Publications
Economic Hydrogen Production by Water Splitting with Different Catalysts and Temperatures under Thermal and Gamma Radiation-thermal Processes
Nov 2025
Publication
This article describes hydrogen production via water splitting because of high green energy demand globally. The amounts of hydrogen produced with zirconium in thermal processes at 473 K and radiation-thermal processes at 473 K and 773K were 1.55 x 1018 2.2 x 1018 and 4.1 x 1018 molecules/g. These amounts on aluminum and stainless steel were 1.05 x 1018 1.95 x 1018 and 3.0 x 1018 molecules/g; and 0.30 x 1018 1.27 x 1018 and 2.6 x 1018 molecules/g. A comparison was carried out and the order of hydrogen production was zirconium > aluminum > stainless steel. The activation energy in radiation-thermal and thermal processes were 14.2 and 65.0 kJ/mol (Zr) 12.05 and 63.1 kJ/mol (Al) and 11.16 and 61.52 kJ/mol (SS). The mechanisms of water splitting were developed and described for future use. The described methods are scalable and can be transferred to a pilot scale.
Integration of Hydrogen Production Using High Temperature Steam Electrolysis with Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems
Nov 2025
Publication
With the promise of increased economics and improved safety advanced nuclear reactors such as the Natrium design by TerraPower and GE Hitachi can help many electricity energy markets transition to carbon-free power smoothly. Operating at higher temperatures the Natrium design based on a sodium fast reactor is suitable for co-located hydrogen production using high temperature steam electrolysis. This study models and analyzes three Natrium integrated energy systems with thermal energy storage and co-located hydrogen production. The first two configurations focus on improving thermal efficiency of the reheat Rankine cycle used in the Natrium design while the final configuration improves hydrogen production efficiency. Results indicate that coupling the Natrium system with hydrogen production can boost its energy efficiency by 1% and using low grade steam directly from the Natrium steam cycle for hydrogen production significantly reduces system complexity and increases the overall system efficiency by 3%.
Inverse Design and Porous Metal Printing of GDL-integrated Flow Field Plates for High-temperature Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Nov 2025
Publication
High-temperature (HT) proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells (FC) offer key advantages for sustainable transportation especially in heavy-duty applications due to their improved thermal efficiency and water management. This study introduces an inverse design framework to develop flow field plates integrated with a gas diffusion layer (GDL) enabling scalable electrochemical performance from the unit cell to the plate level. A reduced-order homogenization-based multiphysics model is developed to evaluate designs with approximately 1000× faster computation. Flow channel orientation is optimized using a tensor field method and dehomogenized into manufacturable geometries. Optimized designs validated through high-fidelity 3D simulations show up to 12% higher average current density and 88% lower pressure drop compared to conventional parallel and mesh configurations. To address fabrication challenges solid-to-porous metal additive manufacturing is employed producing monolithic structures that integrate flow channels with a porous metal GDL. Both numerical and physical tests confirm high permeability and improved power output compared to carbon-based GDLs. These findings highlight the effectiveness of combining advanced computational modeling with metal 3D printing to enhance the performance and manufacturability of high-temperature PEMFC supporting their broader adoption in sustainable energy applications.
Evaluation of the Economic and Technological Aspects of Producing Blue Hydrogen via Ethanol-steam Reforming with Carbon Capture
Nov 2025
Publication
An industrially relevant method for obtaining hydrogen from hydrocarbons without emitting carbon into the atmosphere involves ethanol-steam reforming followed by carbon capture. Herein we present a detailed conceptual process using ethanol-stream reforming to produce blue hydrogen integrated with a carbon capture plant followed by a techno-economic analysis. In the first step the Aspen plus-based simulation of ethanolstream reforming reactions is performed to optimize the reforming reactor geometrical parameters for a 10 t/ day of hydrogen production. Afterward the carbon capture system was designed with a standalone absorber and stripper which were subsequently integrated for solvent makeup calculation. Considering the target value of hydrogen production the optimized reactor diameter and length were found to be 0.18 and 2 m respectively corresponding to reactant flow (200 t/day) and heat duty (3.14 MW) at optimal circumstances. Absorber and stripper packing heights of 12.2 m and 5 m respectively with column diameters of 1.22 m and 2.60 m are required to extract 95 % CO2 from the reformed product stream. The techno-economic analysis indicates that the cost of producing one kilogram of H2 is $3.5. The computed internal rate of return is 16.6 % the discounted payback period is 6 years and the net present value is $13 million.
Predicting Combustor Performance for Hydrogen-propane Fuel Blends in Gas Turbines: A Coupled Thermofluid and Chemical Reactor Network Model
Nov 2025
Publication
The transition to carbon-neutral energy has renewed interest in hydrogen as a gas turbine fuel in the form of fuel blends with hydrocarbons. However the distinct fluid properties and chemical kinetics of hydrogen and hydrocarbon blends necessitate redeveloped combustor designs. While conventional combustor design and emissions estimation through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is preferred it is computationally intensive and impractical for system-level simulations. To alleviate this a thermofluid network model was developed to predict the performance of a MGT combustor operating on pure and fuel blends of propane and hydrogen. It incorporates sub-component pressure losses and heat transfer and presents the first implementation of well-stirred and plug-flow reactors into Flownex SE. A 3-D CFD study of the combustor revealed that hydrogen addition improved combustion efficiency and reduced wall temperatures. However although it produces less CO2 it leads to 70 % more CO and 80 % more NO than for propane-only operation. Validated against the 3-D CFD data the network model predicted the combustor outlet total temperature and pressure within 0.55 % and 0.26 % respectively. The change in total pressure across subcomponents (<6 %) and the mass flow distribution showed similarly strong agreement. Major species mass fractions CO2 and H2O were predicted accurately. However by assuming that the temperature and composition are uniform within combustion zones zone and wall temperatures and pollutant predictions deviated considerably. NO was overpredicted by a factor of 8.2–10.7 and CO was overpredicted for propane-only but underpredicted for blended cases. The network model achieved this performance 420 times faster than CFD making it suitable for rapid design exploration.
Reliability and Risk Assessment of Hydrogen-Powered Marine Propulsion Systems Based on the Integrated FAHP-FMECA Framework
Nov 2025
Publication
With the IMO’s 2050 decarbonization target hydrogen is a key zero-carbon fuel for shipping but the lack of systematic risk assessment methods for hydrogen-powered marine propulsion systems (under harsh marine conditions) hinders its large-scale application. To address this gap this study proposes an integrated risk evaluation framework by fusing Failure Mode Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) with the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP)—resolving the limitation of traditional single evaluation tools and adapting to the dynamic complexity of marine environments. Scientific findings from this framework confirm that hydrogen leakage high-pressure storage tank valve leakage and inverter overload are the three most critical failure modes with hydrogen leakage being the primary risk source due to its high severity and detection difficulty. Further hazard matrix analysis reveals two key risk mechanisms: one type of failure (e.g. insufficient hydrogen concentration) features “high severity but low detectability” requiring real-time monitoring; the other (e.g. distribution board tripping) shows “high frequency but controllable impact” calling for optimized operations. This classification provides a theoretical basis for precise risk prevention. Targeted improvement measures (e.g. dual-sealed valves redundant cooling circuits AI-based regulation) are proposed and quantitatively validated reducing the system’s overall risk value from 4.8 (moderate risk) to 1.8 (low risk). This study’s core contribution lies in developing a universally applicable scientific framework for marine hydrogen propulsion system risk assessment. It not only fills the methodological gap in traditional evaluations but also provides a theoretical basis for the safe promotion of hydrogen shipping supporting the scientific realization of the IMO’s decarbonization goal.
Techno-economic Feasibility of Centralized and Decentralized Ammonia Production in the United States
Nov 2025
Publication
Ammonia is a cornerstone of modern agriculture supplying the nitrogen essential for crops that nourish nearly half the global population. Yet its production is responsible for ~2 % of global greenhouse gas emissions. To meet climate and food security goals sustainable low-carbon and resilient ammonia production systems are needed. Here we develop a spatially explicit techno-economic model to compare centralized and decentralized ammonia production pathways across the U.S. a major global ammonia producer and consumer spanning the full supply chain from hydrogen production to fertilizer delivery. We integrate high-resolution supply and demand data and apply linear optimization to estimate delivered ammonia costs accounting for geographic mismatches and transportation. Our results show that decentralized ammonia production whether powered by grid electricity or solar energy is substantially more expensive than centralized production from natural gas or coal. Centralized natural gas-based ammonia has a median production cost of 326 USD/tonne NH3 compared to 499 USD/tonne for coal. Decentralized grid-powered systems range from 659 to 1634 USD/tonne and solar-powered systems from 1077 to 2266 USD/tonne. Transportation costs for centralized production range from 7 to 85 USD/tonne with a median of 40 USD/tonne resulting in a delivered cost of 343 USD/tonne. Median delivered costs for decentralized grid- and solar-powered systems are 1069 and 1494 USD/tonne respectively. Decentralized systems require electricity prices below 19 USD/MWh (grid) and 17 USD/MWh (solar) to achieve cost parity well below 2024 U S. averages of 117 USD/MWh. These results highlight the economic challenges facing decentralized ammonia production and the importance of electricity cost reductions tax credits carbon pricing or further technological breakthroughs for broader viability.
Simulation of the Refuelling Process for an LH2-powered Commercial Aircraft Part 1 - Modelling and Validation
Nov 2025
Publication
Liquid hydrogen (LH2) is a promising candidate for zero emission aviation but its cryogenic properties make the refuelling process fundamentally different from that of conventional jet fuels. Although previous studies have addressed LH2 storage and system integration detailed modelling of the refuelling process remains limited. This paper presents the first part of a two-part study focused on simulation of the refuelling process for an LH2-powered commercial aircraft. An existing tank model is substantially modified to more accurately capture relevant physical phenomena including heat transfer and droplet dynamics during top-fill spray injection. Newly available experimental data on LH2 no-vent filling enables direct validation of the model under conditions that match the experimental setup. A sensitivity analysis identifies the most influential parameters that affect model precision including loss coefficient droplet diameter radiative heat ingress and vent-closing pressure. The validated model forms the basis for Part 2 of this study in which it is applied to a representative LH2-powered commercial aircraft to simulate refuelling times quantify venting losses and assess the impact of key operational settings. These results support the design of efficient LH2 refuelling systems for future aircraft and airport infrastructure.
Techno-economic Assessment of Hythane-fueled Industrial SOFC Systems
Nov 2025
Publication
Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems offer high-efficiency conversion of the chemical energy of fuel gases into electrical energy. To meet market and policy targets such systems must be able of operating on an industrial scale and be compatible with environmentally friendly fuels. This study models the scale-up of a 750 W naturalgas-fueled SOFC to a 240 kW system with various gas-path configurations evaluating the impact of blending up to 30 vol% of hydrogen (H2) into the methane feed. Aspen Plus simulations coupled with pressure-loss and carbon-deposition models were used to optimize recirculation ratio and reactant utilization for maximum efficiency. The parallel configuration achieved the highest electrical efficiency of 64.0 % while series-connected and intermediate systems suffered from increased pressure losses. H2 admixture simulations confirm that operation is feasible without loss of efficiency in the small- and large-scale systems due to reduced carbondeposition potential. A techno-economic analysis indicates a 91.7 % cost reduction through scale-up and a 1.6 % cost increase for adjusting the system to H2 admixtures. The economic viability of the large-scale system was evaluated for all tested fuel compositions (0.201–0.204 €/kWh) with payback times under 20 years at market-relevant electricity prices. These results demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of large-scale H2-adapted SOFC systems for industrial decarbonization.
Estimation of the Potential for Green Hydrogen Production from Untapped Renewable Energy Sources in Spain in 2024
Nov 2025
Publication
The increasing integration of renewable energy sources (RES) in Spain is leading to substantial amounts of surplus electricity presenting a strategic opportunity for green hydrogen production as a key enabler of energy storage and decarbonisation. This study quantifies this untapped potential for 2024. Based on the difference between installed renewable capacity and actual generation an economically viable surplus of 18419 GWh was identified within an optimal 10-h operating window. The hydrogen production potential was modelled for three electrolysis technologies—Alkaline (AEL) Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) and Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM)—using total energy consumption values of 57.40 65.55 and 59.95 MWh/t H2 respectively including auxiliary systems. The estimated annual hydrogen production ranges from 280999 t (PEM) to 320897 t (AEL) with AEM yielding an intermediate value of 307247 t. The analysis reveals a strong regional concentration with more than 63% of the potential located in Castile and León Andalusia Castile-La Mancha and Extremadura. While this range represents an upper technical limit it highlights the significant opportunity to valorise surplus renewable energy contingent on targeted investment and a supportive regulatory framework.
Single Step Electrified Hydrogen Production from Methane in a Gliding Arc/fluidized Bed Reactor
Nov 2025
Publication
In this work a plasma fluidized bed reactor has been studied as an electrified methane decomposition reactor for sustainable hydrogen production. A combined 3D rotating gliding arc/fluidized bed reactor assembly demonstrates a stable operation with a CH4/Ar mixture containing up to 8 vol% of CH4. The reactor provides a 97.2 % H2 selectivity at a methane conversion of 16.6 % and energy costs of 10.6 kJ L− 1 . This performance provides a new benchmark for electrified H2 production with a potential to utilise renewable electricity. In addition carbon materials are produced. The characterizations show difference in the morphology of the materials collected in different reactor zones.
Effects of Sensitization on Hydrogen Embrittlement Behavior in 304 Stainless Steel
Nov 2025
Publication
This study investigated the hydrogen embrittlement behavior of 304 stainless steel under the combined condition of sensitization and hydrogen pre-charging. Specifically hydrogen trapping analysis and martensite transformation mapping were used to examine the respective roles of carbide precipitation and chromium depletion and key factors were identified through fractographic observations. Sensitization was simulated at 650 ◦C for 50 h followed by hydrogen pre-charging at 250 ◦C under 50 MPa for 3.5 days. Under hydrogen pre-charging sensitized specimens showed a 9.3 % drop in ultimate tensile strength a 17.3 % reduction in elongation and a 16 % decrease in relative reduction of area indicating higher hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility. Hydrogen desorption analysis revealed a redistribution of hydrogen from reversible to irreversible traps consistent with 139 nm coarsened Cr23C6 carbides while phase mapping revealed extensive formation of strain-induced martensite along grain boundaries and within grains. These martensitic regions accelerated hydrogen transport and promoted strain localization leading to the disappearance of intragranular dimples and the development of intergranular cracking. The results demonstrate that strain-induced martensite formed in chromiumdepleted regions is the dominant factor governing post-sensitization hydrogen embrittlement emphasizing the necessity of controlling chromium depletion to maintain the stability of the austenitic matrix in hydrogen environments.
Direct Injection Hydrogen Combustion under Leaner Conditions in an Optical Engine using Optical/Laser Diagnostics
Nov 2025
Publication
Hydrogen’s increasing potential as an alternative fuel for heavy-duty transport has led to the conversion of conventional diesel compression-ignition engines to spark-ignition hydrogen operation. Hydrogen’s broad flammability range enables leaner operation achieving both higher engine efficiency and near-zero emissions. In particular direct injection hydrogen combustion improves volumetric efficiency and reduces problems including pre-ignition and knock related to hydrogen port-fuel injection. In the present work we performed an optical investigation of direct injection (DI) hydrogen combustion under leaner mixture conditions. The study was conducted using a heavy-duty optical diesel engine modified for spark-ignition operation. Bottom-view natural flame luminosity and OH-PLIF imaging were conducted along with in-cylinder pressure measurements. Experiments were conducted at three air-excess ratios (3 3.4 and 3.8) with spark timings (ST) varied from − 15 ◦CA aTDC to − 30 ◦CA aTDC. Hydrogen injection ended at − 30 ◦CA aTDC with the start of injection adjusted accordingly to achieve the desired lambda conditions. The maximum IMEPg corresponded to the lowest COV of the IMEPg indicating optimal spark timing for lean DI hydrogen combustion. The optimized spark timing for λ = 3 λ = 3.4 and λ = 3.8 were occurred at − 25 ◦CA aTDC − 25 ◦CA aTDC and − 30 ◦CA aTDC respectively. The corresponding COV of IMEPg values were below 5 % indicating stable combustion. The flame kernel first initiates at the spark plug and then propagates toward the piston’s outer boundary however the flame propagation does not remain as a continuous front unlike port-fuel injected hydrogen combustion. The effect of fuel stratification is evident in combustion luminosity and OH-PLIF images showing pockets of varying intensity within the combustion chamber. Natural flame luminosity images reveal incomplete flame coverage and asymmetric combustion emphasizing the need for metal engine experiments to further quantify the unburned hydrogen and associated combustion losses.
A Comprehensive Review of Influence of Critical Parameters on Wettability of Rock-hydrogen-brine Systems: Implications for Underground Hydrogen Storage
Oct 2025
Publication
The rock wettability is one of the most critical parameters that influences rock storage potential trapping and H2 withdrawal rate during Underground hydrogen storage (UHS). However the existing review articles on wettability of H2-brine-rock systems do not provide detailed information on complexities introduced by reservoir wettability influencing parameters such as high pressure temperature salinity conditions micro-biotic effects cushion gases and organic acids relevant to subsurface environments. Therefore a comprehensive review of existing research on various parameters influencing rock wettability during UHS and residual trapping of H2 was conducted in this study. Literature that provides insight into molecular-level interaction through machine learning and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations and role of surface-active chemicals such as nanoparticles surfactants and wastewater chemicals were also reviewed. The review suggested that UHS could be feasible in clean geo-storage formations but the presence of rock surface contaminants at higher storage depth and microbial effects should be accounted for to prevent over-estimation of the rock storage potentials. The H2 wettability of storage/caprocks and associated risks of UHS projects could be higher in rocks with high proportion of carbonate minerals organic-rich shale and basalt with high plagioclase minerals content. However treatment of rock surfaces with nanofluids surfactants methylene blue and methyl orange has proven to alter the rock wettability from H2-wet towards water-wet. Research results on effect of rock wettability on residually trapped hydrogen and snap-off effects during UHS are contradictory thus further studies would be required in this area. The review generally concludes that rock wettability plays prominent role on H2 storage due to the frequency and cyclic loading of UHS hence it is vital to evaluate the effects of all possible wettability influencing parameters for successful designs and implementation of UHS projects.
Hydrogen Power Development: A Comparative Review of National Strategies and the Role of Energy in Scaling Green Hydrogen
Oct 2025
Publication
This review explores the evolving role of hydrogen in global decarbonization analysing national hydrogen strategies value chain developments and future market potential. Through a comprehensive review of policy frameworks market trends and technology pathways the paper evaluates hydrogen’s role in decarbonising sectors such as steel ammonia methanol refining transport and power generation. The study highlights the expected growth in global hydrogen demand projected cost reductions and advancements in production technologies including electrolysis and carbon capture-integrated hydrogen production. While green hydrogen offers a sustainable pathway challenges remain in infrastructure development energy efficiency and the integration of hydrogen into existing energy networks. The paper considers the economic and technological factors affecting international hydrogen trade. Despite more than 30 national hydrogen strategies being in place significant challenges remain particularly in scaling renewable electricity and infrastructure to meet growing hydrogen demand projected to reach up to 600 Mt by 2050. Key players such as Australia Norway and the Middle East are positioning themselves as major hydrogen exporters by leveraging their abundant natural resources and strategic infrastructure. On the demand side countries like Japan South Korea Germany and the Netherlands are emerging as leading importers investing heavily in hydrogen hubs and import terminals to secure future energy supplies. The expansion of hydrogen storage and transportation alongside investments in large-scale hydrogen hubs will be critical for market growth. Additionally the study emphasize the need for policy alignment strategic investments and cross-border cooperation to accelerate hydrogen adoption. Hydrogen can become a key element of the global clean energy transition by addressing optimal energy consumption and by leveraging renewable resources.
Accelerated Numerical Simulations of Hydrogen Flames: Open-source Implementation of an Advanced Diffusion Model Library in OpenFOAM
Oct 2025
Publication
Here the OpenFOAM software with the dynamic load balancer library DLBFoam is investigated for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of different hydrogen (H2 ) flames. The benefits of DLBFoam for hydrogen have not been thoroughly investigated in the past. To explore this a new open-source diffusion model library FickianTransportFoam is implemented in this study. FickianTransportFoam includes species-specific constant Lewis number and mixture-averaged models with correction velocity to account for preferential diffusion. The model is first verified for one-dimensional (1D) premixed and non-premixed counterflow flames. Additionally four hydrogen/air flames are explored: (1) two-dimensional (2D) laminar freely propagating premixed flame (2) 2D axisymmetric laminar non-premixed jet flame (3) three-dimensional (3D) turbulent non-premixed swirling flame and (4) 3D turbulent premixed swirling flame. The main results and achievements regarding the implemented transport models are as follows. First the results from 2D freely propagating flame demonstrated thermodiffusively unstable flame formation using the mixture averaged model. The analytical and numerical dispersion relationships agree well for the linear instability growth phase. Second the model functionality is demonstrated for a laminar 2D jet case with conjugate heat transfer. Furthermore validation and grid sensitivity studies for the 3D turbulent flames are carried out. Third the computational benchmark for each configuration indicates a factor of ∼10-100 speed-up when utilizing DLBFoam. Finally the test cases and source codes for FickianTransportFoam are openly shared.
Optimal Sizing and Energy Management for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles with 3D-ordered MEAs: A Pareto Frontier Study
Oct 2025
Publication
Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are zero-emission but face cost and power density challenges. To mitigate these limitations a novel 3D-ordered nano-structured self-supporting membrane electrode assembly (MEA) has been developed. This paper investigates the optimal component sizing of the battery and fuel cell in FCEVs equipped with 3D-ordered MEAs integrating the energy management. To explore the trade-offs between component cost operational cost and fuel cell degradation the sizing and energy management problem is formulated into a multi-objective optimisation problem. A Pareto frontier (PF) study is conducted using the decomposed multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA/D) for a more diverse distribution of feasible solutions. The modular design of fuel cells is derived from a scaled and stressed experiment. After executing MOEA/D across the three aggressive driving cycles power source configurations are selected from the corresponding PFs based on objective trade-offs ensuring robustness of the overall system. The optimisation performance of the MOEA/D is compared with that of the multi-objective Particle Swarm Optimisation. In addition the selected powertrain configurations are evaluated and compared through standard and realworld driving cycles in a simulation environment. This paper also performs a sensitivity analysis to reveal the influence of diverse component unit costs and hydrogen price. The results indicate that the mediumsized configuration consisting of a 63.31 kW fuel cell stack and a 52.15 kWh battery pack delivers the best overall performance. It achieves a 26.71% reduction in component cost and up to 12.76% savings in hydrogen consumption across various driving conditions. These findings provide valuable insights into the design and optimisation of fuel cell systems for FCEVs.
Experimental Validation of DC-link Based Voltage Control Framework for Islanded Hydrogen DC Microgrids
Oct 2025
Publication
The integration of hydrogen technologies into islanded DC microgrids presents significant challenges in maintaining voltage stability and coordinating power flow under highly variable renewable energy conditions. This paper proposes a novel DC-link voltage control (DCVC) framework that incorporates adaptive droop control and autonomous operation algorithms to regulate fuel cells electrolysers and battery systems in a coordinated manner. Unlike conventional fixed-gain or priority-based methods the proposed adaptive control dynamically adjusts the droop coefficient in response to voltage deviations enhancing system stability and responsiveness. The control framework is validated on an industry-standard hydrogen DC microgrid platform developed at Griffith University featuring real-time implementation on a Raspberry Pi controller and comprehensive integration with solar wind wave and hydrogen energy sources. A small-signal stability analysis confirms that the proposed control ensures asymptotic voltage convergence under dynamic operating conditions. Experimental results across five case studies demonstrate that the proposed DCVC strategy ensures fast transient response minimises overshoot and maintains the DC-link voltage near the nominal 380 V under varying load and generation scenarios. The framework facilitates flexible energy sharing while ensuring safe hydrogen production and storage. It is also compatible with low-cost open-source hardware making it a scalable solution for remote and off-grid energy applications.
Techno-enviro-socio-economic Assessment and Sensitivity Analysis of an off-grid Tidal/Fuel Cell/Electrolyzer/Photovoltaic Hybrid System for Hydrogen and Electricity Production in Cameroon Coastal Areas
Oct 2025
Publication
Coastal regions in Cameroon including Douala Kribi Campo Dibamba and Limbe faced persistent electricity challenges driven by grid instability growing demand and dependence on fossil fuels. Solar resource availability was high but intermittent whereas tidal energy was predictable and energy-dense yet underused. This pilot delivers the first Cameroonian assessment of an off-grid tidal/PV/electrolyzer/hydrogen-storage/fuel-cell architecture explicitly co-optimizing electricity service and green hydrogen production and evaluating performance with a tri-metric economic lens (net present cost levelized cost of electricity and the levelized cost of hydrogen). The system was optimized to minimize net present cost (NPC) levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) and three tidal-flow scenarios were analyzed to represent hydrokinetic variability. The design served households small businesses fishing activities schools and health facilities with a baseline demand of 389.50 kWh/day; surplus renewable power drove the electrolyzer to produce hydrogen for later reconversion in the fuel cell. Under the first scenario (1.25 m/s average speed) the optimal mix comprised 137 PV modules (600 W each) a 100 kW fuel cell six 40 kW tidal turbines six 10 kW electrolyzers a 19.5 kW converter and 41 hydrogen tanks (40 L each) yielding an NPC of US$ 2.16 million an LCOE of US$ 0.782/kWh and a LCOH of US$ 19.2/kg of hydrogen. The second scenario (1.47 m/s) required only 12 PV modules one electrolyzer and an 11.3 kW converter lowering costs to an NPC of US$ 1.52 million an LCOE of US$ 0.553/ kWh and a LCOH of US$ 15.4/kg of hydrogen. In the third scenario (1.61 m/s) the configuration shifted to 298 PV modules three tidal turbines eight electrolyzers and a 39.6 kW converter resulting in the highest NPC (US$ 2.47 million) and LCOE (US$ 0.901/kWh) with a LCOH of US$ 18.8/kg of hydrogen. The study also contributes a transparent component-wise employment indicator linking installed capacities/energies to jobs; deployment is expected to create about seven local jobs during installation and early operation tidal turbines (3) solar panels (1) electrolyzers (1) hydrogen tanks (1) and fuel cell (1) with additional minor operation and maintenance positions thereafter. Social analysis indicated improved energy access support for local livelihoods and job creation; environmental results confirmed clean operation with limited marine disturbance. A sensitivity study varying capital and replacement-cost multipliers showed robust performance across economic conditions. Taken together these contributions provide a decision-ready blueprint for coastal communities: a first-of-its-kind Cameroonian hybrid that quantifies both electricity and hydrogen costs (including feasible LCOH) and demonstrates socio-economic co-benefits offering a cost-effective pathway to strengthen energy security foster local development and reduce environmental impact.
Development of Newly Designed Biomass-based Electrodes used in Water Electrolysis for Clean Hydrogen Production
Oct 2025
Publication
The conventional electrolysis is recognized as a mature and promising hydrogen (H2) production technology but there is still a strong need for further performance improvement. In this regard achieving an effective H2 evolution reaction at the cathode requires costly catalysts such as platinum and various catalyst-modified electrode materials. Nevertheless these materials are expensive and involve complex production procedures. Due to an increasing interest in deploying biomaterial-based cathodes as potential alternatives to conventional cathode materials we make the focus of this study on such materials and a graphite-loaded bioelectrode is in this regard synthesized for electrolysis application for effective H2 production. The surface morphology and electrochemical activity of the produced biocathode are characterized. Our results show that the H2 production performance of the system improves with the increasing graphite dosage on the biocathode and with the applied voltage ranging from 2 to 6 V. At improved operating conditions the highest H2 production rate of 1000 ppm (8.18 mg/m3 min) is obtained using a 1.5 g graphite-loaded biocathode at an applied voltage of 6 V. Consequently the produced graphite-loaded biocathode can be a promising option for sustainable and effective H2 production with waste minimization owing to its high conductivity low-cost and good stability.
Cutting-edge Advances in Hydrogen Applications for the Medical and Pharmaceutical Industries
Oct 2025
Publication
The adoption of clean hydrogen is expected to transform the global energy landscape reducing greenhouse gas emissions bridging gaps in renewable energy integration and driving innovation across multiple sectors. In the medical and pharmaceutical industries hydrogen offers unique opportunities for transformative progress. This review critically examines recent advances in three domains: hydrogen fuel cells as reliable scalable and sustainable energy solutions for hospitals; molecular hydrogen as a therapeutic and preventive medical gas particularly for brain disorders; and hydrogenation technologies for the efficient and sustainable pharmaceutical production. Despite encouraging advancements widespread adoption remains limited by economic constraints regulatory gaps and limited clinical evidence. Addressing these barriers through technological innovation largescale studies and life-cycle sustainability assessments is essential to translate hydrogen’s full potential into clinical and industrial practice. Responsible adoption of green hydrogen is poised to reshape the clinical approach to global health and enhance the quality of life for people worldwide.
Modeling and Experimental Approach of Membrane and Diaphragm Sono-electrolytic Production of Hydrogen
Oct 2025
Publication
This study evaluates the performance of three anion-exchange membranes (FAS-50 AMX Fujifilm-AEM) and a diaphragm separator (Zirfon® UTP 500) in alkaline water sono-electrolysis using a 25 % KOH electrolyte at ambient temperature. Energy efficiency hydrogen production kinetics and membrane stability were assessed experimentally and through modeling. Among the tested separators Zirfon achieved the highest energy efficiency outperforming AEM AMX and FAS-50. Hydrogen production rates under silent conditions ranged from 2.55 µg/s (AEM) to 2.92 µg/s (FAS-50) while sonication (40 kHz 60 W) increased rates by 0.03–0.12 µg/s with the strongest relative effect observed for FAS-50 (≈4.0 % increase). By contrast Zirfon and AEM showed slight efficiency reductions (0.5–2 %) under ultrasound due to their higher structural resistance. Ion-exchange capacity tests confirmed significant degradation of polymeric membranes (IEC losses of 60–90 %) while Zirfon maintained stability in 25 % KOH. Modeling results showed that the diaphragm resistance was dominated by the ohmic losses (55–86 %) with ultrasound reducing bubble coverage and associated resistance only marginally (<0.02 V). Overall Zirfon demonstrated superior stability and efficiency for long-term operation while ultrasound primarily enhanced hydrogen evolution kinetics in mechanically weaker polymeric membranes.
Optical Investigation and combustion Analysis of Stratified Ammonia-hydrogen Pre-chamber Engine with Variable Injection Timing
Oct 2025
Publication
This study presents an experimental investigation of a direct injection ammonia-fuelled engine using hydrogen pre-chamber jet ignition. All tests have been conducted in an optically accessible combustion chamber that is installed in the head of a single-cylinder engine. The effect of ammonia injection timing on ignition and combustion characteristics was investigated with the timing varied from 165 CAD BTDC to 40 CAD BTDC. The experiments were conducted with a fixed spark timing of 14 CAD BTDC while ammonia injection duration was adjusted to maintain a main chamber global equivalence ratio of 0.6. Two pre-chamber nozzle configurations a single-hole and a multi-hole were tested. The results show that the later NH3 injection timing (40 CAD BTDC) significantly improved combustion with a peak in-cylinder pressure of 80 bar measured compared to a peak in-cylinder pressure of 50 bar with earlier injection (165 CAD BTDC). This study indicates the importance of optimising ammonia injection timing in order to enhance combustion stability and efficiency. The hydrogen pre-chamber jet ignition combined with a late ammonia injection is a promising approach for addressing the combustion challenges of ammonia as a zero-carbon fuel for maritime applications.
Breaking the Barriers towards Large-scale Microalgae-based Bio-hydrogen Production
Nov 2025
Publication
Microalgae-based biohydrogen (MaBHP) can couple CO2 mitigation with renewable fuel generation and wastewater remediation yet deployment is limited by low light-to-H2 efficiencies and high cultivation and processing costs. This review maps scale-up barriers across cultivation H2 induction and purification and prioritizes strategies with demonstrated cost or yield impact toward industrial feasibility. The review synthesized quantitative evidence (2000–2025) from techno-economic and life-cycle studies and pilot demonstrations covering wastewater integration flue-gas CO2 utilization immobilized cultivation hybrid ORP–PBR operation and biorefinery co-products. Results showed that cultivation dominates the process cost: typical biomass costs are $3.54–$5.78/kg in tubular PBRs versus $3.42–$4.13/kg in ORPs; an automation/modularization case decreased microalgae production cost from $89 to $16/kg at ~200 t/yr. Today MaBHP via biophotolysis remains $7.2–$7.6/kg—above green electrolysis ($5–$7/kg) and grey/blue SMR ($1–$3/$1.6–$3.5/kg). Integration levers show tangible gains: secondary-treated wastewater enabled Chlorella growth with 76 % NH4 + removal and 53 % lipid accumulation; the spent medium yielded 200.8 μmolH2/mgchlorophyll.a in cyanobacteria; swinewastewater loops cut freshwater use six-fold with 45.5 mLH2/gVS; alginate immobilization raised H2 ~40 % (to 2.4 LH2/Lculture) over five reuse cycles. A CSTR nutrient-recovery line on digested Scenedesmus recovered 68 % N and 72 % P via struvite reducing synthetic fertilizer ~35 %; flue-gas CO2 (12 % v/v) lifted biomass 22 % and reduced carbon-supplement cost 86 %. The results show that combining wastewater/nutrient circularity CO2 coutilization oxygen/electron-flow control high-A/V reactors with automation and co-product valorization can narrow the cost gap and orient MaBHP toward future $1–$2/kg benchmarks.
Underground Hydrogen Storage: Insights for Future Development
Oct 2025
Publication
Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) is a relatively new technology that demonstrates notable potential for the efficient storage of large quantities of green hydrogen. Its large-scale implementation requires a comprehensive understanding of numerous factors including safe and effective storage methods as well as overcoming various thresholds and challenges. This article presents strategies for accelerating the implementation of this technology identifying the thresholds and challenges affecting the development and future scale-up of UHS. It characterises challenges and constraints related to geology (including the type and geological characterisation of structures hydrogen storage capacity and hydrogen interactions with underground environments) the technological aspects of hydrogen storage (such as infrastructure management and monitoring) and economic and legal considerations. The need for the rapid implementation of demonstration projects has been emphasised. The identified thresholds and challenges along with the resulting recommendations are crucial for paving the way for the large-scale implementation of UHS. Addressing these issues will significantly influence the implementation of this technology post-2030.
Beyond Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy: Lessons from the Bottom-up Policy Mix in the United Kingdom, 2021-2023
Nov 2025
Publication
Industrial decarbonisation (ID) is a new challenge in the transition to net zero. The ID challenge is complicated because it covers a wide range of industries and processes and therefore a policy mix approach is appropriate. Because of multiple interactions with existing areas of regulation the bottom-up policy mix as defined by Ossenbrink et al. (2019) is likely to be particularly important for the successful implementation of ID policy. In this article we build on the policy mix literature by positing how bottom-up policy instrument mixes may fail to be consistent and comprehensive not only because of conflicting goals and missing instruments but also due to missing information. We also consider how integrating policy functions centrally may help top-down policy mix coherence but work against bottom-up coherence processes. We illustrate our argument through a case study of the first detailed examination of industrial decarbonisation policy and regulation for a major OECD country i.e. the UK. Utilizing a robust and extensive original dataset of 118 expert interviews we show how the top-down policy mix focused on supporting innovation in hydrogen and carbon capture and storage is layered on top of a range of policies and regulations including spatial planning environmental pollution regulation health and safety rules gas standards and skills policy. Solving problems of inconsistency and a lack of comprehensiveness in instruments is slowed by insufficient coordination and resources.
A Comparative Analysis of Conventional Thermal and Electrochemical Reforming Pathways for Hydrogen Production Towards Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)
Oct 2025
Publication
H2 is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of global decarbonization strategies including in hard-toabate sectors such as aviation. Its large-scale applicability remains limited owing to the limited diversity and maturity of low-carbon production pathways. Approximately 96% of global H2 production originates from non-renewable sources primarily through steam methane reforming (SMR) which remains the most commercially established route. Another critical barrier to the substitution of conventional aviation fuels lies in hydrogen storage as the current volumetric energy density and cryogenic storage requirements render onboard integration impractical for most aircraft configurations. To address these challenges this study developed a techno-economic and environmental benchmarking framework that compares conventional thermal reforming technologies (SMR autothermal and POX) with emerging electrochemical routes (water electrolysis and alcohol electro-oxidation) highlighting their potential roles in the transition toward sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). By normalizing efficiency energy intensity CO2 emissions and cost (USD kg 1 H2 and USD GJ 1 ) this study quantifies the trade-offs that define current and emerging pathways. SMR remains the industrial baseline (70%–85% thermal efficiency 1–2 USD kg−1 H2 9–12 kg CO2 kg−1 H2) whereas ethanol-based electrochemical reforming operates 0.3–0.9 V below conventional electrolysis achieving up to 40% lower electrical energy demand (∼2.4 kW h Nm−3 H2 with near-zero direct emissions. A sensitivity analysis demonstrates that a 60% reduction in catalyst cost or electricity prices below 0.03 USD (kW h)−1 could make electrochemical reforming cost-competitive with SMR. This study consolidates fragmented knowledge into a comprehensive roadmap that links catalyst performance and technology readiness for aviation decarbonization by integrating engineering metrics with policy and infrastructure perspectives to identify realistic transition pathways toward sustainable hydrogen and hybrid aviation fuels.
The Role of Hydrogen-based Local Energy Communities in the Development of Hydrogen Cities: A Systematic Review
Nov 2025
Publication
Hydrogen-based Local Energy Communities (LECs) play a pivotal role in modern energy systems and form the fundamental building blocks of hydrogen cities. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of how hydrogen-based LECs advance the hydrogen city concept by examining the technological economic environmental regulatory and social dimensions that shape the integration of green hydrogen into local energy networks. The paper explores the structure of hydrogen cities focusing on the role of multiple LECs in alignment with the European Union’s Clean Energy Package (CEP). Furthermore a case study and mathematical model are presented where the hydrogen city is modelled and the impact of Electric Parking Lot (EPL) and Hydrogen Parking Lot (HPL) management on the hydrogen city’s operation cost is evaluated. The results show that optimised EPL and HPL management can reduce overall operational costs by 5.53 % demonstrating the economic advantages of intelligent scheduling strategies in hydrogen cities.
Hydrogen-assisted Cracking: A Deep Learning Approach for Fractographic Analysis
Nov 2025
Publication
Hydrogen handling equipment suffers from interaction with their operating environment which degrades the mechanical properties and compromises component integrity. Hydrogen-assisted cracking is responsible for several industrial failures with potentially severe consequences. A thorough failure analysis can determine the failure mechanism locate its origin and identify possible root causes to avoid similar events in the future. Postmortem fractographic analysis can classify the fracture mode and determine whether the hydrogen-metal interaction contributed to the component’s breakdown. Experts in fracture classification identify characteristic marks and textural features by visual inspection to determine the failure mechanism. Although widely adopted this process is time-consuming and influenced by subjective judgment and individual expertise. This study aims to automate fractographic analysis through advanced computer vision techniques. Different materials were tested in hydrogen atmospheres and inert environments and their fracture surfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy to create an extensive image dataset. A pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network was finetuned to accurately classify brittle and ductile fractures. In addition Grad-CAM interpretability method was adopted to identify the image regions most influential in the model’s prediction and compare the saliency maps with expert annotations. This approach offered a reliable data-driven alternative to conventional fractographic analysis.
Design of Hydrogen-Powered Mobile Emergency Power Vehicle with Soft Open Point and Appropriate Energy Management Strategy
Oct 2025
Publication
Zhigang Liu,
Wen Chen,
Shi Liu,
Yu Cao and
Yitao Li
Mobile emergency power supply vehicles (MEPSVs) powered by diesel engines or lithiumion batteries (LIBs) have become a viable tool for emergency power supply. However diesel-powered MEPSVs generate noise and environmental pollution while LIB-powered vehicles suffer from limited power supply duration. To overcome these limitations a hydrogen-powered MEPSV incorporating a soft open point (SOP) was developed in this study. We analyzed widely used operating scenarios for the SOP-equipped MEPSV and determined important parameters including vehicle body structure load capacity driving speed and power generation capability for the driving motor hydrogen fuel cell (FC) module auxiliary LIB module and SOP equipment. Subsequently we constructed an energy management strategy for the model for MEPSV which uses multiple energy sources of hydrogen fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries. Through simulations an optimal hydrogen consumption rate in various control strategies was validated using a predefined load curve to optimize the energy consumption minimization strategy and achieve the highest efficiency.
Enhancing Power-to-Hydrogen Flexibility Through Optimal Bidding in Nordic Energy Activation Market with Wind Integration
Oct 2025
Publication
The recent updates to the Single Day-Ahead Coupling (SDAC) framework in the European energy market along with new rules for providing manual frequency restoration reserve (mFRR) products in the Nordic Energy Activation Market (EAM) have introduced a finer Market Time Unit (MTU) resolution. These developments underscore the growing importance of flexible assets such as power-to-hydrogen (PtH) facilities in delivering system flexibility. However to successfully participate in such markets well-designed and accurate bidding strategies are essential. To fulfill this aim this paper proposes a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model to determine the optimal bidding strategies for a typical PtH facility accounting for both the technical characteristics of the involved technologies and the specific participation requirements of the mFRR EAM. The study also explores the economic viability of sourcing electricity from nearby wind turbines (WTs) under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The simulation is conducted using a case study of a planned PtH facility at the Port of Hirtshals Denmark. Results demonstrate that participation in the mFRR EAM particularly through the provision of downward regulation can yield significant economic benefits. Moreover involvement in the mFRR market reduces power intake from the nearby WTs as capacity must be reserved for downward services. Finally the findings highlight the necessity of clearly defined business models for such facilities considering both technical and economic aspects.
Production Technology of Blue Hydrogen with Low CO2 Emissions
Oct 2025
Publication
Blue hydrogen technology generated from natural gas through carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is a promising solution to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and meet the growing demand for clean energy. To improve the sustainability of blue hydrogen it is crucial to explore alternative feedstocks production methods and improve the efficiency and economics of carbon capture storage and utilization strategies. Two established technologies for hydrogen synthesis are Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) and Autothermal Reforming (ATR). The choice between SMR and ATR depends on project specifics including the infrastructure energy availability environmental goals and economic considerations. ATR-based facilities typically generate hydrogen at a lower cost than SMR-based facilities except in cases where electricity prices are elevated or the facility has reduced capacity. Both SMR and ATR are methods used for hydrogen production from methane but ATR offers an advantage in minimizing CO2 emissions per unit of hydrogen generated due to its enhanced energy efficiency and unique process characteristics. ATR provides enhanced utility and flexibility regarding energy sources due to its autothermal characteristics potentially facilitating integration with renewable energy sources. However SMR is easier to run but may lack flexibility compared to ATR necessitating meticulous management. Capital expenditures for SMR and ATR hydrogen reactors are similar at the lower end of the capacity spectrum but when plant capacity exceeds this threshold the capital costs of SMR-based hydrogen production surpass those of ATR-based facilities. The less profitably scaled-up SMR relative to the ATR reactor contributes to the cost disparity. Additionally individual train capacity constraints for SMR CO2 removal units and PSA units increase the expenses of the SMR-based hydrogen facility significantly.
Recent Breakthroughs in Overcoming the Efficiency Limits of Photocatalysis for Hydrogen Generation
Nov 2025
Publication
For five decades photocatalysis has promised clean hydrogen from solar energy yet a persistent “efficiency ceiling” linked to fundamental challenges including the trade-off between light absorption and redox potential in single-component materials has hindered its practical application. This review illuminates three key paradigm shifts overcoming this challenge. First we examine Z-scheme and S-scheme heterojunctions which resolve the bandgap dilemma by spatially separating redox sites to achieve both broad light absorption and strong redox power. Second we discuss replacing the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with value-added organic oxidations. This strategy bypasses kinetic bottlenecks and improves economic viability by co-producing valuable chemicals from feedstocks like biomass and plastic waste. Third we explore manipulating the reaction environment where synergistic photothermal effects and concentrated sunlight can dramatically enhance kinetics and unlock markedly enhanced solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiencies. Collectively these strategies chart a clear course to overcome historical limitations and realize photocatalysis as an impactful technology for a sustainable energy future.
Toward Zero-emission Ferries: Integrating Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis Insights on Alternative Fuels and Policies
Nov 2025
Publication
The shipping industry aims to achieve full decarbonization at the European Union (EU) level by mid-century. Over the past decade various alternative fuels have been explored to address this goal. However challenges such as insufficient bunkering infrastructure technological immaturity and high costs have made shipowners hesitant to invest in“clean” propulsion systems. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis supported by a systematic literature review to map and critically synthesize current knowledge on alternative fuels for ferry decarbonization and their alignment with emissions reduction policies. Using the Greek ferry fleet as a representative case study the paper evaluates the regulatory framework and technical characteristics of various fuel options and examines their compatibility with different vessel categories. A qualitative comparative framework is introduced to link policy types with alternative fuel pathways offering original insights into policy—fuel alignment. The findings highlight methanol and green electricity (battery-electric systems) as highly promising solutions especially if battery technologies further advance in the coming years. Hydrogen also presents significant potential but is currently limited by high production costs and infrastructure requirements. Rather than presenting a quantitative decision-making model this review establishes the conceptual basis for such a framework in future research. This paper also offers innovative proposals to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission fuels addresses key gaps in existing research and provides insights for advancing ferry decarbonization.
Hydrogen-involved Renewable Energy Base Planning in Desert and Gobi Regions under Electricity-carbon-hydrogen Markets
Nov 2025
Publication
China is developing renewable energy bases (REBs) in the desert and Gobi regions. However the intermittency of renewable energy and the temporal mismatch between peak renewable generation and peak load demand severely disrupt the power supply reliability of these REBs. Hydrogen storage technology characterized by high energy density and long-term storage capability is an effective method for enhancing the power supply reliability. Therefore this paper proposes a REB planning model in the desert and Gobi regions considering seasonal hydrogen storage introduction as well as electricity-carbon-hydrogen markets trading. Furthermore a combination scenario generation method considering extreme scenario optimization is proposed. Among which the extreme scenarios selected through an iterative selection method based on maximizing scenario divergence contain more incremental information providing data support for the proposed model. Finally the simulation was conducted in the desert and Gobi regions of Yinchuan Ningxia Province China primarily verifying that (1) the REB incorporating hydrogen storage can fully leverage hydrogen storage to achieve seasonal and long-term electricity transfer and utilization. The project has a payback period of 10 years with an internal rate of return of 13.30% and a return on investment of 16.34% thus showing significant development potential. (2) Compared to the typical battery-involved REB the hydrogen-involved energy storage facility achieved a 59.39% annual profit a 10.98% internal rate of return a 14.93% return on investment and a 1.51% improvement in power supply reliability by sacrificing a 52.49% increase in construction cost. (3) Compared to REB planning based only on typical scenarios the power supply reliability of REBs based on the proposed combination scenario generation method improved by 8.58%.
A Two-Stage Optimal Dispatch Strategy for Electric-ThermalHydrogen Integrated Energy System Based on IGDT and Fuzzy Chance-Constrained Programming
Nov 2025
Publication
Na Sun,
Hongxu He and
Haiying Dong
To address the economic and reliability challenges of high-penetration renewable energy integration in electricity-heat-hydrogen integrated energy systems and support the dualcarbon strategy this paper proposes an optimal dispatch method integrating Information Gap Decision Theory (IGDT) and Fuzzy Chance-Constrained Programming (FCCP). An IES model coupling multiple energy components was constructed to exploit multi-energy complementarity. A stepped carbon trading mechanism was introduced to quantify emission costs. For interval uncertainties in renewable generation IGDT-based robust and opportunistic dispatch models were established; for fuzzy load uncertainties FCCP transformed them into deterministic equivalents forming a dual-layer “IGDT-FCCP” uncertainty handling framework. Simulation using CPLEX demonstrated that the proposed model dynamically adjusts uncertainty tolerance and confidence levels effectively balancing economy robustness and low-carbon performance under complex uncertainties: reducing total costs by 12.7% cutting carbon emissions by 28.1% and lowering renewable curtailment to 1.8%. This study provides an advanced decision-making paradigm for low-carbon resilient IES.
Effects of Hydrogen-rich Gas Injection on Combustion Characteristics in Blast Furnace Raceway and Thermal Load of Tuyere: A Numerical Simulation Study
Nov 2025
Publication
Hydrogen-rich gas (HRG) injection is a promising low-carbon solution for blast furnace ironmaking. This study conducted numerical simulations in the lower part of a blast furnace to analyze the combustion behavior of coinjected coke oven gas (COG) and pulverized coal (PC) within the raceway and the associated thermal load on the tuyere. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model incorporating fluid–thermal–solid coupling and the GRI-Mech 3.0 chemical kinetic mechanism (validated for 300–2500 K) was established to simulate the lance–blowpipe–tuyere–raceway region. The simulation results revealed that moderate COG injection accelerated volatile release from PC and enlarged the high-temperature zone (>2000 K). However excessive COG injection intensified oxygen competition and shortened the residence time of PC ultimately decreasing the burnout rate. Notably although COG has high reactivity its injection did not cause an increase in tuyere temperature. By contrast the presence of an unburned gas layer near the upper wall of the tuyere and the existence of a strong convective cooling effect contributed to a reduction in tuyere temperature. An optimized cooling water channel was designed to enhance flow distribution and effectively suppress localized overheating. The findings of this study offer valuable technical insights for ensuring safe COG injection and advancing low-carbon steelmaking practices.
Current Status and Future Prospects of Sustainable Hydrogen Production from Food Industry Waste by Aqueous Phase Reforming
Nov 2025
Publication
Aqueous phase reforming has been posed as a promising technology for renewable hydrogen production in the framework of the transition to a sustainable energy economy. Since the use of chemical compounds as process feedstock has proven to be one of the major constraints to its potential scalability several cost-free residual biomasses have been investigated as alternative substrates. This also allows for the recovery of residues offsetting the significant costs of waste management through conventional treatment. In recent years different wastes from the food processing industry such as brewery fish canning dairy industries fruit juice extraction and corn production wastewaters have taken the attention of scientific community due to their composition favorable to this process and its high-water content. However few and heterogeneous results can be found within the literature suggesting that the research into this application is now at a stage of development which will require further investigation. Therefore this work is focused on compiling and discussing the reported studies aiming to present a critical reflection on the potential of aqueous phase reforming as a means for the valorization of this kind of residue.
Joint Optimization Scheduling of Electric Vehicles and Electro–Olefin–Hydrogen Electromagnetic Energy Supply Device for Wind–Solar Integration
Nov 2025
Publication
In northern China the long winter heating period is accompanied by severe wind curtailment. To address this issue a joint optimization scheduling strategy of electric vehicles (EVs) and electro–olefin–hydrogen electromagnetic energy supply device (EHED) is proposed to promote deep wind–solar integration. Firstly the feasibility analysis of EVs participating in scheduling is conducted and the operation models of dispatchable EVs and thermal energy storage EHEDs within the scheduling period are established. Secondly a control strategy for the joint optimization scheduling of wind–solar farms EVs EHEDs and power grid is constructed. Then an economic dispatch model for joint optimization of EVs and EHEDs is established to minimize the system operation cost within the scheduling period and the deep wind–solar integration of the joint optimization model is studied by considering EVs under different demand responses. Finally the proposed model is solved by CPLEX solver. The simulation results show that the established joint optimization economic dispatch model of EV-EHEDs can improve the enthusiasm of dispatchable EVs to participate in deep wind–solar integration reduce wind curtailment power and decrease the overall system operation cost.
An Explainable Fault Diagnosis Algorithm for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Integrating Gramian Angular Fields and Gradient-Weighted Class Activation Mapping
Nov 2025
Publication
Reliable operation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is crucial for their widespread commercialization and accurate fault diagnosis is the key to ensuring their long-term stable operation. However traditional fault diagnosis methods not only lack sufficient interpretability making it difficult for users to trust their diagnostic decisions but also one-dimensional (1D) feature extraction methods highly rely on manual experience to design and extract features which are easily affected by noise. This paper proposes a new interpretable fault diagnosis algorithm that integrates Gramian angular field (GAF) transform convolutional neural network (CNN) and gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) for enhanced fault diagnosis and analysis of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The algorithm is systematically validated using experimental data to classify three critical health states: normal operation membrane drying and hydrogen leakage. The method first converts the 1D sensor signal into a two-dimensional GAF image to capture the temporal dependency and converts the diagnostic problem into an image recognition task. Then the customized CNN architecture extracts hierarchical spatiotemporal features for fault classification while Grad-CAM provides visual explanations by highlighting the most influential regions in the input signal. The results show that the diagnostic accuracy of the proposed model reaches 99.8% which is 4.18% 9.43% and 2.46% higher than other baseline models (SVM LSTM and CNN) respectively. Furthermore the explainability analysis using Grad-CAM effectively mitigates the “black box” problem by generating visual heatmaps that pinpoint the key feature regions the model relies on to distinguish different health states. This validates the model’s decision-making rationality and significantly enhances the transparency and trustworthiness of the diagnostic process.
Dispersion of High-Pressure Hydrogen Jets in Open-Top and Indoor Environments: Effects of Leak Geometry and Pressure
Nov 2025
Publication
Yang Li,
Shourui Zhang,
Meng Yu,
Yang Wu,
Jiake Wu and
Long Jiang
Hydrogen leakage is a critical safety concern for high-pressure storage systems where orifice geometry significantly influences dispersion and risk. Previous studies on leakage and diffusion have mostly focused on closed or semi-closed environments while thorough exploration has been conducted on open and unshielded environments. This work compares three typical orifice types—circular slit and Y-type—through controlled experiments. Results show that circular orifices generate directional jets with steep gradients but relatively low concentrations with a 1 mm case reaching only 0.725% at the jet core. Slit orifices exhibit more uniform diffusion; at 1 mm concentrations ranged from 2.125% to 2.625%. Y-type orifices presented the highest hazard with 0.5 mm leaks producing 2.9% and 1 mm cases approaching the 4% lower flammability limit within 375 s. Equilibrium times increased with orifice size from 400–800 s for circular and slit leaks to up to 900 s for Y-type leaks some of which failed to stabilize. Response behavior also varied: Y-type leaks achieved rapid multi-point responses (as short as 10 s) while circular and slit leaks responded more slowly away from the jet core. Overall risk ranking was circular < slit < Y-type underscoring the urgent need for geometry-specific monitoring strategies sensor layouts and emergency thresholds to ensure safe hydrogen storage.
State and Disturbance Estimation with Supertwisting Sliding Mode Control for Frequency Regulation in Hydrogen Based Microgrids
Nov 2025
Publication
This study considers the use of an enhanced super-twisting sliding mode control (STSMC) scheme via the incorporation of a hybrid extended state observer (ESO) and a higher order sliding mode observer (HOSMO) state estimation and disturbance observer (DO) based on exponential decay embedded via a tracking element in order to hasten the estimation of disturbance thus improving performance significantly. This scheme is employed to generate single and multiple control signals per agent based on the microgrid’s presented components such as energy storage devices and renewable energy sources (RESs) alongside the harness of a puma optimizer (PO) metaheuristics scheme to optimize each area regulator’s performance. The sliding surface incorporated is chosen based on desired control objectives. Adjusting the constricted area frequency and reducing tie-line power transfer fluctuations are considered the primary goals for frequency regulation in a multi-area power system. Also based on the presented simulations adequate performance in terms of minimum chattering low complexity fast convergence and adequate robustness has been achieved. Using various microgrid peripheral components such as a multi-terminal soft open point (SOP) with a dedicated terminal for hydrogen energy storage alongside the proposed enhanced STSMC the frequency change and power transfer rate of change are maintained within the range of ×10−6 values substantially preserving proper performance compared to other simulated scenarios. In regard to the final simulated case involving SOP the following has been achieved: steady state errors of 2.538×10−6 Hz for ΔF1 3.125×10−6 Hz for ΔF2 and 1.920×10−6 p.u for ΔPtie alongside peak disturbance overshoot reduction in comparison to stochastic case of 99.580% 99.605% and 99.771% for same mentioned elements respectively. Also a reduction in peak disturbance undershoot of 95.589% 99.547% and 99.573% respectively has been achieved. Thus the enhanced STSMC can effectively mitigate frequency fluctuations and tie-line power transfer abnormalities.
Hybrid-mode Offshore Hydrogen-producing Wind Turbine: Grid-following and Grid-forming Operation Under Variable Grid Conditions
Nov 2025
Publication
This paper proposes a hybrid-mode operation strategy for an offshore hydrogen-producing wind turbine (OHP-WT) capable of grid-following (GFL) and grid-forming (GFM) operation under both normal and low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) conditions. Unlike conventional centralized wind-to-hydrogen (W2H) schemes the proposed turbine-level architecture integrates W2H converters directly into the DC link of a three-level neutral-point-clamped converter. A supervisory power-sharing and mode-switch layer is developed above established GFL and GFM controls to coordinate active and reactive power regulation DC-link balancing and hydrogen-load management according to grid conditions. The proposed strategy is validated through detailed PLECS simulations and real-time hardware-in-the-loop experiments using identical parameters. Results show that the GFL mode achieves accurate power dispatch and shallow-fault LVRT compliance while the GFM mode maintains voltage and frequency stability under weak grid and severe-fault conditions. In all cases maximum-power-point tracking (MPPT) is preserved and hydrogen production continuously absorbs surplus power to stabilize the DC link. The findings demonstrate that the hybrid-mode OHP-WT enables transition between grid support and hydrogen production effectively reducing wind-power curtailment and enhancing offshore grid resilience.
Enhancing System Stability in Power-to-gas Applications: Integrating Biological Hydrogen Methanation and Microbial Electrolysis Cells under Hydrogen Overloading in Various Injection Modes
Nov 2025
Publication
Volatile fatty acid (VFA) accumulation is a common issue that compromises the performance of biological hydrogen methanation systems (BHMs). This accumulation is often triggered by fluctuations in hydrogen supply which can disrupt microbial activity and lead to system instability. To address this challenge this study investigated the impact of employing a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) in BHMs to mitigate system instability and acid buildup. As such a conventional anaerobic digester (AD) and a microbial electrolysis cell both supplemented with exogenous hydrogen were evaluated for their performance in hydrogen methanation. The effect of exogenous hydrogen at high addition rates (>4:1 CO2:H2 molar ratio) under instantaneous and gradual injection modes was investigated. The results showed that the instantaneous addition of hydrogen resulted in the total failure of the anaerobic digestion system. Propionate accumulated in the system (>2 g/L) and resulted in low pH (pH=5.3). Methane production stopped and the reactor never recovered from hydrogen shock. However the microbial electrolysis system was able to withstand the instantaneous hydrogen addition and maintain normal operation under toxic hydrogen addition levels (>4:1 CO2:H2 molar ratio). Under the gradual injection mode both MEC and AD reactors remained reasonably unaffected; even though the hydrogen injection exceeded the stoichiometric molar ratio. This study provides a new perspective on the application of MECs for reliable operation and storage of surplus renewable energy via biological hydrogen methanation.
Advancing the Energy Transition in the Steel Industry: A Game-theoretic Bilevel Approach for Green Hydrogen Supply Chains
Sep 2025
Publication
Green hydrogen is essential for advancing the energy transition as it is regarded as a CO2-neutral flexible and storable energy carrier. Particularly in steel production which is known for its high energy intensity hydrogen has great potential to replace conventional energy sources. In a game-theoretic bi-level optimization model involving a power plant operator and a steel company we investigate in which situations the production and use of green hydrogen is advantageous from an economic and ecological point of view. Through an extensive case study based on a realworld scenario we can observe that hydrogen production can serve as a profitable and flexible secondary income opportunity for the power plant operator and help avoid curtailment and spot market losses. On the other hand the steel manufacturer can reduce CO2 emissions and associated costs while also meeting the growing customer demand for low-carbon products. However our findings also highlight important trade-offs and uncertainties. While lower electricity generation costs or improved electrolyzer efficiency enhance hydrogen’s competitiveness increases in coal and CO2 emission prices do not always result in greater hydrogen adoption. This is due to the persistent reliance on a non-replaceable share of coal in steel production which raises the overall cost of both low-carbon and carbon-intensive steel. The model further shows that consumer demand elasticity plays a critical role in determining hydrogen uptake. These insights underscore the importance of not only reducing hydrogen costs but also designing supportive policies that address market acceptance and the full cost structure of green industrial products.
Process Analysis and Techno-economic Comparison of Aviation Biofuel Production via Microbial Oil and Ethanol Upgrading
Oct 2025
Publication
The transport sector is the largest source of greenhouse gases in the EU after the energy supply one contributing approximately 27% of total emissions. Although decarbonization pathways for light-duty transport are relatively well established heavy-duty transport shipping and aviation emissions are difficult to eliminate through electrification. In particular the aviation sector is strongly dependent on liquid hydrocarbons making the development of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) a critical priority for achieving long-term climate targets. This study evaluates four biomass-to-liquid pathways for producing jet-like SAF from lignocellulosic biomass: (1) triacylglycerides (TAGs) production from syngas fermentation (2) TAGs production from sugar fermentation (3) ethanol production from syngas fermentation and (4) ethanol production from sugar fermentation. These pathways are simulated using Aspen Plus™ and the mass and heat balances obtained are used to assess their technical performance (e.g. carbon utilization energetic fuel efficiency) and techno-economic viability (e.g. production cost capital investment). Pathway (4) demonstrated the highest jet fuel selectivity (63%) and total carbon utilization (32.5%) but at higher power demands. Pathway (1) was self-sufficient in energy due to internal syngas utilization but exhibited lower carbon efficiencies. Cost analysis revealed that microbial oil-based pathways were restrained by higher hydrogen demands and lower product selectivity compared to ethanol-based routes. However with advancements in microbial oil production efficiency and reduced water usage these pathways could become competitive.
An Empirical Study of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Citizens' Intentions about the Adoption of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles
Oct 2025
Publication
A comprehensive understanding of consumer preferences and demand factors is essential for successfully implementing demand-side strategies for alternative energy solutions such as hydrogen. This study aims to identify the key determinants influencing the adoption propensity for Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Developing a conceptual framework to organise the key factors influencing consumers’ decisions to adopt or reject this technology. Using data from an online survey of 384 prospective customers we employed structural equation modelling (SEM) via Smart-PLS 4.1 to analyze consumer intent. The findings reveal that perceived benefits barriers opinions and governmental initiatives have a significant impact on the likelihood of HFCV adoption. The study emphasises the significance of collaborative efforts among key stakeholders including manufacturers hydrogen producers research institutions and financial entities in addressing challenges and advancing the development of the hydrogen transportation ecosystem in KSA. Financial incentives and subsidies such as purchasing subsidies awareness and reduced registration costs for HFCVs may be instituted.
Towards Green and Smart Ports: A Review of Digital Twin and Hydrogen Applications in Maritime Management
Oct 2025
Publication
Modern ports are pivotal to global trade facing increasing pressures from operational demands resource optimization complexities and urgent decarbonization needs. This study highlights the critical importance of digital model adoption within the maritime industry particularly in the port sector while integrating sustainability principles. Despite a growing body of research on digital models industrial simulation and green transition a specific gap persists regarding the intersection of port management hydrogen energy integration and Digital Twin (DT) applications. Specifically a bibliometric analysis provides an overview of the current research landscape through a study of the most used keywords while the document analysis highlights three primary areas of advancement: optimization of hydrogen storage and integrated energy systems hydrogen use in propulsion and auxiliary engines and DT for management and validation in maritime operations. The main outcome of this research work is that while significant individual advancements have been made across critical domains such as optimizing hydrogen systems enhancing engine performance and developing robust DT applications for smart ports a major challenge persists due to the limited simultaneous and integrated exploration of them. This gap notably limits the realization of their full combined benefits for green ports. By mapping current research and proposing interdisciplinary directions this work contributes to the scientific debate on future port development underscoring the need for integrated approaches that simultaneously address technological environmental and operational dimensions.
Nodal Marginal Price Decomposition Mechanism for the Hydrogen Energy Market Considering Hydrogen Transportation Characteristics
Oct 2025
Publication
With the growing significance of hydrogen in the global energy transition research on its pricing mechanisms has become increasingly crucial. Focusing on hydrogen markets predominantly supplied by electrolytic production this study proposes a nodal marginal hydrogen price decomposition algorithm that explicitly incorporates the time-delay dynamics inherent in hydrogen transmission. A four-dimensional price formation framework is established comprising the energy component network loss component congestion component and time-delay component. To address the nonconvex optimization challenges arising in the market-clearing model an improved second-order cone programming method is introduced. This method effectively reduces computational complexity through the reconstruction of time-coupled constraints and reformulation of the Weymouth equation. On this basis the analytical expression of the nodal marginal hydrogen price is rigorously derived elucidating how transmission dynamics influence each price component. Empirical studies using a modified Belgian 20-node system demonstrate that the proposed pricing mechanism dynamically adapts to load variations with hydrogen prices exhibiting a strong correlation with electricity cost fluctuations. The results validate the efficacy and superiority of the proposed approach in hydrogen energy market applications. This study provides a theoretical foundation for designing efficient and transparent pricing mechanisms in emerging hydrogen markets.
Optimization of Novel Variable-Channel-Width Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) Design for Enhanced Hydrogen Production
Oct 2025
Publication
This study presents a novel solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) design with variable channel widths to optimize thermal management and electrochemical performance for enhanced hydrogen production. Using high-fidelity computational modeling in COMSOL Multiphysics 6.1 five distinct channel width configurations were analyzed with a baseline model validated against experimental data. The simulations showed that modifying the channel geometry particularly in Scenario 2 significantly improved hydrogen production rates by 6.8% to 29% compared to a uniform channel design with the effect becoming more pronounced at higher voltages. The performance enhancement was found to be primarily due to improved fluid velocity regulation which increased reactant residence time and enhanced mass transport rather than a significant thermal effect as temperature distribution remained largely uniform across the cell. Additionally the inclusion of a dedicated heat transfer channel was shown to improve current density and overall efficiency particularly at lower voltages. While a small increase in voltage raised internal cell pressure the variable-width designs especially those with widening channels led to greater hydrogen output albeit with a corresponding increase in system energy consumption due to higher pressure. Overall the findings demonstrate that strategically designed variable-width channels offer a promising approach to optimizing SOEC performance for industrial-scale hydrogen production.
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