Publications

Purpose: The purpose of the hydrogen supply and demand data stream is to track changes in the structure of hydrogen supply capacity and demand in Europe. This report is mainly focused on presenting the current landscape that will allow for future year-on-year comparisons to assess the progress Europe is making with regards to deployment of clean hydrogen production capacity as well as development of demand for clean hydrogen from emerging new hydrogen applications in industry or mobility sectors. Scope: The following report contains data about hydrogen production capacity and consumption in EU countries together with Switzerland Norway Iceland and the United Kingdom. Hydrogen production capacity is presented by country and by production technology whereas the hydrogen consumption data is presented by country and by end-use sector. The analysis undertaken for this report was completed using data reflecting end of 2019. Key Findings: The current hydrogen market (on both the demand and supply side) is dominated by ammonia and refining industries with three countries (DE NL PL) responsible for almost half of hydrogen consumption. Hydrogen is overwhelmingly produced by reforming of fossil fuels (mostly natural gas). Clean hydrogen production capacities are currently insignificant with hydrogen produced from natural gas coupled with carbon capture at 0.5% and hydrogen produced from water electrolysis at 0.14% of total production capacity.

The most challenging aspect of developing a green hydrogen economy is long-distance oceanic transportation. Hydrogen liquefaction is a transportation alternative. However the cost and energy consumption for liquefaction is currently prohibitively high creating a major barrier to hydrogen supply chains. This paper proposes using solid nitrogen or oxygen as a medium for recycling cold energy across the hydrogen liquefaction supply chain. When a liquid hydrogen (LH2) carrier reaches its destination the regasification process of the hydrogen produces solid nitrogen or oxygen. The solid nitrogen or oxygen is then transported in the LH2 carrier back to the hydrogen liquefaction facility and used to reduce the energy consumption cooling gaseous hydrogen. As a result the energy required to liquefy hydrogen can be reduced by 25.4% using N2 and 27.3% using O2. Solid air hydrogen liquefaction (SAHL) can be the missing link for implementing a global hydrogen economy.

The UK is not ‘starting from zero’. We have an accelerating base of hydrogen technology supply chain companies a world-class scientific base and an array of demonstration projects.

The need is to prioritise and coordinate investment to build and scale hydrogen supply chains serving multiple markets domestically and internationally. This report provides an overview of UK capability in hydrogen technologies. It has been produced as a supporting report to The UK Hydrogen Innovation Opportunity.

This report can also be downloaded for free on the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative website.

This study conducts a techno-economic and environmental analysis to assess the viability and benefits of H2 production from food waste via hydrothermal gasification (HTG). Experimental results were used to examine the effects of critical parameters including temperature reaction time and catalyst use on H2 yield. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to explore the relationships among operational factors and to develop a mathematical model that forecasts various experimental outcomes. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was utilized to analyse the chemical properties of bio-oil. The most favourable parameters for this process are 350 °C and 18 MPa resulting in a maximum yield of 796 mL after 90 min. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) significantly enhances H2 production to approximately 800 cc surpassing the performance of other catalysts. FTIR analysis reveals the chemical complexity of biooil which presents promising prospects for sustainable fuel. Replacing 1.9 Mt of coal 1.3 Mt of diesel and 1.19 Mt of natural gas with H2 can result in a cost savings of M$ 228 by 2023. This comprehensive study offers a comprehensive perspective on implementing H2 energy through HTG technology.

Solar H2 production is considered as a potentially promising way to utilizesolar energy and tackle climate change stemming from the combustion of fossil fuels.Photocatalytic photoelectrochemical photovoltaic−electrochemical solar thermochem-ical photothermal catalytic and photobiological technologies are the most intensivelystudied routes for solar H2 production. In this Focus Review we provide a comprehensivereview of these technologies. After a brief introduction of the principles and mechanisms ofthese technologies the recent achievements in solar H2 production are summarized with aparticular focus on the high solar-to-H 2 (STH) conversion efficiency achieved by eachroute. We then comparatively analyze and evaluate these technologies based on the metricsof STH efficiency durability economic viability and environmental sustainability aimingto assess the commercial feasibility of these solar technologies compared with currentindustrial H 2 production processes. Finally the challenges and prospects of future researchon solar H2 production technologies are presented.

One of the emerging and environmentally friendly technologies is the photoelectrochemical generation of green hydrogen; however the cheap cost of production and the need for customizing photoelectrode properties are thought to be the main obstacles to the widespread adoption of this technology. The primary players in hydrogen production by photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting which is becoming more common on a worldwide basis are solar renewable energy and widely available metal oxide based PEC electrodes. This study attempts to prepare nanoparticulate and nanorod-arrayed films to better understand how nanomorphology can impact structural optical and PEC hydrogen production efficiency as well as electrode stability. Chemical bath deposition (CBD) and spray pyrolysis are used to create ZnO nanostructured photoelectrodes. Various characterization methods are used to investigate morphologies structures elemental analysis and optical characteristics. The crystallite size of the wurtzite hexagonal nanorod arrayed film was 100.8 nm for the (002) orientation while the crystallite size of nanoparticulate ZnO was 42.1 nm for the favored (101) orientation. The lowest dislocation values for (101) nanoparticulate orientation and (002) nanorod orientation are 5.6 × 10−4 and 1.0 × 10−4 dislocation/nm2 respectively. By changing the surface morphology from nanoparticulate to hexagonal nanorod arrangement the band gap is decreased to 2.99 eV. Under white and monochromatic light irradiation the PEC generation of H2 is investigated using the proposed photoelectrodes. The solar-to-hydrogen conversion rate of ZnO nanorod-arrayed electrodes was 3.72% and 3.12% respectively under 390 and 405 nm monochromatic light which is higher than previously reported values for other ZnO nanostructures. The output H2 generation rates for white light and 390 nm monochromatic illuminations were 28.43 and 26.11 mmol.h−1 cm−2 respectively. The nanorod-arrayed photoelectrode retains 96.6% of its original photocurrent after 10 reusability cycles compared to 87.4% for the nanoparticulate ZnO photoelectrode. The computation of conversion efficiencies H2 output rates Tafel slope and corrosion current as well as the application of low-cost design methods for the photoelectrodes show how the nanorod-arrayed morphology offers low-cost high-quality PEC performance and durability.

This study investigates the techno-economic feasibility of an off-grid integrated solar/wind/hydrokinetic plant to co-generate electricity and hydrogen for a remote micro-community. In addition to the techno-economic viability assessment of the proposed system via HOMER (hybrid optimization of multiple energy resources) a sensitivity analysis is conducted to ascertain the impact of ±10% fluctuations in wind speed solar radiation temperature and water velocity on annual electric production unmet electricity load LCOE (levelized cost of electricity) and NPC (net present cost). For this a far-off village with 15 households is selected as the case study. The results reveal that the NPC LCOE and LCOH (levelized cost of hydrogen) of the system are equal to $333074 0.1155 $/kWh and 4.59 $/kg respectively. Technical analysis indicates that the PV system with the rated capacity of 40 kW accounts for 43.7% of total electricity generation. This portion for the wind turbine and the hydrokinetic turbine with nominal capacities of 10 kW and 20 kW equates to 23.6% and 32.6% respectively. Finally the results of sensitivity assessment show that among the four variables only a +10% fluctuation in water velocity causes a 20% decline in NPC and LCOE.

In this study a techno-economic analysis tool for conducting detailed feasibility studies on the deployment of green hydrogen hubs for fuel cell bus fleets is developed. The study evaluates and compares five green hydrogen hub configurations’ operational and economic performance under a typical metropolitan bus fleet refuelling schedule. Each configuration differs based on its electricity sourcing characteristics such as the mix of energy sources capacity sizing financial structure and grid interaction. A detailed comparative analysis of distinct green hydrogen hub configurations for decarbonising a fleet of fuel-cell buses is conducted. Among the key findings is that a hybrid renewable electricity source and hydrogen storage are essential for cost-optimal operation across all configurations. Furthermore bi-directional grid-interactive configurations are the most costefficient and can benefit the electricity grid by flattening the duck curve. Lastly the paper highlights the potential for cost reduction when the fleet refuelling schedule is co-optimized with the green hydrogen hub electricity supply configuration.

Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in salt caverns is a sustainable energy solution to reduce global warming. Salt rocks provide an exceptional insulator to store natural hydrogen as they have low porosity and permeability. Nevertheless the salt creeping nature and hydrogeninduced impact on the operational infrastructure threaten the integrity of the injection/production wells. Furthermore the scarcity of global UHS initiatives indicates that investigations on well integrity remain insufficient. This study strives to profoundly detect the research gap and imperative considerations for well integrity preservation in UHS projects. The research integrates the salt critical characteristics the geomechanical and geochemical risks and the necessary measurements to maintain well integrity. The casing mechanical failure was found as the most challenging threat. Furthermore the corrosive and erosive effects of hydrogen atoms on cement and casing may critically put the well integrity at risk. The research also indicated that the simultaneous impact of temperature on the salt creep behavior and hydrogen-induced corrosion is an unexplored area that has scope for further research. This inclusive research is an up-to-date source for analysis of the previous advancements current shortcomings and future requirements to preserve well integrity in UHS initiatives implemented within salt caverns.

To meet environmental goals while maintaining economic competitiveness worldwide ports have increased the amount of renewable energy production and have focused in optimizing performances and energy efficiency. However carbon-neutral operation of industrial port areas (IPA) is challenging and requires the decarbonization of industrial processes and heavy transport systems. This study proposes a comprehensive review of decarbon ization strategies for IPA with a particular focus on the role that green hydrogen could play when used as renewable energy carrier. Much information on existing and future technologies was also derived from the analysis of 74 projects (existing and planned) in 36 IPAs 80 % of which are in Europe concerning hydrogenbased decarbonization strategies. The overall review shows that engine operation of ships at berth are respon sible of more than 70 % of emissions in ports. Therefore onshore power supply (OPS) seems to be one of the main strategies to reduce port pollution. Nevertheless OPS powered by hydrogen is not today easily achievable. By overcoming the current cost-related and regulation barriers hydrogen can also be used for the import/export of green energy and the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors. The technical and economic data regarding hydrogen-based technologies and strategies highlighted in this paper are useful for further research in the field of definition and development of decarbonization strategies in the IPA.