South Africa
Aluminium-based Electrode Materials for Green Hydrogen Production through Electrolysis and Hydrolysis: A Review
Sep 2025
Publication
In recent years the utilization of aluminium (Al) Al alloys and their composite powder and anode encourages the generation of green hydrogen through hydrolysis and water splitting electrolysis with zero emissions. As such in this study the development and characterization of Al Al alloys and Al-based composite powder and compacted Al composites for clean hydrogen production using hydrolysis and water splitting processes were reviewed. Herein based on the available literature it is worth mentioning that the incorporation of active additives such as h-BN Bi@C g-C3N4 MoS2 Ni In Fe and BiOCl@CNTs in the Al-based composites using ball milling melting smelting casting and spark plasma sintering technique remarkably improved the rate of hydrogen evolution and hydrogen gas conversion yield particularly during hydrolysis of Al-water reaction. Again Al-based electrodes with improved electrical conductivity notably results in better water splitting electrolysis as well as fast chemical reaction in achieving hydrogen gas production at low energy consumption with efficiency. Though notwithstanding the significance of Al Al alloy and Al-based composite hydrogen generation performances there are still some challenges associated with the Al-based materials for hydrogen production via hydrolysis and water electrolysis. For example the low current density and poor electrochemical properties of Al which on the other hand results in long induction time high overpotential and cost remains a gap to bridge. Hence the authors concluded the review study with recommendations for future improvement of Al-based composite electrodes on hydrogen production and sustainability via hydrolysis and water electrolysis. Thus the study will pave the way for further research on clean hydrogen energy generation.
A real Assessment in the Design of a Try-Out Grid-Tied Solar PV-Green Hydrogen-Battery Storage Microgrid System for Industrial Application in South Africa
Sep 2025
Publication
The carbon emission reduction mission requires a multifaceted approach in which green hydrogen is expected to play a key role. The accelerated adoption of green hydrogen technologies is vital to this journey towards carbon neutrality by 2050. However the energy transition involving green hydrogen requires a data-driven approach to ensure that the benefits are realised. The introduction of testing sites for green hydrogen technologies will be crucial in enabling the performance testing of various components within the green hydrogen value chain. This study involves an areal assessment of a selected test site for the installation of a grid-tied solar PV-green hydrogen-battery storage microgrid system at a factory facility in South Africa. The evaluation includes a site energy audit to determine the consumption profile and an analysis of the location’s weather pattern to assess its impact on the envisaged microgrid. Lastly a design of the microgrid is conceptualised. A 39 kW photovoltaic system powers the microgrid which comprises a 22 kWh battery storage system 10 kW of electrolyser capacity an 8 kW fuel cell and an 800 L hydrogen storage capacity between 30 and 40 bars.
Current Developments on MIL-based Metal-organic Frameworks for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production
Sep 2025
Publication
The escalating global energy demand has intensified research into sustainable hydrogen production particularly through water splitting. A highly promising avenue involves photocatalytic water splitting which leverages readily available earth-abundant materials to generate clean hydrogen from water using only renewable energy sources. Among the various catalytic materials investigated metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently attracted considerable interest. Their tunable porosity high crystallinity as well as the customisable molecular structures position them as a transformative class of catalysts for efficient and sustainable photocatalytic hydrogen generation. This review examines MOFs detailing their structural characteristics unique properties and diverse synthetic routes. The discussion extends to the various composite materials that can be derived from MOFs with particular emphasis on their application in photocatalytic hydrogen production via water splitting. Furthermore the review identifies current challenges hindering MOF implementation and proposes modification strategies to overcome these limitations. The concluding section summarises the presented information and future perspectives on the continued development of MOF composites for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production from water.
Techno-economic Optimization of Renewable Hydrogen Infrastructure via AI-based Dynamic Pricing
Aug 2025
Publication
This study presents a techno-economic optimization of hydrogen production using hybrid wind-solar systems across six Australian cities highlighting Australia’s green hydrogen potential. A hybrid PVwind-electrolyzer-hydrogen tank (PV-WT-EL-HT) system demonstrated superior performance with Perth achieving the lowest Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) at $0.582/kg Net Present Cost (NPC) of $27.5k and Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of $0.0166/kWh. Perth also showed the highest return on investment present worth and annual worth making it the preferred project site. All locations maintained a 100% renewable fraction proving the viability of fully decarbonized hydrogen production. Metaheuristic validation using nine algorithms showed the Mayfly Algorithm improved techno-economic metrics by 3–8% over HOMER Pro models. The Gray Wolf and Whale Optimization Algorithms enhanced system stability under wind-dominant conditions. Sensitivity analysis revealed that blockchain-based dynamic pricing and reinforcement learning-driven demand response yielded 8–10% cost savings under ±15% demand variability. Nevertheless regional disparities persist; southern cities such as Hobart and Melbourne exhibited 20–30% higher LCOH due to reduced renewable resource availability while densely urbanized cities like Sydney presented optimization ceilings with minimal LCOH improvements despite algorithmic refinements. Investment in advanced materials (e.g. perovskite-VAWTs) and offshore platforms targeting hydrogen export markets is essential. Perth emerged as the optimal hub with hybrid PV/WT/B systems producing 200–250 MWh/ month of electricity and 200–250 kg/month of hydrogen supported by policy incentives. This work offers a blueprint for region-specific AI-augmented hydrogen systems to drive Australia’s hydrogen economy toward $2.10/kg by 2030.
Cyclic Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers for Efficient Hydrogen Storage using Mesoporous Catalytic Systems
Jul 2025
Publication
Liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) are a promising class of hydrogen storage media in which hydrogen is reversibly bound to organic molecules. In this work we focus explicitly on cyclic LOHCs (both homocyclic and heterocyclic organic compounds) and their catalytic dehydrogenation. We clarify that other carriers (e.g. alcohols like methanol or carboxylic acids like formic acid) exist but are not the focus here; these alternatives are discussed only in comparative context. Cyclic LOHCs typically enable safe ambient-temperature hydrogen storage with hydrogen contents around 6–8 wt%. Key challenges include the high dehydrogenation temperatures (often 200–350 °C) catalyst costs and catalyst deactivation via coke formation. We introduce a comparative analysis table contrasting cyclic LOHCs with alternative carriers in terms of hydrogen density operating conditions catalyst types toxicity and cost. We also expand the catalyst discussion to highlight coke formation mechanisms and the use of mesoporous metal-oxide supports to mitigate deactivation. Finally a techno-economic analysis is provided to address system costs of LOHC storage and regeneration. Finally we underscore the viability and limitations of cyclic LOHCs including practical storage capacities catalyst life and projected costs.
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