption into law of tailpipe emissions limits specifically designed to encourage the uptake of hydrogen engines in heavy-duty vehicles giving manufacturers the confidence they need to invest in productionized solutions to offer to customers. It then discusses combustion systems and boosting systems for the two market types emphasizing that heavy-duty vehicles need best efficiency throughout their operating map while light-duty ones since they are rarely operated at full load will mainly primarily need efficiency in the part-load region. This difference will likely cause a divergence in solutions with heavy-duty engines running very lean everywhere and light-duty ones likely operating at the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio at least for most of the map. The impacts of the strategies on engine systems and vehicle integration are discussed. It is postulated that due to reasons of preignition avoidance and efficiency hydrogen engines will rapidly adopt direct injection and that the long-term heavy-duty types will migrate towards the typical current spark-ignition-type cylinder head architecture where tumble rather than swirl will ultimately be needed for air motion in the cylinder for these reasons. They may also adopt active pre-chamber technology to ignite extremely lean mixtures for maximum efficiency and minimum emissions of oxides of nitrogen. It is suggested that light-duty engines will evolve less from their current gasoline architectural norm since they already contain all of the necessary fundamentals for hydrogen combustion. However since partload efficiency will be important some new strategies may become desirable. Developing dual-fuel light-duty engines could accelerate their uptake as the heavy-duty market simultaneously accelerates the creation of the fuel supply infrastructure. The likely technological evolution suggests that variable valve trains and specifically cam profile switching technology would be extremely useful for all types of hydrogen engine especially since they are readily available in different gasoline engines now. New operating strategies afforded by variable valve trains would benefit both heavy- and light-duty engines and these strategies will become more sophisticated. There will therefore likely be a convergence of technologies for the two markets albeit with some key differences maintained due to their vehicle applications and their differing operation in the field.
Economic and Environmental Impact Assessment of Renewable Energy Integration: A Review and Future Research Directions
Nov 2024
Publication
This review article critically examines papers on renewable energy integration (REI) with a specific focus on the economic and environmental impact assessments across multiple sectors including agriculture transportation electricity production buildings and biofuel production. A total of 111 articles from the Web of Science Core Collection database were reviewed using a systematic literature review methodology and content analysis techniques. The results indicate that evaluation-type studies particularly those employing optimization and simulation-based methods such as techno-economic analysis (TEA) (28 papers) and lifecycle assessment (LCA) (20 papers) were the most prominent approaches used for economic and environmental analyses. Optimization techniques such as mixed-integer linear programming (6 papers) genetic algorithms (GA) (5 papers) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) (4 papers) were widely applied. The quantitative analysis of impact assessment indicators shows that REI has yielded significant long-term positive results across multiple RE sources sectors and regions. A detailed examination of mathematical models (e.g. optimization techniques) and simulation modeling combined with lifecycle assessment (LCA) will assist future researchers in optimizing energy systems and enhancing sustainability in sectors such as agriculture and water desalination. The conceptual inclusion of circular economy within the research field needs to be more present among researchers and most of the studies focused on technical aspects of RE integration and assessing impacts rather than identifying a systemic change across the sectors. Several future research directions have been identified across sectors offering opportunities to advance the field. Policymakers will find this paper valuable for informed decision-making and the development of robust policy frameworks.
Economic Feasibility of Hydrogen Generation Using HTR-PM Technology in Saudi Arabia
Feb 2025
Publication
The global push for clean hydrogen production has identified nuclear energy particularly high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) as a promising solution due to their ability to provide high-temperature heat. This study conducted a techno-economic analysis of hydrogen production in Saudi Arabia using the pebble bed modular reactor (HTRPM) focusing on two methods: high-temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) and the sulfur– iodine (SI) thermochemical cycle. The Hydrogen Economic Evaluation Program (HEEP) was used to assess the economic viability of both methods considering key production factors such as the discount rate nuclear power plant (NPP) capital cost and hydrogen plant efficiency. The results show that the SI cycle achieves a lower levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) at USD 1.22/kg H2 compared to HTSE at USD 1.47/kg H2 primarily due to higher thermal efficiency. Nonetheless HTSE offers simpler system integration. Sensitivity analysis reveals that variations in the discount rate and NPP capital costs significantly impact both production methods while hydrogen plant efficiency is crucial in determining overall economics. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on sustainable hydrogen production technologies by highlighting the potential of nuclear-driven methods to meet global decarbonization goals. The paper concludes that the HTR-PM offers a viable pathway for large-scale hydrogen production in Saudi Arabia aligning with the Vision 2030 objectives.
Renewable Hydrogen Trade, in a Global Decarbonised Energy System
Jan 2025
Publication
Renewable hydrogen has emerged as a potentially critical energy carrier for achieving climate change mitigation goals. International trade could play a key role in meeting hydrogen demand in a globally decarbonized energy system. To better understand this role we have developed a modelling framework that incorporates hydrogen supply and demand curves and a market equilibrium model to maximize social welfare. Applying this framework we investigate two scenarios: an unrestricted trade scenario where hydrogen trade is allowed between all regions globally and a regional independence scenario where trade is restricted to be intra-regional only. Under the unrestricted trade scenario global hydrogen demand could reach 234 Mt by 2050 with 31.2% met through international trade. Key trade routes identified include North Africa to Europe the Middle East to Developing Asia and South America to Japan and South Korea. In the regional independence scenario most regions could meet their demand domestically except for Japan and South Korea due to self-insufficiency. Finally this analysis reveals that producers in North Africa and South America are likely to gain more economic value from international trade compared to other producing regions. The results offer key insights for policymakers and investors for shaping future hydrogen trade policies and investment decisions.
An Overview of the Photocatalytic Water Splitting over Suspended Particles
Jan 2021
Publication
The conversion of solar to chemical energy is one of the central processes considered in the emerging renewable energy economy. Hydrogen production from water splitting over particulate semiconductor catalysts has often been proposed as a simple and a cost-effective method for largescale production. In this review we summarize the basic concepts of the overall water splitting (in the absence of sacrificial agents) using particulate photocatalysts with a focus on their synthetic methods and the role of the so-called “co-catalysts”. Then a focus is then given on improving light absorption in which the Z-scheme concept and the overall system efficiency are discussed. A section on reactor design and cost of the overall technology is given where the possibility of the different technologies to be deployed at a commercial scale and the considerable challenges ahead are discussed. To date the highest reported efficiency of any of these systems is at least one order of magnitude lower than that deserving consideration for practical applications.
Renewable Hydrogen Production Steps Up Wastewater Treatment under Low-carbon Electricity Sources - A Call Forth Approach
Sep 2024
Publication
Switching to renewable resources for hydrogen production is essential. Present hydrogen resources such as coal oil and natural gas are depleted and rapidly moving to a dead state and they possess a high carbon footprint. Wastewater is a promising avenue in searching for a renewable hydrogen production resource. Profuse techniques are preferred for hydrogen production. Among them electrolysis is great with wastewater against biological processes by hydrogen purity. Present obstacles behind the process are conversion efficiency intensive energy and cost. This review starts with hydrogen demand wastewater availability and their H2 potential then illustrates the three main types of electrolysis. The main section highlights renewable energy-assisted electrolysis because of its low carbon footprint and zero emission potential for various water electrolysis. High-temperature steam solid oxide electrolysis is a viable option for future scaling due to the versatile adoption of photo electric and thermal energy. A glance at some effective aspirations to large-scale H2 economics such as co-generation biomass utilization Microbial electrolysis waste to low-cost green electrode Carbon dioxide hydrogenation and minerals recovery. This study gives a broader view of facing challenges via versatile future perspectives to eliminate the obstacles above. renewable green H2 along with a low carbon footprint and cost potential to forward the large-scale wastewater electrolysis H2 production in addition to preserving the environment from wastewater and fossil fuel. Geographical and seasonal availability constraints are unavoidable; therefore energy storage and coupling of power sources is essential to attain consistent supply. The lack of regulations and policies supporting the development and adoption of these technologies did not reduce the gap between research and implementation. Life cycle assessment of this electrolysis process is rarely available so we need to focus on the natural effect of this process on the environment.
Environmental Assessment of Hydrogen Utilization in Various Applications and Alternative Renewable Sources for Hydrogen Production: A Review
May 2023
Publication
Rapid industrialization is consuming too much energy and non-renewable energy resources are currently supplying the world’s majority of energy requirements. As a result the global energy mix is being pushed towards renewable and sustainable energy sources by the world’s future energy plan and climate change. Thus hydrogen has been suggested as a potential energy source for sustainable development. Currently the production of hydrogen from fossil fuels is dominant in the world and its utilization is increasing daily. As discussed in the paper a large amount of hydrogen is used in rocket engines oil refining ammonia production and many other processes. This paper also analyzes the environmental impacts of hydrogen utilization in various applications such as iron and steel production rocket engines ammonia production and hydrogenation. It is predicted that all of our fossil fuels will run out soon if we continue to consume them at our current pace of consumption. Hydrogen is only ecologically friendly when it is produced from renewable energy. Therefore a transition towards hydrogen production from renewable energy resources such as solar geothermal and wind is necessary. However many things need to be achieved before we can transition from a fossil-fuel-driven economy to one based on renewable energy
Enhancing the Risk-oriented Participation of Wind Power Plants in Day-ahead Balancing, and Hydrogen Markets with Shared Multi-energy Storage Systems
Dec 2024
Publication
The increasing demand for renewable energy sources (RES) to address environmental concerns and reduce fossil fuel dependency highlights the need for efficient energy storage and balancing mechanisms to manage RES output uncertainty. However providing dedicated storage units to RES owners is often infeasible. Additionally the growing interest in hydrogen utilization complicates optimal decision-making for multi-energy systems. To tackle these challenges this paper presents a novel bidding strategy enabling wind farms to participate in dayahead balancing and hydrogen markets through shared multi-energy storage (SMES) systems. These SMES which include both battery and hydrogen storage offer a cost-effective solution by allowing RES owners to rent storage capacity. By optimizing SMES utilization and wind farm management we propose an integrated strategy for day-ahead electrical and real-time balancing markets and also hydrogen markets. The approach incorporates with uncertainties of wind generation bidding by using conditional value at risk (CVaR) to account for different risk-aversion levels. The Dantzig–Wolfe Decomposition (DWD) method is applied to decentralize the problem reduce the calculation burden and enhance the data privacy. The framework is modeled as a mixed-integer linear program (MILP) and solved using CPLEX solver via GAMS software. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of this strategy offering insights into the risk-oriented market participation of wind power plants with the aid of SMES system supporting a more sustainable and resilient energy system. The numerical results show that by utilizing a SMES with only batteries the revenue can be increased by 17.3% and equipping the SMES with hydrogen storage and participating in both markets leads to 36.9% increment in the revenue of the wind power plant.
An Overview of Hydrogen Energy Generation
Feb 2024
Publication
The global issue of climate change caused by humans and its inextricable linkage to our present and future energy demand presents the biggest challenge facing our globe. Hydrogen has been introduced as a new renewable energy resource. It is envisaged to be a crucial vector in the vast low-carbon transition to mitigate climate change minimize oil reliance reinforce energy security solve the intermittency of renewable energy resources and ameliorate energy performance in the transportation sector by using it in energy storage energy generation and transport sectors. Many technologies have been developed to generate hydrogen. The current paper presents a review of the current and developing technologies to produce hydrogen from fossil fuels and alternative resources like water and biomass. The results showed that reformation and gasification are the most mature and used technologies. However the weaknesses of these technologies include high energy consumption and high carbon emissions. Thermochemical water splitting biohydrogen and photo-electrolysis are long-term and clean technologies but they require more technical development and cost reduction to implement reformation technologies efficiently and on a large scale. A combination of water electrolysis with renewable energy resources is an ecofriendly method. Since hydrogen is viewed as a considerable game-changer for future fuels this paper also highlights the challenges facing hydrogen generation. Moreover an economic analysis of the technologies used to generate hydrogen is carried out in this study.
Optimal Design and Sizing of Hybrid Photovoltaic/Fuel Cell Electrical Power System
Aug 2023
Publication
Renewable energy solutions play a crucial role in addressing the growing energy demands while mitigating environmental concerns. This study examines the techno-economic viability and sensitivity of utilizing solar photovoltaic/polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells (FCs) to meet specific power demands in NEOM Saudi Arabia. The novelty of this study lies in its innovative approach to analyzing and optimizing PV/PEMFC systems aiming to highlight their economic feasibility and promote sustainable development in the region. The analysis focuses on determining the optimal size of the PV/PEMFC system based on two critical criteria: minimum cost of energy (COE) and minimum net present cost (NPC). The study considers PEMFCs with power ratings of 30 kW 40 kW and 50 kW along with four PV panel options: Jinko Solar Powerwave Tindo Karra and Trina Solar. The outcomes show that the 30 kW PEMFC and the 201 kW Trina Solar TSM-430NEG9R.28 are the most favorable choices for the case study. Under these optimal conditions the study reveals the lowest values for NPC at USD 703194 and COE at USD 0.498 per kilowatt-hour. The levelized cost of hydrogen falls within the range of USD 15.9 to 23.4 per kilogram. Furthermore replacing the 30 kW Trina solar panel with a 50 kW Tindo PV module results in a cost reduction of 32%. The findings emphasize the criticality of choosing optimal system configurations to attain favorable economic outcomes thereby facilitating the adoption and utilization of renewable energy sources in the region. In conclusion this study stands out for its pioneering and thorough analysis and optimization of PV/PEMFC systems providing valuable insights for sustainable energy planning in NEOM Saudi Arabia.
Optimal Parameter Determination of Membrane Bioreactor to Boost Biohydrogen Production-Based Integration of ANFIS Modeling and Honey Badger Algorithm
Jan 2023
Publication
Hydrogen is a new promising energy source. Three operating parameters including inlet gas flow rate pH and impeller speed mainly determine the biohydrogen production from membrane bioreactor. The work aims to boost biohydrogen production by determining the optimal values of the control parameters. The proposed methodology contains two parts: modeling and parameter estimation. A robust ANIFS model to simulate a membrane bioreactor has been constructed for the modeling stage. Compared with RMS thanks to ANFIS the RMSE decreased from 2.89 using ANOVA to 0.0183 using ANFIS. Capturing the proper correlation between the inputs and output of the membrane bioreactor process system encourages the constructed ANFIS model to predict the output performance exactly. Then the optimal operating parameters were identified using the honey badger algorithm. During the optimization process inlet gas flow rate pH and impeller speed are used as decision variables whereas the biohydrogen production is the objective function required to be maximum. The integration between ANFIS and HBA boosted the hydrogen production yield from 23.8 L to 25.52 L increasing by 7.22%.
Technical, Economic, Carbon Footprint Assessment, and Prioritizing Stations for Hydrogen Production Using Wind Energy: A Case Study
Jul 2021
Publication
While Afghanistan’s power sector is almost completely dependent on fossil fuels it still cannot meet the rising power demand of this country. Deploying a combination of renewable energy systems with hydrogen production as the excess energy storage mechanism could be a sustainable long-term approach for addressing some of the energy problems of Afghanistan. Since Badakhshan is known to have a higher average wind speed than any other Afghan province in this study a technical economic and carbon footprint assessment was performed to investigate the potential for wind power and hydrogen production in this province. Wind data of four stations in Badakhshan were used for technical assessment for three heights of 10 30 and 40 m using the Weibull probability distribution function. This technical assessment was expanded by estimating the energy pattern factor probability of wind speeds greater than 5 m/s wind power density annual power output and annual hydrogen output. This was followed by an economic assessment which involved computing the Leveled Cost Of Energy (LCOE) the Leveled Cost Of Hydrogen (LCOH) and the payback period and finally an carbon footprint assessment which involved estimating the consequent CO2 reduction in two scenarios. The assessments were performed for 22 turbines manufactured by reputable companies with capacities ranging from 600 kW to 2.3 MW. The results showed that the entire Badakhshan province and especially Qal’eh-ye Panjeh and Fayazabad have excellent potentials in terms of wind energy that can be harvested for wind power and hydrogen production. Also wind power generation in this province will be highly cost-effective as the produced electricity will cost about one-third of the price of electricity supplied by the government. For better evaluation the GIS maps of wind power and hydrogen outputs were prepared using the IDW method. These maps showed that the eastern and northeastern parts of Badakhshan province have higher wind power-hydrogen production potentials. The results of ranking the stations with SWARA-EDAS hybrid MCDM methods showed that Qal’eh-ye Panjeh station was the best location to produce hydrogen from wind energy.
Modeling Green Hydrogen Production Using Power-to-x: Saudi and German Contexts
Apr 2024
Publication
This study assesses the competitiveness of producing green hydrogen (H2) in Saudi Arabia and Germany using a power-to-carrier (P2X) model in PLEXOS for 2030 and beyond. The target amount of H2 to be produced serves as the only exogenous input allowing the model which runs on an hourly temporal resolution to endogenously optimize the electrolyzer technology (alkaline proton exchange membrane or solid oxide electrolyzer cell) the capacity of the electrolyzer to be built and the optimal carbon-free energy mix. Results suggest the overall investment needs in Saudi Arabia are approximately 25% lower than those for wind-based hydrogen production in Germany with the best-case scenario to produce 0.213 Mt of green H2 costing a net present value of $6.20 billion in Saudi Arabia compared to $8.11 billion in Germany. The findings indicate that alkaline electrolyzers dominate the production process favored for their low cost despite the higher efficiencies of other electrolyzer types. Moreover the model opts to dump excess energy rather than construct battery storage. Based on 16 scenarios the study determines a levelized cost of hydrogen of 2.34–3.08 $/kg for Saudi Arabia compared with 3.06–3.69 $/kg in Germany. Subsequently a detailed sensitivity analysis considers various discount rates for both countries. It is concluded that even when considering shipment costs from Saudi Arabia to Germany (~1 $/kg) green H2 can still be competitively delivered from Saudi Arabia to Germany.
An Optimization-Based Model for A Hybrid Photovoltaic-Hydrogen Storage System for Agricultural Operations in Saudi Arabia
Apr 2023
Publication
Renewable energy technologies and resources particularly solar photovoltaic systems provide cost-effective and environmentally friendly solutions for meeting the demand for electricity. The design of such systems is a critical task as it has a significant impact on the overall cost of the system. In this paper a mixed-integer linear programming-based model is proposed for designing an integrated photovoltaic-hydrogen renewable energy system to minimize total life costs for one of Saudi Arabia’s most important fields a greenhouse farm. The aim of the proposed system is to determine the number of photovoltaic (PV) modules the amount of hydrogen accumulated over time and the number of hydrogen tanks. In addition binary decision variables are used to describe either-or decisions on hydrogen tank charging and discharging. To solve the developed model an exact approach embedded in the general algebraic modeling System (GAMS) software was utilized. The model was validated using a farm consisting of 20 greenhouses a worker-housing area and a water desalination station with hourly energy demand. The findings revealed that 1094 PV panels and 1554 hydrogen storage tanks are required to meet the farm’s load demand. In addition the results indicated that the annual energy cost is $228234 with a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 0.12 $/kWh. On the other hand the proposed model reduced the carbon dioxide emissions to 882 tons per year. These findings demonstrated the viability of integrating an electrolyzer fuel cell and hydrogen tank storage with a renewable energy system; nevertheless the cost of energy produced remains high due to the high capital cost. Moreover the findings indicated that hydrogen technology can be used as an energy storage solution when the production of renewable energy systems is variable as well as in other applications such as the industrial residential and transportation sectors. Furthermore the results revealed the feasibility of employing renewable energy as a source of energy for agricultural operations.
Solid Air Hydrogen Liquefaction, the Missing Link of the Hydrogen Economy
Mar 2023
Publication
The most challenging aspect of developing a green hydrogen economy is long-distance oceanic transportation. Hydrogen liquefaction is a transportation alternative. However the cost and energy consumption for liquefaction is currently prohibitively high creating a major barrier to hydrogen supply chains. This paper proposes using solid nitrogen or oxygen as a medium for recycling cold energy across the hydrogen liquefaction supply chain. When a liquid hydrogen (LH2) carrier reaches its destination the regasification process of the hydrogen produces solid nitrogen or oxygen. The solid nitrogen or oxygen is then transported in the LH2 carrier back to the hydrogen liquefaction facility and used to reduce the energy consumption cooling gaseous hydrogen. As a result the energy required to liquefy hydrogen can be reduced by 25.4% using N2 and 27.3% using O2. Solid air hydrogen liquefaction (SAHL) can be the missing link for implementing a global hydrogen economy.
Photoelectrochemical Green Hydrogen Production Utilizing ZnO Nanostructured Photoelectrodes
May 2023
Publication
One of the emerging and environmentally friendly technologies is the photoelectrochemical generation of green hydrogen; however the cheap cost of production and the need for customizing photoelectrode properties are thought to be the main obstacles to the widespread adoption of this technology. The primary players in hydrogen production by photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting which is becoming more common on a worldwide basis are solar renewable energy and widely available metal oxide based PEC electrodes. This study attempts to prepare nanoparticulate and nanorod-arrayed films to better understand how nanomorphology can impact structural optical and PEC hydrogen production efficiency as well as electrode stability. Chemical bath deposition (CBD) and spray pyrolysis are used to create ZnO nanostructured photoelectrodes. Various characterization methods are used to investigate morphologies structures elemental analysis and optical characteristics. The crystallite size of the wurtzite hexagonal nanorod arrayed film was 100.8 nm for the (002) orientation while the crystallite size of nanoparticulate ZnO was 42.1 nm for the favored (101) orientation. The lowest dislocation values for (101) nanoparticulate orientation and (002) nanorod orientation are 5.6 × 10−4 and 1.0 × 10−4 dislocation/nm2 respectively. By changing the surface morphology from nanoparticulate to hexagonal nanorod arrangement the band gap is decreased to 2.99 eV. Under white and monochromatic light irradiation the PEC generation of H2 is investigated using the proposed photoelectrodes. The solar-to-hydrogen conversion rate of ZnO nanorod-arrayed electrodes was 3.72% and 3.12% respectively under 390 and 405 nm monochromatic light which is higher than previously reported values for other ZnO nanostructures. The output H2 generation rates for white light and 390 nm monochromatic illuminations were 28.43 and 26.11 mmol.h−1 cm−2 respectively. The nanorod-arrayed photoelectrode retains 96.6% of its original photocurrent after 10 reusability cycles compared to 87.4% for the nanoparticulate ZnO photoelectrode. The computation of conversion efficiencies H2 output rates Tafel slope and corrosion current as well as the application of low-cost design methods for the photoelectrodes show how the nanorod-arrayed morphology offers low-cost high-quality PEC performance and durability.
Recent Breakthroughs and Future Horizons in Next-generation HT-PEMs for Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Aug 2025
Publication
Aminul Islam,
Mamun Shahriar,
Tarekul Islam,
Md. Tarekul Islam,
Afsana Papia,
Suman Chandra Mohanta,
M. Azizur R. Khan,
Md Aliur Rahman,
Khadiza Tul Kubra,
Md. Munjur Hasan,
Ariyan Islam Rehan,
Mohammed Sohrab Hossain,
Adiba Islam Rasee,
M.A. Shenashen,
Eti Awual,
Md. Chanmiya Sheikh,
Tetsuya Uchida,
R.M. Waliullah,
Md. Shad Salman,
Md. Nazmul Hasan and
Md. Rabiul Awual
High-temperature proton exchange membranes (HT-PEMs) for fuel cells are considered transformative technologies for efficient energy conversion particularly in hydrogen-based transportation owing to their ability to deliver high power density and operational efficiency in harsh environments. However several critical challenges limit their broader adoption notably the limited durability and high costs associated with core components such as membranes and electrocatalysts under elevated temperature conditions. This review systematically addresses these challenges by examining the role of engineered nanomaterials in overcoming performance and stability limitations. The potential of nanomaterials to improve catalytic activity proton conductivity and thermal stability is discussed in detail emphasizing their impact on the optimization of catalyst layer composition including catalysts binders phosphoric acid electrolytes and additives. Recent advancements in nanostructured assemblies and 3D morphologies are explored to enhance fuel cell efficiency through synergistic interactions of these components. Additionally ongoing issues such as catalyst degradation long-term stability and resistance to high-temperature operation are critically analyzed. This manuscript offers a comprehensive overview of current HT-PEMs research and proposes future material design strategies that could bridge the gap between laboratory prototypes and large-scale industrial applications.
Enhancing Hydrogen Gas Production in Electrolysis Cells with Ammonium Chloride and Solar PV Integration
Feb 2025
Publication
In this study the electrolysis of water by using ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) as an electrolyte was investigated for the production of hydrogen gas. The assembled electrochemical cell consists mainly of twenty-one stainless-steel electrodes and a direct current from a battery ammonium chloride solution. In the electrolysis process hydrogen and oxygen are developed at the same time and collected as a mixture to be used as a fuel. This study explores a technic regarding the matching of oxyhydrogen (HHO) electrolyzers with photovoltaic (PV) systems to make HHO gas. The primary objective of the present research is to enable the electrolyzer to operate independently of other energy origins functioning as a complete unit powered solely by PV. Moreover the impact of using PWM on cell operation was investigated. The experimental data was collected at various time intervals NH4Cl concentrations. Additionally the hydrogen unit consists of two cells with a shared positive pole fixed between them. Some undesirable anodic reaction affects the efficiency of hydrogen gas production because of the corrosion of anode to ferrous hydroxide (Fe(OH)2). Polyphosphate Inhibitor was used to minimize the corrosion reaction of anode and keep the efficiency of hydrogen gas flow. The optimal concentration of 3M for ammonium chloride was identified balancing a gas flow rate of 772 ml/min with minimal anode corrosion. Without PWM conversion efficiency ranges between 93% and 96%. Therefore PWM increased conversion efficiency by approximately 5% leading to a corresponding increase in hydrogen gas production.
Synergistic Sizing and Energy Management Strategy of Combined Offshore Wind with Solar Floating PV System for Green Hydrogen and Electricity Co-Production Using Multi-Objective Dung Beetle Optimization
Feb 2025
Publication
This study comprehensively analyzes an integrated renewable energy system complementing offshore wind turbines (OWT) and floating solar photovoltaic (FPV) technology designed for producing electric power and green hydrogen. The research explores the technical feasibility techno-economic performance and optimal sizing of the system components. The system integrates OWT farms FPV arrays water electrolyzer and hydrogen storage tank to minimize the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) loss of power supply probability (LPSP) and excess energy. A novel optimization approach Dung Beetle Optimization (DBO) algorithm is utilized and compared with the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) for performance validation. To ensure the robustness of the proposed DBO algorithm it is thoroughly tested on two system configurations: a standalone OWT hydrogen production system and a hybrid FPV/OWT hydrogen production system. The results showed that the DBO algorithm outperforms the GWO algorithm in terms of system efficiency cost-effectiveness and reliability. The optimization findings reveal that the FPV/OWT hybrid system optimized with the DBO algorithm leads to a more cost-effective configuration with the OWT component contributing 45.96% of the total costs. Moreover the optimized FPV/OWT system achieves a lower levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 0.5797 $/kWh compared to 0.8190 $/kWh for the standalone OWT system. Furthermore the hybrid FPV/OWT system maintains a levelized cost of hydrogen (COH) of 1.205 $/kg making it a competitive option for large-scale hydrogen production. Conclusively the findings demonstrate the technical feasibility and economic viability of the designated hybrid system for sustainable off-grid rural electrification and hydrogen production offering a robust solution to meet future energy demands.
Enhancing Diesel Engine Performance Through Hydrogen Addition
May 2025
Publication
This study evaluates the potential of hydrogen as a clean additive to conventional diesel fuel. Experiments were carried out on a single-cylinder air-cooled diesel engine under half- and full-load conditions across engine speeds ranging from 1000 to 3000 rpm. Hydrogen produced on site via a proton exchange membrane electrolyser was supplied to the engine at a constant flow rate of 0.5 L/min. Compared to pure diesel the hydrogen–diesel blend reduced specific fuel consumption by 10% and increased brake thermal efficiency by 10% at full load. Emissions of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide decreased by 13% and 17% respectively at half load. Additionally nitrogen oxide emissions dropped by 17%. These results highlight the potential of hydrogen to improve combustion efficiency while significantly mitigating emissions offering a viable transitional solution for cleaner power generation using existing diesel infrastructure.
Technoeconomic Optimisation and Sentivity Analysis of Off-grid Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems: A Case Study for Sustainable Energy Solutions in Rural India
Dec 2024
Publication
In the twenty-first century global energy consumption is rapidly increasing particularly in emerging nations hastening the depletion of fossil fuel reserves and emphasizing the vital need for sustainable and renewable energy sources. This study aims to analyze hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs) that use solid waste to generate power focusing on difficulties linked to intermittent renewable sources using a techno-economic framework. Employing the HOMER Pro software prefeasibility analysis is performed to meet the energy needs of an Indian community. System architecture optimization depends on factors like minimizing net present cost (NPC) achieving the lowest cost of energy (COE) and maximizing renewable source utilization. This study evaluates the technical economic and environmental feasibility of a hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) comprising a 400-kW solar photovoltaic (PV) array a 100-kW wind turbine (WT) a 100-kW electrolyzer 918 number of 12V batteries a 200-kW converter a 200-kW reformer and a 15-kg hydrogen tank (H-tank). This optimal configuration has the lowest NPC of $26.8 million and COE of $4.32 per kilowatt-hour and a Renewable Fraction (RF) of 100%. It can provide a dependable power supply and satisfy 94% of the daily onsite load demand which is 1080 kilowatt-hours per day. The required electricity is sourced to load demand entirely from renewable energy at the given location. Additionally the study highlights the benefits of HRES in solid waste management considering technological advancements and regulatory frameworks. Furthermore sensitivity analysis is conducted to measure economic factors that influence HRES accounting for fluctuations in load demand project lifespan diesel fuel costs and interest rates. Installing an HRES custom-made to the local environmental conditions would provide a long-lasting reliable and cost-effective energy source. The results show that the optimal HRES system performs well and is a viable option for sustainable electrification in rural communities.
Optimizing Hydrogen Production from Wastewater-derived Sewage Sludge via Alkali-catalyzed Supercritical Water Gasification
Sep 2025
Publication
The increasing global wastewater generation and reliance on fossil fuels for energy production necessitate sustainable treatment and energy recovery solutions. This study explores supercritical water gasification (SCWG) of sewage sludge from municipal wastewater as a hydrogen production pathway focusing on the role of alkali catalysts (KOH K₂CO₃ Na₂CO₃). The effects of temperature (450–550◦C) reaction time (5–30 min) and catalyst type on gas yield and efficiency were analyzed. At 550◦C the highest carbon efficiency (61 %) gas efficiency (69 %) and hydrogen yield (41 mol/kg) were observed. After 30 min the gas composition reached H₂ (58 %) CO₂ (26 %) CH₄ (11.7 %) and CO (4 %). Among catalysts Na₂CO₃ exhibited superior H₂ yield (29 mol/kg) carbon efficiency (58 %) and gas efficiency (51 %). This study highlights SCWG as a viable technology for hydrogen-rich gas production contributing to sustainable energy solutions and wastewater valorization.
Production of Green Hydrogen from Sewage Sludge/Algae in Agriculture Diesel Engine: Performance Evaluation
Jan 2024
Publication
Alternative fuel opportunities can satisfy energy security and reduce carbon emissions. In this regard the hydrogen fuel is derived from the source of environmental pollutants like sewage and algae wastewater through hydrothermal gasification technique using a KOH catalyst with varied gasification process parameters of duration and temperature of 6–30 min and 500-800 ◦C. The novelty of the work is to identify the optimum gasification process parameter for obtaining the maximum hydrogen yield using a KOH catalyst as an alternative fuel for agricultural engine applications. Influences of gasification processing time and temperature on H2 selectivity Carbon gasification efficiency (CE) Lower heating value (LHV) Hydrogen yield potential (HYP) and gasification efficiency (GE) were studied. Its results showed that the gasifier operated at 800 ◦C for 30 min offering maximum hydrogen yield (26 mol/kg) and gasification efficiency (58 %). The synthesized H2 was an alternative fuel blended with diesel fuel/TiO2 nanoparticles. It was experimentally studied using an internal combustion engine. Influences of H2 on engine perfor mance like brake-specific fuel consumption brake thermal efficiency and emission performances were measured and compared with diesel fuel. The results showed that DH20T has the least (420g/kWh) brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) and superior brake thermal efficiency of about 25.2 %. The emission results revealed that the DH20T blend showed the NOX value increased by almost 10.97 % compared to diesel fuel whereas the CO UHC and smoke values reduced by roughly 31.25 28.34 and 42.35 %. The optimum fuel blend (DH20T) result is rec ommended for agricultural engine applications.
Nanomaterials and Hydrogen Production: A Comprehensive Review of Clean Energy Strategies, Costs, and Environmental Implications
Aug 2025
Publication
An increasing demand for energy coupled with rising pollution levels is driving the search for environmentally clean alternative energy resources to replace fossil fuels. Hydrogen has emerged as a promising clean energy carrier and raw material for various applications. However its environmental benefits depend on sustainable production methods. The rapid development of nanomaterials (NMs) has opened new avenues for the conversion and utilization of renewable energy (RE). NMs are becoming increasingly important in addressing challenges related to hydrogen (H₂) generation. This review provides an overview of current advancements in H₂ production from biomass via thermochemical (TC) and biological (BL) processes including associated costs and explores the applications of nanomaterials in these methods. Research indicates that biological hydrogen (BL-H₂) production remains costly. The challenges associated with the TC conversion process are examined along with potential strategies for improvement. Finally the technical and economic obstacles that must be overcome before hydrogen can be widely adopted as a fuel are discussed.
Analysis of the Sugarcane Biomass Use to Produce Green Hydrogen: Brazilian Case Study
Feb 2025
Publication
Conventional hydrogen production processes which often involve fossil raw materials emit significant amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This study critically evaluates the feasibility of using sugarcane biomass as an energy source to produce green hydrogen. In the 2023/2024 harvest Brazil the world’s largest sugarcane producer processed approximately 713.2 million metric tons of sugarcane. This yielded 45.68 million metric tons of sugar and 29.69 billion liters of first-generation ethanol equivalent to approximately 0.0416 liters of ethanol per kilogram of sugarcane. A systematic literature review was conducted using Scopus and Clarivate Analytics Web of Science resulting in the assessment of 335 articles. The study has identified seven potential biohydrogen production methods including two direct approaches from second-generation ethanol and five from integrated bioenergy systems. Experimental data indicate that second-generation ethanol can yield 594 MJ per metric ton of biomass with additional energy recovery from lignin combustion (1705 MJ per metric ton). Moreover advances in electrocatalytic reforming and plasma-driven hydrogen production have demonstrated high conversion efficiencies addressing key technical barriers. The results highlight Brazil’s strategic potential to integrate biohydrogen production within its existing bioenergy infrastructure. By leveraging sugarcane biomass for green hydrogen the country can contribute significantly to the global transition to sustainable energy while enhancing its energy security.
Photocatalytic Generation of Hydrogen from a Non-carbon Source, Ammonia in Aqueous Solutions
Aug 2025
Publication
This review investigates hydrogen production via photocatalysis using ammonia a carbon-free source potentially present in wastewater. Photocatalysis offers low energy requirements and high conversion efficiency compared to electrocatalysis thermocatalysis and plasma catalysis. However challenges such as complex material synthesis low stability spectral inefficiency high costs and integration barriers hinder industrial scalability. The review addresses thermodynamic requirements reaction mechanisms and the role of pH in optimizing photocatalysis. By leveraging ammonia’s potential and advancing photocatalyst development this study provides a framework for scalable sustainable hydrogen production and simultaneous ammonia decomposition paving the way for innovative energy solutions and wastewater management.
O&G, Geothermal Systems, and Natural Hydrogen Well Drilling: Market Analysis and Review
Mar 2025
Publication
Developing clean and renewable energy instead of the ones related to hydrocarbon resources has been known as one of the different ways to guarantee reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Geothermal systems and native hydrogen exploration could represent an opportunity to diversify the global energy matrix and lower carbon-related emissions. All of these natural energy sources require a well to be drilled for its access and/or extractions similar to the petroleum industry. The main focuses of this technical–scientific contribution and research are (i) to evaluate the global energy matrix; (ii) to show the context over the years and future perspectives on geothermal systems and natural hydrogen exploration; and (iii) to present and analyze the importance of developing technologies on drilling process optimization aiming at accessing these natural energy resources. In 2022 the global energy matrix was composed mainly of nonrenewable sources such as oil natural gas and coal where the combustion of fossil fuels produced approximately 37.15 billion tons of CO2 in the same year. In 2023 USD 1740 billion was invested globally in renewable energy to reduce CO2 emissions and combat greenhouse gas emissions. In this context currently about 353 geothermal power units are in operation worldwide with a capacity of 16335 MW. In addition globally there are 35 geothermal power units under pre-construction (project phase) 93 already being constructed and recently 45 announced. Concerning hydrogen the industry announced 680 large-scale project proposals valued at USD 240 billion in direct investment by 2030. In Brazil the energy company Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras Rio de Janeiro Brazil) will invest in the coming years nearly USD 4 million in research involving natural hydrogen generation and since the exploration and access to natural energy resources (oil and gas natural hydrogen and geothermal systems among others) are achieved through the drilling of wells this document presents a technical–scientific contextualization of social interest.
A Spatio-techno-economic Analysis for Wind-powered Hydrogen Production in Tunisia
Aug 2025
Publication
This study investigated the potential of large-scale wind-powered green hydrogen production in Tunisia through a combined spatio-techno-economic analysis. Using a geographic information system-based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making approach optimal locations for wind-hydrogen systems were identified based on criteria such as hydrogen potential slope land use and proximity to essential infrastructure (water resources grid network transportation and urban areas). The Best worst method (BMW) technique was employed to assign weights to the identified criteria. Subsequently a techno-economic assessment was conducted at six prospective onshore wind project sites to evaluate the economic feasibility of hydrogen production. Therefore the main contribution of this study lies in the synergistic combination of a wind-specific focus application of an efficient and consistent BWM methodology within a GIS framework and detailed site-specific techno-economic validation of the spatially identified optimal locations. The results of the spatial analysis indicated that 15.91 % (21185 km²) of Tunisia’s land was suitable for wind-based hydrogen production with 1110 km² exhibiting exceptional suitability primarily in the central-western southwestern southeastern and coastal regions. Among the five evaluated wind turbine models the E115-3000 proved to be the most efficient. Site S3 (Sidi Abdelrahman) demonstrated the highest annual energy output (117.7 GWh) and hydrogen production potential (1267–1482 t) while S5 (Souk El Ahed) yielded the lowest energy output (50.121 GWh). Economically S3 emerged as the most advantageous site with the lowest Levelized Cost of Electricity (0.0446 $/kWh) and Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (3.581 $/kg) followed by S4. S5 had the highest LCOE (0.0643 $/kWh) and LCOH (5.169 $/kg). These findings highlight Tunisia’s promising potential for cost-competitive green hydrogen production particularly in identified optimal locations thus contributing to renewable energy targets and sustainable development.
Hydrogen Production via Water Ultrasonication: A Review
Aug 2025
Publication
This review thoroughly examines the potential of water ultrasonication (US) for producing hydrogen. First it discusses ultrasonication reactor designs and techniques for measuring ultrasonication power and optimizing energy. Then it explores the results of hydrogen production via ultrasonication experiments focusing on the impact of processing factors such as ultrasonication frequency acoustic intensity dissolved gases pH temperature and static pressure on the process. Additionally it examines advanced ultrasonication techniques such as US/photolysis US/catalysis and US/photocatalysis emphasizing how these techniques could increase hydrogen production. Lastly to progress the efficacy and scalability of hydrogen generation through ultrasonication the review identifies existing challenges proposes solutions and suggests areas for future research.
From Pure H2 to H2-CO2 Mixtures: A Study of Reductant Strategies in Plasma Iron Smelting Reduction
Sep 2025
Publication
Hydrogen plasma offers an emerging route for carbon-free iron oxide reduction but typical inert gas dilution limits industrial applicability. This study explores pure hydrogen and hydrogen–carbon dioxide plasma for in-flight hematite reduction in atmospheric elongated arc discharge. Pure hydrogen yields the lowest power consumption but reduced plasma stability and limited conversion. CO2 addition enhances stability increasing gas temperature from approximately 1900 K (pure H2 ) to 2900 K at 50% CO2 driven by exothermic H2 oxidation. Particle rapidly reach gas temperature (>2000 K within 5 ms). The highest metallization degree (≈37%) achieved at 30% CO2 corresponds to an optimal reductant gas composition balancing hydrogen carbon monoxide and atomic hydrogen availability. Higher dilution (50% CO2 ) significantly decreased the reductant gas availability lowering the degree of reduction despite higher temperatures. These insights demonstrate that controlled CO2 co-feeding and regeneration optimize plasma stability temperature and reductant gas chemistry presenting a promising approach towards scalable and energy-efficient hydrogen plasma smelting reduction for sustainable metallurgy with a CO2 closed loop.
Optimum Blending Hydrogen Ratio in Spray Combustion to Reduce Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides
Sep 2025
Publication
This study examined the effects of adding hydrogen to flammable liquid fuel droplets on emissions. It was found that an optimal mixing ratio with hydrogen can reduce the amount of NO in the reaction zone which is the area where the primary combustion reactions occur. N-pentane is burnt in air enriched with different amounts of hydrogen and the effects of the amount of hydrogen in the air on the combustion and emission parameters are investigated numerically. The combustion is modelled with the PDF/mixture fraction and standard twoequation turbulence models and thermal NO models are used for this modelling. The determination of the optimum H2 blending ratio is evaluated after the estimation results. It is evident that the addition of H2 led to an increase in spray flame temperatures. As a result the addition of H2 increases the combustion performance of n-pentane. The emissions evaluation results show that a blending ratio of 20% H2 reduces CO emissions at the combustion’s reaction zone and also results in a decrease in the mixture fraction. There is an increase in NO emissions due to the increase in spray flame temperatures. Combustion under air conditions containing 20% H2 by volume resulted in the highest temperature levels reaching 2130 K while the reduced NO levels decreased to approximately 11.3%. The thermal NO model when combined with the combustion model provides a sufficient level of agreement with the experimental data.
Synergizing Water Desalination and Hydrogen Production using Solar Stills with Novel Sensible Heat Storage and an Alkaline Electrolyzer
Dec 2024
Publication
This study tested a cogeneration (desalination/hydrogen production) system with natural and black sand as sensible heat storage considering the thermal efficiencies environmental impact water quality cost aspects and hydrogen generation rate. The black sand-modified distiller attained the highest water production of 4645 mL more than the conventional distiller by 1595 mL. It also offered better energy and exergy efficiencies of 45.26% and 3.72% respectively compared to 32.10% and 2.19% for the conventional one. Both modified distillers showed impressive improvements in water quality by significant reductions in total dissolved solids (TDS) from 29300 mg/L to 60–61 mg/L. Moreover the black sand-modified still reduced chemical oxygen demand (COD) to 135 mg/L. The production cost was minimized by using black sand to 0.0111$/L higher than one-fifth in the case of the lab-based distiller. Regarding hydrogen production the highest rate was obtained using distilled water from a labbased distiller of 0.742 gH₂/hr with an energy efficiency of 11.00%; however it was not much higher than the case of black sand-modified still (0.736 gH₂/hr production rate and 10.91% efficiency). Moreover the black sand-modified still showed the highest annual exergy output of 70.4 kWh/year with a significant annual decarbonization of 1.69 ton-CO2.
Evaluation of Green and Blue Hydrogen Production Potential in Saudi Arabia
Sep 2024
Publication
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has rich renewable energy resources specifically wind and solar in addition to geothermal beside massive natural gas reserves. This paper investigates the potential of both green and blue hydrogen production for five selected cities in Saudi Arabia. To accomplish the said objective a techno-economic model is formulated. Four renewable energy scenarios are evaluated for a total of 1.9 GW installed capacity to reveal the best scenario of Green Hydrogen Production (GHP) in each city. Also Blue Hydrogen Production (BHP) is investigated for three cases of Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) with different percentages of carbon capture. The economic analysis for both GHP and BHP is performed by calculating the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) and cash flow. The LCOH for GHP range for all cities ($3.27/kg -$12.17/kg)) with the lowest LCOH is found for NEOM city (50% PV and 50% wind) ($3.27/kg). LCOH for BHP are $0.534/kg $0.647/kg and $0.897/kg for SMR wo CCS/U SMR 55% CCS/U and SMR 90% CCS/U respectively.
Status and Perspectives of Key Materials for PEM Electrolyzer
Sep 2024
Publication
Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE) represents a promising technology for the sustainable production of hydrogen which is capable of efficiently coupling to intermittent electricity from renewable energy sources (e.g. solar and wind). The technology with compact stack structure has many notable advantages including large current density high hydrogen purity and great conversion efficiency. However the use of expensive electrocatalysts and construction materials leads to high hydrogen production costs and limited application. In this review recent advances made in key materials of PEMWE are summarized. First we present a brief overview about the basic principles thermodynamics and reaction kinetics of PEMWE. We then describe the cell components of PEMWE and their respective functions as well as discuss the research status of key materials such as membrane electrocatalysts membrane electrode assemblies gas diffusion layer and bipolar plate. We also attempt to clarify the degradation mechanisms of PEMWE under a real operating environment including catalyst degradation membrane degradation bipolar plate degradation and gas diffusion layer degradation. We finally propose several future directions for developing PEMWE through devoting more efforts to the key materials.
Industrial Waste Gases as a Resource for Sustainable Hydrogen Production: Resource Availability, Production Potential, Challenges, and Prospects
May 2024
Publication
Industrial sectors pivotal for the economic prosperity of nations rely heavily on affordable reliable and environmentally friendly energy sources. Industries like iron and steel oil refineries and coal-fired power plants while instrumental to national economies are also the most significant contributors to waste gases that contain substantial volumes of carbon monoxide (CO). CO can be converted to a highly efficient and carbon free fuel hydrogen (H2) through a well-known water gas shift reaction. However the untapped potential of H2 from waste industrial streams is yet to be explored. This is the first article that investigates the potential of H2 production from industrial waste gases. The available resource (i.e. CO) and its H2 production potential are estimated. The article also provides insights into the principal challenges and potential avenues for long-term adoption. The results showed that 249.14 MTPY of CO are available to produce 17.44 MTPY of H2 annually. This suggests a significant potential for H2 production from waste gases to revolutionize industrial waste management and contribute significantly towards Sustainable Development Goals 7 9 and 13ensuring access to affordable reliable sustainable and modern energy for all and taking decisive climate action respectively.
Hydrogen Balloon Transportation: A Cheap and Efficiency Mode to Transport Hydrogen
Nov 2023
Publication
The chances of a global hydrogen economy becoming a reality have increased significantly since the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine and for net zero carbon emissions. However intercontinental hydrogen transport is still a major issue. This study suggests transporting hydrogen as a gas at atmospheric pressure in balloons using the natural flow of wind to carry the balloon to its destination. We investigate the average wind speeds atmospheric pressure and temperature at different altitudes for this purpose. The ideal altitudes to transport hydrogen with balloons are 10 km or lower and hydrogen pressures in the balloon vary from 0.25 to 1 bar. Transporting hydrogen from North America to Europe at a maximum 4 km altitude would take around 4.8 days on average. Hydrogen balloon transportation cost is estimated at 0.08 USD/kg of hydrogen which is around 12 times smaller than the cost of transporting liquified hydrogen from the USA to Europe. Due to its reduced energy consumption and capital cost in some locations hydrogen balloon transportation might be a viable option for shipping hydrogen compared to liquefied hydrogen and other transport technologies.
Hybrid Solar PV/PEM Fuel Cell/Diesel Generator Power System for Cruise Ship: A Case Study in Stockholm, Sweden
Jul 2019
Publication
Optimal design and performance analysis of renewable energy system to serve the cruise ship main and auxiliary power in Stockholm Sweden is presented in this paper. The goal is to integrate renewable energy systems in small and large ships for greener and sustainable marine transport. The power load for the cruise ship was determined and modeling and simulation analysis was used to investigate the daily and annual performance of the power system architectures including the efficiency and capacity factors of the energy conversion systems. The total electrical power generated from the solar PV PEM fuel cell and Diesel generator; the cost of electricity; and the greenhouse gas and particulate matter PM emissions were determined. The proposed renewable energy system offers a good penetration of renewable energy system (13.83%) and greenhouse gas and particulate emissions reduction (9.84% emissions reduction compared to baseline system using Diesel engines). The integration of renewable and clean power systems such as solar PV and PEM fuel cell (high electrical efficiency) is very attractive solution for onboard ship power generation. They are economically viable (reduce the cost of Diesel fuel) cleaner than the conventional gas turbine and internal combustion engines and reduce the dependency on fossil fuel.
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