Publications

Hydrogen-induced steel embrittlement imposes a technical difficulty in facilitating effective and safe hydrogen transportation via pipelines. This investigative study assesses the potency of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)–graphene-based composite coatings in the inhibition of hydrogen permeation. Spin coating was the method selected for this study and varying graphene concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1wt% were selected and applied to 306 stainless steel substrates. A membrane permeation cell was used in the evaluation of hydrogen permeability while the impact of graphene loading on coating performance was analyzed using the response surface methodology (RSM). The outcomes showed an inversely proportional relationship between the graphene concentration and hydrogen ingress. The permeation coefficient for pure PVDF was recorded as 16.74 which decreased to 14.23 12.10 and 11.46 for 0.3 0.5 and 1.0 wt% PVDF-G respectively with the maximum reduction of 31.6% observed at 1.0 wt%. ANOVA established statistical significance along with indications of strong projection dependability. However the inhibition reduction stabilized with increasing graphene concentrations likely caused by nanoparticle agglomeration. The results support the notion of PVDF–graphene’s potential as a suitable coating for the transformation of pipelines for hydrogen transport infrastructure. This research will aid in the establishment of suitable contemporary barrier coating materials which will enable the safe utilization of hydrogen energy in the current energy transportation grid.

As a result of international agreements on the reduction of CO2 emissions new technologies using hydrogen are being developed. Hydrogen despite being the most abundant element in Nature cannot be found in its pure state. Water is one of the most abundant sources of hydrogen on the planet. The proposal here is to use energy from the sea in order to obtain hydrogen from water. If plants to obtain hydrogen were to be placed in the ocean the impact of long submarines piping to the coast will be reduced. Further this will open the way for the development of ships propelled by hydrogen. This paper discusses the feasibility of an offshore installation to obtain hydrogen from the sea using ocean wave energy.

Hydrogen specifications for different scenarios are various. Based on national standards for China a comparison of hydrogen specification standards is discussed in this paper including specification standards for industrial hydrogen pure hydrogen high pure hydrogen ultrapure hydrogen hydrogen for electronic industry and hydrogen for PEM FCVs. Hydrogen purity for electronic industry is greater than that for industrial hydrogen pure hydrogen and hydrogen for PEM FCVs. Specifications of general contaminants in hydrogen for electronic industry including H2O O2 N2 CO CO2 and total hydrocarbons are stricter than that in hydrogen for PEM FCVs. Hydrogen purity for PEM FCVs is less than that for electronic industry and pure hydrogen. However contaminants in hydrogen for PEM FCVs are strict. Contaminants in hydrogen for PEM FCVs should include not only H2O O2 N2 CO CO2 Ar and total hydrocarbons but also helium total sulfur compounds formaldehyde formic acid ammonia halogenated compounds and particulates.

Pipeline steel is highly susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement (HE) in hydrogen environments which compromises its structural integrity and operational safety. Existing studies have primarily focused on the degradation trends of mechanical properties in hydrogen environments but there remains a lack of quantitative failure prediction models. To investigate the failure behavior of X65 pipeline steel under hydrogen environments this paper utilized notched round bar specimens with three different radii and smooth round bar specimens to examine the effects of pre-charging time the coupled influence of stress triaxiality and hydrogen concentration and the coupled influence of strain rate and hydrogen concentration on the HE sensitivity of X65 pipeline steel. Fracture surface morphologies were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealing that hydrogen-enhanced localized plasticity (HELP) dominates failure mechanisms at low hydrogen concentrations while hydrogen-enhanced decohesion (HEDE) becomes dominant at high hydrogen concentrations. The results demonstrate that increasing stress triaxiality or decreasing strain rate significantly intensifies the HE sensitivity of X65 pipeline steel. Based on the experimental findings failure prediction models for X65 pipeline steel were developed under the coupled effects of hydrogen concentration and stress triaxiality as well as hydrogen concentration and strain rate providing theoretical support and mathematical models for the engineering application of X65 pipeline steel in hydrogen environments.

In a fully decarbonized global energy system hydrogen is likely to be one of few energy vectors that can facilitate long-distance export of renewable energy. However because of divergent literature findings consensus is yet to be reached on the total supply chain costs of shipping hydrogen either as a cryogenic liquid or ammonia. To this end this article presents a detailed process systems-based economic analysis of a typical hydrogen value chain in 2050 employing the method of elementary effects to quantify the effect of uncertainties. With expected landed costs for liquid hydrogen of $4.60 kg1 (H2) and ammonia of $3.30 kg1 (H2) the importance of uncertainty quantification is demonstrated given that specific parametric combinations can yield landed costs below $2.50 kg1 (H2). Given our delivered hydrogen cost of $4.70 kg1 (H2) these results demonstrate the stark difference between the aspirations of decarbonization policy (with some countries aiming for prices below $1 kg1 by 2050) and the present techno-economic reality.

The application of hydrogen in modern farming is transitioning from a conceptual idea to a practical reality poised to meet future agricultural machinery requirements and transition goals. Increasing tensions between farmers and various institutions underscore the growing sensitivity around fossil fuel dependency in the agricultural sector particularly in northern economies. This study investigates the economic feasibility of using decentralized hydrogen systems to fully replace fossil fuels in cereal crop farming across four agricultural zones. Specifically it examines the economic viability of on-farm hydrogen production using electrolysers to meet the fuel needs of different farm structures. Various scenarios were modelled to assess the impact of switching to hydrogen fuel for annual farm operations using Net Present Value (NPV) and Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) metrics for hydrogen refuelling facilities on distinct farm structures. The results indicate that economic feasibility is a significant challenge with LCOH reaching as high as 57 €/kg of hydrogen in some cases while the bestcase scenarios achieved LCOH as low as 7.5 €/kg. These figures remain significantly higher than those for diesel and alternative fuels such as methane FAME and HVO. The study also assessed strategies for reducing hydrogen production costs using low-cost electricity and maximizing plant efficiency by increasing the electrolyser utilization rate to 70%. Additionally the potential for revenue generation through the sale of by-products was explored. Our findings highlight both the challenges and opportunities associated with hydrogen use in agriculture emphasizing the critical role of access to renewable energy sources and the economic limitations of byproduct revenue streams. In conclusion while decentralized hydrogen production can contribute to emission reductions in cereal crop farming further research and policy support are essential to improve its feasibility and sustainability.

Hydrogen is a promising candidate for renewable energy storage and transportation due to its high energy density and zero carbon emissions. Its practical applications face challenges related to safe efficient storage and release systems. This review article investigates advanced nanostructured materials for hydrogen storage including metal acetylide and cyanide complexes BN-doped γ-graphyne nanotubes (γ-GNT) lithium-phosphide double helices and Ni-decorated carbon-based clusters. Density Functional Theory (DFT) based computations are used to analyze binding energies thermodynamic stability and adsorption mechanisms. Ni-decorated C12N12 nanoclusters demonstrate enhanced storage capacities binding up to eight H2 molecules with a favorable N-(μ-Ni)-N configuration. Lithium-phosphide double helices show potential for 9.6 wt% hydrogen storage within a stable semiconducting framework. Functionalization of γ-GNT with OLi2 at boron-doped sites significantly enhances storage potential achieving optimal hydrogen binding energies for practical applications. Additionally metal acetylide and cyanide complexes stabilized by noble gas insertion display thermodynamically favorable hydrogen adsorption. These results highlight the potential of these functionalized nanostructures for achieving high-capacity reversible hydrogen storage. The nanostructures in this study such as γ-graphyne nanotubes (γ-GNT) lithium-phosphide double helices metal acetylide and cyanide complexes and Ni-decorated carbon-based clusters are selected based on their ability to exhibit complementary hydrogen adsorption mechanisms including physisorption and chemisorption. γ-GNT offers high surface area and tunable electronic properties ideal for physisorption enhanced by heteroatom doping. Lithium-phosphide double helices facilitate Kubas-like chemisorption through unsaturated lithium centers. Metal acetylide and cyanide complexes stabilize hydrogen adsorption via charge transfer and conjugated frameworks while Ni-decorated clusters combine polarization-induced physisorption. These materials represent a strategic approach to addressing the challenges of hydrogen storage through diverse and synergistic mechanisms. The review also addresses challenges and outlines future directions to advance hydrogen’s role as a sustainable fuel.

As hydrogen emerges as a pivotal energy carrier in the global transition towards net-zero emissions addressing its technological and regulatory challenges is essential for large-scale deployment. The widespread adoption of hydrogen technologies requires extensive research technical advancements validation testing and certification to ensure their efficiency reliability and safety across various applications including industrial processes power generation and transportation. This study provides an overview of key enabling technologies for green hydrogen production and distribution highlighting the critical challenges that must be overcome to facilitate their widespread adoption. It examines key hydrogen use cases across multiple sectors analysing their associated technical and infrastructural challenges. The technological advancements required to improve hydrogen production storage transportation and end-use applications are discussed. The development of state-of-the-art testing and validation facilities is also assessed as these are vital for ensuring safety performance and regulatory compliance. This work also reviews some of the ongoing academic and industrial initiatives in the UK aimed at promoting technological innovation advancing hydrogen expertise and developing world-class testing infrastructures. This study emphasises the need for stronger more integrated collaboration between universities industries and certifying bodies for building a strong network that promotes knowledge sharing standardisation and innovation for expanding hydrogen solutions and creating a sustainable hydrogen economy.

Brazil has emerged as one of the global leaders in adopting renewable energy standing out in the implementation of onshore wind energy and more recently in the development of future offshore wind energy projects. Onshore wind energy has experienced exponential growth in the last decade positioning Brazil as one of the countries with the largest installed capacity in the world by 2023 with 30 GW. Wind farms are mainly concentrated in the northeast region where winds are constant and powerful enabling efficient and cost-competitive generation. Although in its early stages offshore wind energy presents significant potential of 1228 GW due to Brazil’s extensive coastline which exceeds 7000 km. Offshore wind projects promise greater generating capacity and stability as offshore winds are more constant than onshore winds. However their development faces challenges such as high initial costs environmental impacts on marine ecosystems and the need for specialized infrastructure. From a sustainability perspective this article discusses that both types of wind energy are key to Brazil’s energy transition. They reduce dependence on fossil fuels generate green jobs and foster technological innovation. However it is crucial to implement policies that foster synergy with green hydrogen production and minimize socio-environmental impacts such as impacts on local communities and biodiversity. Finally the article concludes that by 2050 Brazil is expected to consolidate its leadership in renewable energy by integrating advanced technologies such as larger more efficient turbines energy storage systems and green hydrogen production. The combination of onshore and offshore wind energy and other renewable sources could position the country as a global model for a clean sustainable and resilient energy mix.

Hydrogen mobility is expected to be a crucial element in decarbonizing fossil fuel-based transportation. In South Korea hydrogen mobility has successfully formed an early market led by fuel cell passenger cars under strong support policies. Nevertheless the fuel cell vehicle (FCV) market is still in its infancy and current challenges must be overcome to achieve mass-market adoption. This study aims to identify the current challenges in the diffusion of FCVs in Korea. We identified the key challenges facing FCVs from a consumer perspective with data from the latest FCV customer survey. The data were applied to estimate ordered logit models of fuel cell car satisfaction and purchase intention. Significant challenges in Korea were identified from the perspective of vehicles infrastructure and renewable energy. Vehicle-related challenges include concerns about vehicle durability such as recalls and repairs and maintenance and repair costs. Infrastructure-related challenges include the fueling accessibility and fueling failures due to hydrogen refueling station facility failures or hydrogen supply problems. Challenges related to renewable energy include the low proportion of hydrogen from renewable sources. To achieve the large-scale diffusion of FCVs it is important to maintain support policies and attract new FCV demand such as long-distance heavy-duty vehicles.