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Greenhouse Gas Implications of Extending the Service Life of PEM Fuel Cells for Automotive Applications: A Life Cycle Assessment
Feb 2022
Publication
A larger adoption of hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) is typically included in the strategies to decarbonize the transportation sector. This inclusion is supported by life-cycle assessments (LCAs) which show the potential greenhouse gas (GHG) emission benefit of replacing internal combustion engine vehicles with their fuel cell counterpart. However the literature review performed in this study shows that the effects of durability and performance losses of fuel cells on the life-cycle environmental impact of the vehicle have rarely been assessed. Most of the LCAs assume a constant fuel consumption (ranging from 0.58 to 1.15 kgH2/100 km) for the vehicles throughout their service life which ranges in the assessments from 120000 to 225000 km. In this study the effect of performance losses on the life-cycle GHG emissions of the vehicles was assessed based on laboratory experiments. Losses have the effect of increasing the life-cycle GHG emissions of the vehicle up to 13%. Moreover this study attempted for the first time to investigate via laboratory analyses the GHG implications of replacing the hydrophobic polymer for the gas diffusion medium (GDM) of fuel cells to increase their durability. LCA showed that when the service life of the vehicle was fixed at 150000 km the GHG emission savings of using an FC with lower performance losses (i.e. FC coated with fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) instead of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) are negligible compared to the overall life-cycle impact of the vehicle. Both the GDM coating and the amount of hydrogen saved account for less than 2% of the GHG emissions arising during vehicle operation. On the other hand when the service life of the vehicle depends on the operability of the fuel cell the global warming potential per driven km of the FEP-based FCEV reduces by 7 to 32%. The range of results depends on several variables such as the GHG emissions from hydrogen production and the initial fuel consumption of the vehicle. Higher GHG savings are expected from an FC vehicle with high consumption of hydrogen produced with fossil fuels. Based on the results we recommend the inclusion of fuel-cell durability in future LCAs of FCEVs. We also advocate for more research on the real-life performance of fuel cells employing alternative materials.
Site-Dependent Environmental Impacts of Industrial Hydrogen Production by Alkaline Water Electrolysis
Jun 2017
Publication
Industrial hydrogen production via alkaline water electrolysis (AEL) is a mature hydrogen production method. One argument in favor of AEL when supplied with renewable energy is its environmental superiority against conventional fossil-based hydrogen production. However today electricity from the national grid is widely utilized for industrial applications of AEL. Also the ban on asbestos membranes led to a change in performance patterns making a detailed assessment necessary. This study presents a comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) using the GaBi software (version 6.115 thinkstep Leinfelden-Echterdingen Germany) revealing inventory data and environmental impacts for industrial hydrogen production by latest AELs (6 MW Zirfon membranes) in three different countries (Austria Germany and Spain) with corresponding grid mixes. The results confirm the dependence of most environmental effects from the operation phase and specifically the site-dependent electricity mix. Construction of system components and the replacement of cell stacks make a minor contribution. At present considering the three countries AEL can be operated in the most environmentally friendly fashion in Austria. Concerning the construction of AEL plants the materials nickel and polytetrafluoroethylene in particular used for cell manufacturing revealed significant contributions to the environmental burden.
Energy-Efficient Distributed Carbon Capture in Hydrogen Production from Natural Gas
Apr 2011
Publication
Lowering the energy penalty associated with CO2 capture is one of the key issues of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies. The efficiency of carbon capture must be improved to reduce the energy penalty because capture stage is the most energy-consuming stage in the entire process of CCS. Energy-efficient distributed carbon capture in hydrogen production has been demonstrated with an advanced membrane reformer system. We have already developed and operated an advanced 40 Nm3 /h-class membrane reformer system and demonstrated its high hydrogen production efficiency of 81.4% (HHV) which is the world highest efficiency in terms of hydrogen production from natural gas. The system has another significant feature that the CO2 concentration in the reactor off-gas is as high as 70~90% and CO2 can be liquefied and separated easily with little energy loss. An apparatus for CO2 capture was combined to the membrane reformer system and over 90% of CO2 in the reactor off-gas was captured by cryogenic separation. The total energy efficiency of hydrogen production even with CO2 capture was still as high as 78.6% (HHV) which is 510% higher than the conventional reforming technologies. The total CO2 emission from hydrogen production was decreased by 50% with only a 3% energy loss. A sensitivity analysis was also carried out to evaluate the effects of the operating conditions of the system on hydrogen production efficiency and CO2 reduction rate.
Control Strategy Assessment for Improving PEM Fuel Cell System Efficiency in Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicles
Mar 2022
Publication
Concerns about climate change air pollution and the depletion of oil resources have prompted authorities to enforce increasingly strict rules in the automotive sector. There are several benefits to implementing fuel cell hybrid vehicles (FCHV) in the transportation sector including the ability to assist in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen as energy carriers. This paper examines different control strategies for optimizing the power split between the battery and PEM fuel cell in order to maximize the PEM fuel cell system efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. First the vehicle and fuel cell system models are described. A forward approach is considered to model the vehicle dynamics while a semi-empirical and quasi-static model is used for the PEM fuel cell. Then different rule-based control strategies are analyzed with the aim of maximizing fuel cell system efficiency while ensuring a constant battery state of charge (SOC). The different methods are evaluated while the FCHV is performing both low-load and high-load drive cycles. The hydrogen consumption and the overall fuel cell system efficiency are considered for all testing conditions. The results highlight that in both low-load cycles and high-load cycles the best control strategies achieve a fuel cell system efficiency equal or greater to 33% while achieving a fuel consumption 30% less with respect to the baseline control strategy in low-load drive cycles.
Our Green Print: Future Heat for Everyone
Jul 2021
Publication
Green Print - Future Heat for Everyone draws together technical consumer and economic considerations to create a pioneering plan to transition 22 million UK homes to low carbon heat by 2050.<br/>Our Green Print underlines the scale of the challenge ahead acknowledging that a mosaic of low carbon heating solutions will be required to meet the needs of individual communities and setting out 12 key steps that can be taken now in order to get us there<br/>The Climate Change Committee (CCC) estimates an investment spend of £250bn to upgrade insulation and heating in homes as well as provide the infrastructure to deliver the energy.<br/>This is a task of unprecedented scale the equivalent of retro-fitting 67000 homes every month from now until 2050. In this Report Cadent takes the industry lead in addressing the challenge.
Sensing Hydrogen Seeps in the Subsurface for Natural Hydrogen Exploration
Jun 2022
Publication
The recent detection of natural hydrogen seeps in sedimentary basin settings has triggered significant interest in the exploration of this promising resource. If large economical resources exist and can be extracted from the sub-surface this would provide an opportunity for natural hydrogen to contribute to the non-carbon-based energy mix. The detection and exploration of hydrogen gas in the sub-surface is a significant challenge that requires costly drilling sophisticated instrumentation and reliable analytical/sampling methods. Here we propose the application of a commercial-based sensor that can be used to detect and monitor low levels of hydrogen gas emissions from geological environments. The sensitivity selectivity (K > 1000) and stability (<1 ppm/day) of the sensor was evaluated under various conditions to determine its suitability for geological field monitoring. Calibration tests showed that the hydrogen readings from the sensor were within ±20% of the expected values. We propose that chemical sensing is a simple and feasible method for understanding natural hydrogen seeps that emanate from geological systems and formations. However we recommend using this sensor as part of a complete geological survey that incorporates an understanding of the geology along with complementary techniques that provide information on the rock properties.
Everything About Hydrogen Podcast: FCEV's "Down Under"
Dec 2020
Publication
On today's show the EAH team will be joined by Brendan Norman to talk about deployment of sustainable FCEV technologies across many different segments of the transport sector and utility vehicles. Brendan is the CEO of H2X a new vehicle manufacturing company based in Sydney with a manufacturing facility in Port Kembla will deliver its first hydrogen FCEVs to market beginning in 2022 before expanding its vehicle offerings in subsequent years. Brendan joined the EAH team via SquadCast from Kuala Lumpur to talk fuel cells with us and you don't want to miss the excellent discussion that we had on this week's episode.
The podcast can be found on their website
The podcast can be found on their website
Future Hydrogen Markets for Transportation and Industry: The Impact of CO2 Taxes
Dec 2019
Publication
The technological lock-in of the transportation and industrial sector can be largely attributed to the limited availability of alternative fuel infrastructures. Herein a countrywide supply chain analysis of Germany spanning until 2050 is applied to investigate promising infrastructure development pathways and associated hydrogen distribution costs for each analyzed hydrogen market. Analyzed supply chain pathways include seasonal storage to balance fluctuating renewable power generation with necessary purification as well as trailer- and pipeline-based hydrogen delivery. The analysis encompasses green hydrogen feedstock in the chemical industry and fuel cell-based mobility applications such as local buses non-electrified regional trains material handling vehicles and trucks as well as passenger cars. Our results indicate that the utilization of low-cost long-term storage and improved refueling station utilization have the highest impact during the market introduction phase. We find that public transport and captive fleets offer a cost-efficient countrywide renewable hydrogen supply roll-out option. Furthermore we show that at comparable effective carbon tax resulting from the current energy tax rates in Germany hydrogen is cost-competitive in the transportation sector by the year 2025. Moreover we show that sector-specific CO2 taxes are required to provide a cost-competitive green hydrogen supply in both the transportation and industrial sectors.
French Guide to Conformity Assessment and Certification of Hydrogen Systems
Sep 2021
Publication
Hydrogen as energy carrier is referenced in French and European political strategies to realize the transition to low-carbon energy. In 2020 in France the government was launching a major investment plan amounting to 7.2 billion euros until 2030 to support the deployment of large-scale hydrogen technologies [1]. The implementation of this strategy should lead to the arrival of several new hydrogen systems that will need to be evaluated and certified regarding their compliance with safety requirements before being commercialized. Conformity assessment and certification play an important role to achieve a good safety level on the EU market for the protection of workers and consumers. It is a way for the manufacturer to prove that hazards have been identified and risks are managed and to demonstrate his commitment to safety that are key to access to the EU market. To assist manufacturers in identifying the applicable regulations standards and procedures for putting their product on the market Ineris elaborated a guidebook [2] with financial and technical support by ADEME the French Agency for Ecological Transition and France Hydrogen the French Association for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells. The preparation of this document also led to identifying gaps in the Regulations Codes and Standards (RCS) framework and necessary resources for the implementation of the conformity assessment procedures. This paper first describes the main regulatory procedures applicable for various types of hydrogen systems. Then describes the role of the actors involved in this process with a special focus on the French context. And finally focuses on some of the gaps that were identified and formulates suggestions to address them.
Simulation of Coupled Power and Gas Systems with Hydrogen-Enriched Natural Gas
Nov 2021
Publication
Due to the increasing share of renewable energy sources in the electrical network the focus on decarbonization has extended into other energy sectors. The gas sector is of special interest because it can offer seasonal storage capacity and additional flexibility to the electricity sector. In this paper we present a new simulation method designed for hydrogen-enriched natural gas network simulation. It can handle different gas compositions and is thus able to accurately analyze the impact of hydrogen injections into natural gas pipelines. After describing the newly defined simulation method we demonstrate how the simulation tool can be used to analyze a hydrogen-enriched gas pipeline network. An exemplary co-simulation of coupled power and gas networks shows that hydrogen injections are severely constrained by the gas pipeline network highlighting the importance and necessity of considering different gas compositions in the simulation.
Delivering Clean Growth: CCUS Cost Challenge Taskforce Report
Jul 2018
Publication
An independent report by the CCUS Cost Challenge Taskforce setting out the industry’s view on how best to progress carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS) in the UK in order to enable the UK to have the option of deploying CCUS at scale during the 2030s subject to costs coming down sufficiently.
Transient Reversible Solid Oxide Cell Reactor Operation – Experimentally Validated Modeling and Analysis
Oct 2018
Publication
A reversible solid oxide cell (rSOC) reactor can operate efficiently in both electrolysis mode and in fuel cell mode. The bidirectional operability enables rSOC reactors to play a central role as an efficient energy conversion system for energy storage and sector coupling for a renewable energy driven society. A combined system for electrolysis and fuel cell operation can result in complex system configurations that should be able to switch between the two modes as quickly as possible. This can lead to temperature profiles within the reactor that can potentially lead to the failure of the reactor and eventually the system. Hence the behavior of the reactor during the mode switch should be analyzed and optimal transition strategies should be taken into account during the process system design stage. In this paper a one dimensional transient reversible solid oxide cell model was built and experimentally validated using a commercially available reactor. A simple hydrogen based system model was built employing the validated reactor model to study reactor behavior during the mode switch. The simple design leads to a system efficiency of 49% in fuel cell operation and 87% in electrolysis operation where the electrolysis process is slightly endothermic. Three transient operation strategies were studied. It is shown that the voltage response to transient operation is very fast provided the reactant flows are changed equally fast. A possible solution to ensure a safe mode switch by controlling the reactant inlet temperatures is presented. By keeping the rate of change of reactant inlet temperatures five to ten times slower than the mode switch a safe transition can be ensured.
Thermodynamic and Ecological Preselection of Synthetic Fuel Intermediates from Biogas at Farm Sites
Jan 2020
Publication
Background: Synthetic fuels based on renewable hydrogen and CO2 are a currently highly discussed piece of the puzzle to defossilize the transport sector. In this regard CO2 can play a positive role in shaping a sustainable future. Large potentials are available as a product of biogas production however occurring in small scales and in thin spatial distributions. This work aims to evaluate suitable synthetic fuel products to be produced at farm sites.<br/>Methods: A thermodynamic analysis to assess the energetic efficiency of synthesis pathways and a qualitative assessment of product handling issues is carried out.<br/>Results: Regarding the technical and safety-related advantages in storage liquid products are the superior option for fuel production at decentralized sites. Due to the economy of scale multi-stage synthesis processes lose economic performance with rising complexity. A method was shown which covers a principle sketch of all necessary reaction separation steps and all compression and heat exchanger units. The figures showed that methanol and butanol are the most suitable candidates in contrast to OME3-5 for implementation in existing transportation and fuel systems. These results were underpin by a Gibbs energy analysis.<br/>Conclusions: As long as safety regulations are met and the farm can guarantee safe storage and transport farm-site production for all intermediates can be realized technically. Ultimately this work points out that the process must be kept as simple as possible favoring methanol production at farm site and its further processing to more complicated fuels in large units for several fuel pathways.
Everything About Hydrogen Podcast: Highway to the Hydrogen Zone
May 2020
Publication
On this weeks episode the team discuss hydrogen for aviation with ZeroAvia. Val launched ZeroAvia to provide a genuinely zero emission flight proposition with two aircraft currently undergoing trials in California and the UK. The company is due to complete a 300 mile flight of its six seater aircraft from the Orkney islands to the Scottish mainland this summer 2020 with plans for twenty seat planes flying regional routes as early as 20205. On the show we discuss why Val set up ZeroAvia how the proposition stacks up against conventional alternatives infrastructure and plans for the future. All this and more on the show!
The podcast can be found on their website
The podcast can be found on their website
Everything About Hydrogen Podcast: Geopolitical Factors in Hydrogen Markets
Mar 2022
Publication
The EAH Team takes a break from standard format on this special episode of Everything About Hydrogen to discuss some of the geopolitical factors and considerations driving the evolution of global hydrogen markets.
The podcast can be found on their website
The podcast can be found on their website
Everything About Hydrogen Podcast: Going "Green"
May 2021
Publication
Founded in 2007 and based in Denmark Green Hydrogen Systems designs and manufactures efficient standardized and modular electrolysers for the production of green hydrogen with renewable energy. Niels-Arne Baden has led the company to the upper echelons of the electrolysis sector and he now leads the company's strategy and and public-facing initiatives as the Vice President for Strategy and Public Affairs. On this episode of the Everything About Hydrogen podcast the EAH team sits down with Niels to talk about the journey of the clean hydrogen sector over the recent decades and its rise to prominence in the transition to a decarbonized energy future and how modular electrolysis fits into that picture.
The podcast can be found on their website
The podcast can be found on their website
How Long Will Combustion Vehicles Be Used? Polish Transport Sector on the Pathway to Climate Neutrality
Nov 2021
Publication
Transformation of road transport sector through replacing of internal combustion vehicles with zero-emission technologies is among key challenges to achievement of climate neutrality by 2050. In a constantly developing economy the demand for transport services increases to ensure continuity in the supply chain and passenger mobility. Deployment of electric technologies in the road transport sector involves both businesses and households its pace depends on the technological development of zero-emission vehicles presence of necessary infrastructure and regulations on emission standards for new vehicles entering the market. Thus this study attempts to estimate how long combustion vehicles will be in use and what the state of the fleet will be in 2050. For obtainment of results the TR3E partial equilibrium model was used. The study simulates the future fleet structure in passenger and freight transport. The results obtained for Poland for the climate neutrality (NEU) scenario show that in 2050 the share of vehicles using fossil fuels will be ca. 30% in both road passenger and freight transport. The consequence of shifts in the structure of the fleet is the reduction of CO2 emissions ca. 80% by 2050 and increase of the transport demand for electricity and hydrogen.
Webinar to Launch New Hydrogen Economy - Hope or Hype?
Jun 2019
Publication
On 26 June the World Energy Council held a webinar presenting the results of its latest Innovation Insights Brief on hydrogen engaging three key experts on the topic:
Nigel Brandon Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Imperial College London
Craig Knight Director of Industrial Solutions Horizon Fuel Cell Technology
Dan Sadler H21 Project Manager for Equinor
During the webinar the experts answered a series of policy technical and safety questions from the audience. The webinar started with a poll to get a sense of which sectors attendees saw hydrogen playing a key role in 2040 - 77% chose industrial processes 54% mobility and 31% power generation. The questions ranged from the opportunities and limitations of blending hydrogen with natural gas to safety concerns surrounding hydrogen.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
How much hydrogen can be blended with natural gas depends on the rules and regulation of each country. The general consensus is that blending 10% by volume of hydrogen presents no safety concerns or specific difficulties. This would provide an opportunity to develop low hydrogen markets. Nevertheless blending should not be the end destination. It is not sufficient to meet carbon abatement targets.
Low carbon ammonia has a role to play in the new hydrogen economy. It is a proven and understood technology which is easier to move around the world and could be used directly as ammonia or cracked back into hydrogen.
One of the main focus today should be to replace grey hydrogen with green hydrogen in existing supply chains as there would be no efficiency losses in the process.
In China the push for hydrogen is transport-related. This is driven by air quality and energy independence concerns. In the next 10 years the full life cost of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) is expected to be lower than for internal combustion engines. This is due to the fact that FCEVs require less maintenance and that the residual value in the fuel cells is relatively high. At the end of life 95% of the platinum in fuel cells can be repurposed.
FCEVs should not be regarded as competing with battery electric vehicles they sit next to each other on product maps. FCEVs can benefit from the all of the advances in electric drive train systems and electric motors.
To close the webinar attendees were asked whether hydrogen was going through another hype cycle or if it was here to stay. 10% answered hype and 90% here to stay.
Nigel Brandon Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Imperial College London
Craig Knight Director of Industrial Solutions Horizon Fuel Cell Technology
Dan Sadler H21 Project Manager for Equinor
During the webinar the experts answered a series of policy technical and safety questions from the audience. The webinar started with a poll to get a sense of which sectors attendees saw hydrogen playing a key role in 2040 - 77% chose industrial processes 54% mobility and 31% power generation. The questions ranged from the opportunities and limitations of blending hydrogen with natural gas to safety concerns surrounding hydrogen.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
How much hydrogen can be blended with natural gas depends on the rules and regulation of each country. The general consensus is that blending 10% by volume of hydrogen presents no safety concerns or specific difficulties. This would provide an opportunity to develop low hydrogen markets. Nevertheless blending should not be the end destination. It is not sufficient to meet carbon abatement targets.
Low carbon ammonia has a role to play in the new hydrogen economy. It is a proven and understood technology which is easier to move around the world and could be used directly as ammonia or cracked back into hydrogen.
One of the main focus today should be to replace grey hydrogen with green hydrogen in existing supply chains as there would be no efficiency losses in the process.
In China the push for hydrogen is transport-related. This is driven by air quality and energy independence concerns. In the next 10 years the full life cost of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) is expected to be lower than for internal combustion engines. This is due to the fact that FCEVs require less maintenance and that the residual value in the fuel cells is relatively high. At the end of life 95% of the platinum in fuel cells can be repurposed.
FCEVs should not be regarded as competing with battery electric vehicles they sit next to each other on product maps. FCEVs can benefit from the all of the advances in electric drive train systems and electric motors.
To close the webinar attendees were asked whether hydrogen was going through another hype cycle or if it was here to stay. 10% answered hype and 90% here to stay.
Effect of Bipolar Plate Material on Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Performance
Mar 2022
Publication
Commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells can only materials provided its performance is closely related to existing technologies useful in commercial application. Other critical parameters like the utilization of cheaper materials should be taken into account during the manufacturing of the cell. A key component in the cell that has direct correlation to the cell perfor‐ mance is the flow plate. The weight coupled with cost of the cell revolves around the flow plate used in the manufacturing of the cell. This study explores materials ideal for the manufacturing of fuel cells in order to improve the overall cell performance. The investigation highlights the critical impact of varying materials used in the manufacturing of flow plates for PEM fuel cells. Stainless steel (SS) aluminium (Al) and copper (Cu) were the materials considered. The flow plate designs considered were serpentine and open pore cellular foam channel. Machine learning using python for the validation of the results with Linear regression Ridge regression and Polynomial regression algorithm was carried out. The performance of both flow field channels was compared using dif‐ ferent bipolar plate materials. The results show that metal foam flow channels overall performance was better than serpentine flow channels with all the various bipolar plate material used and Al material outperformed Cu and SS material. There is a direct correlation in terms of the outcome of the study and literature based on the data generated experimentally. It can however be concluded that molecules of hydrogen are stable on aluminium plates compared to copper and stainless steel
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Energy Flow Analysis in Real Driving Conditions (RDC)
Aug 2021
Publication
The search for fossil fuels substitutes forces the use of new propulsion technologies applied to means of transportation. Already widespread hybrid vehicles are beginning to share the market with hydrogen-powered propulsion systems. These systems are fuel cells or internal combustion engines powered by hydrogen fuel. In this context road tests of a hydrogen fuel cell drive were conducted under typical traffic conditions according to the requirements of the RDE test. As a result of the carried-out work energy flow conditions were presented for three driving phases (urban rural and motorway). The different contributions to the vehicle propulsion of the hydrogen system and the electric system in each phase of the driving route are indicated. The characteristic interaction of power train components during varying driving conditions was presented. A wide variation in the contribution of the fuel cell and the battery to the vehicle’s propulsion was identified. In urban conditions the share of the fuel cell in the vehicle’s propulsion is more than three times that contributed by the battery suburban—7 times highway—28 times. In the entire test the ratio of FC/BATT use was more than seven while the energy consumption was more than 22 kWh/100 km. The amounts of battery energy used and recovered were found to be very close to each other under RDE test conditions.
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