Publications
Integrated Energy Storage and Transmission Solutions: Evaluating hydrogen, Ammonia, and Compressed Air for Offshore Wind Power Delivery
Mar 2025
Publication
This paper introduces a novel dual-purpose transmission system that integrates power transmission and energy storage using hydrogen ammonia and compressed air—an area largely unexplored in the literature. Unlike conventional cable transmission which requires separate storage infrastructure the proposed approach leverages the transmission medium itself as an energy storage solution enhancing system efficiency and reducing costs. By incorporating a defined storage allocation factor this study examines the delivery of offshore-generated power to onshore locations calculating the necessary media flow rates and evaluating the required transportation infrastructure including tunnels and pipelines. A comparative cost-effectiveness analysis is conducted to determine optimal conditions under which storage-integrated transmission outperforms conventional cable transmission. Various transmission powers storage fractions pressures and distances are analysed to assess feasibility and economic viability. The findings indicate that for a 75 % storage allocation factor compressed air can transmit up to 450 MW over 300 km more cost-effectively than cables while hydrogen enables 230 MW transmission beyond 310 km. Ammonia proves to be the most efficient facilitating the transmission of over 2000 MW across distances exceeding 140 km at a lower cost than cables all without requiring onshore storage. Moreover for a 500-km transmission line compressed air hydrogen and ammonia can store the equivalent of 62 58 and 152 h of wind farm output respectively significantly reducing the need for additional onshore storage. This study fills a critical research gap by optimizing offshore wind power delivery through an innovative cost-effective and scalable transmission and storage approach.
Synergies Between Green Hydrogen and Renewable Energy in South Africa
Aug 2025
Publication
South Africa has excellent conditions for renewable energy generation making it well placed to produce green hydrogen for both domestic use and export. In building a green hydrogen economy around export markets it will face competition from countries with equivalent or better resources and/or that are located closer to export markets (e.g. in North Africa and the Middle East) or have lower capital costs (developed markets like Australia and Canada). South Africa however has an extensive energy system with unserved electricity demand. The ability to trade electricity with the national grid (feeding into the grid during times of peak dedicated renewable energy supply and extracting from the grid during times of low dedicated renewable energy availability) could reduce the cost of producing green hydrogen by as much as 10–25 %. This paper explores the opportunity for South African green hydrogen producers presented by the electricity supply crisis that has been ongoing since 2007. It highlights the potential for a mutually reinforcing growth cycle between renewable energy and green hydrogen to be established which will contribute not only to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions but to the local economy and broader society.
Progress on Research and Application of Energy and Power Systems for Inland Waterway Vessels: A Case Study of the Yangtze River in China
Aug 2025
Publication
This study focuses on the power systems of inland waterway vessels in Chinese Yangtze River systematically outlining the low-carbon technology pathways for different power system types. A comparative analysis is conducted on the technical feasibility emission reduction potential and economic viability of LNG methanol ammonia pure electric and hybrid power systems revealing the bottlenecks hindering the large-scale application of each system. Key findings indicate that: (1) LNG and methanol fuels offer significant short-term emission reductions in internal combustion engine power systems yet face constraints from methane slip and insufficient green methanol production capacity respectively; (2) ammonia enables zero-carbon operations but requires breakthroughs in combustion stability and synergistic control of NOX; (3) electric vessels show high decarbonization potential but battery energy density limits their range while PEMFC lifespan constraints and SOFC thermal management deficiencies impede commercialization; (4) hybrid/range-extended power systems with superior energy efficiency and lower retrofitting costs serve as transitional solutions for existing vessels though challenged by inadequate energy management strategies and multi-equipment communication protocol interoperability. A phased transition pathway is proposed: LNG/methanol engines and hybrid systems dominate during 2025–2030; ammonia-powered systems and solid-state batteries scale during 2030–2035; post-2035 operations achieve zero-carbon shipping via green hydrogen/ammonia.
Hydrogen Mole Fraction Distributions Inferred from Inverse-LIF Measurements on High-pressure Hydrogen Injections
Oct 2025
Publication
The mixing of fuel and ambient in a compression-igniting combustion engine is a critical process affecting ignition delay burn duration and cycle efficiency. This study aims to visualize and quantify hydrogen mole fraction distributions resulting from high-pressure (10 MPa) hydrogen injections into an inert pressurized (1 MPa) nitrogen ambient at room temperature. Using inverse planar laser-induced fluorescence in which the ambient rather than the jet is seeded with a fluorescent tracer two different injectors (nozzle hole sizes of 0.55 and 0.65 mm) and two different tracers (toluene and acetone) are compared. It is concluded that a non-intensified CCD camera for fluorescence detection is superior to the use of an intensified one due to the linear behavior on contrast. The two injectors produce similar jets in terms of jet penetration and angle. Jet penetration derived from inverse-LIF measurements agree with Schlieren data on nominally the same jets but the hydrogen mole fractions are generally 2.5-5 percent lower than those obtained by planar Rayleigh scattering. Quasi-steadiness and self-similarity were found for ensemble-averaged mole fraction distributions of both injectors which aligns with theory and highlights the importance of using RANS simulations or time-averaged experiments for future comparisons.
Multi-Fuel SOFC System Modeling for Ship Propulsion: Comparative Performance Analysis and Feasibility Assessment of Ammonia, Methanol and Hydrogen as Marine Fuels
Oct 2025
Publication
To reduce fossil fuel dependency in shipping adopting alternative fuels and innovative propulsion systems is essential. Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) powered by hydrogen carriers represent a promising solution. This study investigates a multi-fuel SOFC system for ocean-going vessels capable of operating with ammonia methanol or hydrogen thus enhancing bunkering flexibility. A thermodynamic model is developed to simulate the performance of a 3 kW small-scale system subsequently scaling up to a 10 MW configuration to meet the power demand of a container ship used as the case study. Results show that methanol is the most efficient fueling option reaching a system efficiency of 58% while ammonia and hydrogen reach slightly lower values of about 55% and 51% respectively due to higher auxiliary power consumption. To assess technical feasibility two installation scenarios are considered for accommodating multiple fuel tanks. The first scenario seeks the optimal fuel share equivalent to the diesel tank’s chemical energy (17.6 GWh) minimizing mass increase. The second scenario optimizes the fuel share within the available tank volume (1646 m3 ) again minimizing mass penalties. In both cases feasibility results have highlighted that changes are needed in terms of cargo reduction equal to 20.3% or alternatively in terms of lower autonomy with an increase in refueling stops. These issues can be mitigated by the benefits of increased bunkering flexibility
Quantifying Natural Hydrogen Generation Rates and Volumetric Potential in Onshore Serpentinization
Mar 2025
Publication
This study explores the generation of natural hydrogen through the serpentinization of onshore ultramafic rocks highlighting its potential as a clean energy resource. By investigating critical factors such as mineral composition temperature and pressure the research develops an empirical model using multiple regression analysis to predict hydrogen generation rates under varying geological conditions. A novel five-stage volumetric calculation methodology is introduced to estimate hydrogen production from ultramafic rock bodies. The application of this framework to the Giles Complex an ultramafic-mafic intrusion in Australia suggests a hydrogen generation potential of approximately 2.24 × 1013 kg of hydrogen through partial serpentinization. This estimate is based on the assumed mineral composition depth and temperature conditions within the intrusion which influence the extent of serpentinization reactions. The findings demonstrate the significant potential of ultramafic complexes for natural hydrogen production and provide a foundation for advancing natural hydrogen exploration refining predictive models and supporting sustainable energy development.
The Link Between Microstructural Heterogeneity and Hydrogen Redistribution
Jul 2025
Publication
Green hydrogen is likely to play a major role in decarbonising the aviation industry. It is crucial to understand the effects of microstructure on hydrogen redistribution which may be implicated in the embrittlement of candidate fuel system metals. We have developed a multiscale finite element modelling framework that integrates micromechanical and hydrogen transport models such that the dominant microstructural effects can be efficiently accounted for at millimetre length scales. Our results show that microstructure has a significant effect on hydrogen localisation in elastically anisotropic materials which exhibit an interesting interplay between microstructure and millimetre-scale hydrogen redistribution at various loading rates. Considering 316L stainless steel and nickel a direct comparison of model predictions against experimental hydrogen embrittlement data reveals that the reported sensitivity to loading rate may be strongly linked with rate-dependent grain scale diffusion. These findings highlight the need to incorporate microstructural characteristics in hydrogen embrittlement models.
Modeling and Simulation of Coupled Biochemical and Two-phase Compositional Flow in Underground Hydrogen Storage
Aug 2025
Publication
Integrating microbial activity into underground hydrogen storage models is crucial for simulating longterm reservoir behavior. In this work we present a coupled framework that incorporates bio-geochemical reactions and compositional flow models within the Matlab Reservoir Simulation Toolbox (MRST). Microbial growth and decay are modeled using a double Monod formulation with populations influenced by hydrogen and carbon dioxide availability. First a refined Equation of State (EoS) is employed to accurately capture hydrogen dissolution thereby improving phase behavior and modeling of microbial activity. The model is then discretized using a cell-centered finite-volume method with implicit Euler time discretization. A fully coupled fully implicit strategy is considered. Our implementation builds upon MRST’s compositional module by incorporating the Søreide–Whitson EoS microbial reaction kinetics and specific effects such as bio-clogging and molecular diffusion. Through a series of 1D 2D and 3D simulations we analyze the effects of microbialinduced bio-geochemical transformations on underground hydrogen storage in porous media.These results highlight that accounting for bio-geochemical effects can substantially impact hydrogen loss purity and overall storage performance.
Comprehensive Review of Emerging Trends in Thermal Energy Storage Mechanisms, Materials and Applications
Aug 2025
Publication
Thermal energy storage (TES) technologies are emerging as key enablers of sustainable energy systems by providing flexibility and efficiency in managing thermal resources across diverse applications. This review comprehensively examines the latest advancements in TES mechanisms materials and structural designs including sensible heat latent heat and thermochemical storage systems. Recent innovations in nano-enhanced phase change materials (PCMs) hybrid TES configurations and intelligent system integration are highlighted. The role of advanced computational methods such as digital twins and AI-based optimization in enhancing TES performance is also explored. Applications in renewable energy systems industrial processes district heating networks and green hydrogen production are discussed along with associated challenges and future research directions. This review aims to synthesize current knowledge while identifying pathways for accelerating the development and practical deployment of next-generation TES technologies.
Feasibility of Using Rainwater for Hydrogen Production via Electrolysis: Experimental Evaluation and Ionic Analysis
Oct 2025
Publication
This study evaluates the feasibility of employing rainwater as an alternative feedstock for hydrogen production via electrolysis. While conventional systems typically rely on high-purity water—such as deionized or distilled variants—these can be cost-prohibitive and environmentally intensive. Rainwater being naturally available and minimally treated presents a potential sustainable alternative. In this work a series of comparative experiments was conducted using a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer system operating with both deionized water and rainwater collected from different Austrian locations. The chemical composition of rainwater samples was assessed through inductively coupled plasma ion chromatography and visual rapid tests to identify impurities and ionic profiles. The electrolyzer’s performance was evaluated under equivalent operating conditions. Results indicate that rainwater in some cases yielded comparable or marginally superior efficiency compared to deionized water attributed to its inherent ionic content. The study also examines the operational risks linked to trace contaminants and explores possible strategies for their mitigation.
Hydrogen-Based Solutions for Enhancing Frequency Stability in Renewable Energy-Integrated Power Systems
Mar 2025
Publication
With the increasing adoption of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power it is essential to achieve carbon neutrality. However several shortcomings including their intermittence pose significant challenges to the stability of the electrical grid. This study explores hydrogen-based technologies such as fuel cells and water electrolysis systems as an effective solution to improve frequency stability and address the problems of power grid reliability. Using power system analysis programs modeling and simulations performed on IEEE-25 Bus and Jeju Island systems demonstrate the potential of these technologies to mitigate reductions reduce transmission constraints and stabilize frequencies. The results show that hydrogen-based systems are important factors enabling sustainable energy transition.
Market Readiness Analysis: Expected Uptake of Alternative Fuel Heavy-duty Vehicles until 2030 and their Corresponding Infrastructure Needs
Jun 2025
Publication
This report assesses the market readiness of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles and the required infrastructure to meet the 45% emission reduction targets set by the revised CO2 standards by 2030. Achieving these goals requires the widespread adoption of zero-emission vehicles and a robust recharging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure Three main aspects are investigated: the market readiness of the vehicles considering both the demand and supply side the corresponding infrastructure requirements and the barriers. Building on the inputs of the stakeholders a ‘study scenario’ is developed. This scenario shows a concrete picture of what the zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle fleet and its infrastructure requirement could look like by 2030. There are however key barriers that need to be overcome such as high total cost of ownership limited electricity grid capacity lengthy permitting processes and uncertainty in hydrogen availability and pricing. Stakeholders also emphasize the importance of policy drivers such as emissions trading systems and tolling and tax reforms to stimulate demand. In conclusion achieving the 2030 targets demands a coordinated approach involving manufacturers operators and policymakers to address infrastructure gaps market barriers and policy incentives ensuring the transition to a zero-emission HDV fleet.
Design and Analysis of Small‑Scale Hydrogen Valleys Success Factors: A Stratified Network‑Based Hybrid Fuzzy Approach
Sep 2025
Publication
Hydrogen energy one of the renewable energy sources plays a crucial role in combating climate change since its usage aims to reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy security. As the global energy trend moves toward cleaner alternatives countries start to adapt their energy strategies. In this transition hydrogen is one of the energy sources with the potential to increase long-term energy security. Developing countries face challenges such as high energy import dependency rising industrial demand and the need for infrastructure modernization making hydrogen valleys one of the viable solutions since they integrate hydrogen production storage distribution and utilization at one facility. However establishing small-scale hydrogen valleys requires a comprehensive decision-making strategy consisting of technical financial environmental social and political factors while addressing uncertainties in the system. To systematically manage the process this study proposes a Z-numberbased fuzzy cognitive mapping approach which models the interdependencies among success factors supported by Z-number Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory for structured prioritization with a multi-expert perspective. The results indicate that Financial Factors emerged as the most critical category with Government Incentives Infrastructure Investment Cost and Land Acquisition Cost ranking as the top three sub-success factors. Availability of Skilled Workforce and Regional Energy Supply followed in importance which demonstrates the importance of social and technical dimensions in the hydrogen valley development. These findings demonstrate the critical role of policy support infrastructure readiness and workforce availability in the design process. Sensitivity analyses are also conducted to present robustness of the given decisions for the analysis of the results. Based on the results and analyses possible implications based on the policy and practical dimensions are also discussed. By integrating fuzzy logic and Z-numbers the study aims to minimize loss of information enhances the analytical background for decision-making and provides a strategic roadmap for hydrogen valley development.
A Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Framework for Sustainability Assessment of Wind–Hydrogen Energy Projects: Method and Case Application
Oct 2025
Publication
This study develops a comprehensive framework for assessing the sustainability performance of wind power systems integrated with hydrogen storage (WPCHS). Unlike previous works that mainly emphasized economic or environmental indicators our approach incorporates a balanced set of economic environmental and social criteria supported by expert evaluation. To address the uncertainty in human judgment we introduce an interval-valued fuzzy TOPSIS model that provides a more realistic representation of expert assessments. A case study in Manjil Iran demonstrates the application of the model highlighting that project A4 outperforms other alternatives. The findings show that both economic factors (e.g. levelized cost of energy) and social aspects (e.g. poverty alleviation) strongly influence project rankings. Compared with earlier studies in Europe and the Middle East this work contributes by extending the evaluation scope beyond financial and environmental metrics to include social sustainability thereby enhancing decision-making relevance for policymakers and investors.
Capacity Configuration and Benefit Assessment of Deep-Sea Wind–Hydrogen System Considering Dynamic Hydrogen Price
Sep 2025
Publication
Against the backdrop of the global transition towards clean energy deep-sea wind-power hydrogen production integrates offshore wind with green hydrogen technology. Addressing the technical coupling complexity and the impact of uncertain hydrogen prices this paper develops a capacity optimization model. The model incorporates floating wind turbine output the technical distinctions between alkaline (ALK) electrolyzers and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers and the synergy with energy storage. Under three hydrogen price scenarios the results demonstrate that as the price increases from 26 CNY/kg to 30 CNY/kg the optimal ALK capacity decreases from 2.92 MW to 0.29 MW while the PEM capacity increases from 3.51 MW to 5.51 MW. Correspondingly the system’s Net Present Value (NPV) exhibits an upward trend. To address the limitations of traditional methods in handling multi-dimensional benefit correlations and information ambiguity a comprehensive benefit evaluation framework encompassing economic technical environmental and social synergies was constructed. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the comprehensive benefit level falls within a relatively high-efficiency interval. The numerical characteristics an entropy value of 3.29 and a hyper-entropy of 0.85 demonstrate compact result distribution and robust stability validating the applicability and stability of the proposed offshore wind–hydrogen benefit assessment model.
Sustainable Aviation Fuels: A Review of Current Techno Economic Viability and Life Cycle Impacts
Oct 2025
Publication
M. N. Uddin and
Feng Wang
Australia has set a new climate target of reducing emissions by 62–70% below 2005 levels by 2035 with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) central to achieving this goal. This review critically examines techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) of Powerto-Liquid (PtL) electrofuels (e-fuels) which synthesize atmospheric CO2 and renewable hydrogen (H2) via Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis. Present PtL pathways require ~0.8 kg of H2 and 3.1 kg of CO2 per kg SAF with ~75% kerosene yield. While third-generation feedstocks could cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 93% (as low as 8 gCO2e/MJ) real world reductions have been limited (~1.5%) due to variability in technology rollout and feedstock variability. Integrated TEA–LCA studies demonstrate up to 20% energy efficiency improvements and 40% cost reductions but economic viability demands costs below $3/kg. In Australia abundant solar resources vast transport networks and supportive policy frameworks present both opportunities and challenges. This review provides the first comprehensive assessment of PtL-FT SAF for Australian conditions highlighting that large-scale development will require technological advancement feedstock development infrastructure investment and coordinated policy support.
Risk Assessment of Offshore Wind–Solar–Current Energy Coupling Hydrogen Production Project Based on Hybrid Weighting Method and Aggregation Operator
Oct 2025
Publication
Under the dual pressures of global climate change and energy structure transition the offshore wind–solar–current energy coupling hydrogen production (OCWPHP) system has emerged as a promising integrated energy solution. However its complex multi-energy structure and harsh marine environment introduce systemic risks that are challenging to assess comprehensively using traditional methods. To address this we develop a novel risk assessment framework based on hesitant fuzzy sets (HFS) establishing a multidimensional risk criteria system covering economic technical social political and environmental aspects. A hybrid weighting method integrating AHP entropy weighting and consensus adjustment is proposed to determine expert weights while minimizing risk information loss. Two aggregation operators—AHFOWA and AHFOWG—are applied to enhance uncertainty modeling. A case study of an OCWPHP project in the East China Sea is conducted with the overall risk level assessed as “Medium.” Comparative analysis with the classical Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT) method shows that our approach yields a risk value of 0.4764 closely aligning with the CPT result of 0.4745 thereby confirming the feasibility and credibility of the proposed framework. This study provides both theoretical support and practical guidance for early-stage risk assessment of OCWPHP projects.
A Comparative Study of Alternative Polymer Binders for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Aug 2025
Publication
Given the economic industrial and environmental value of green dihydrogen (H2) optimization of water electrolysis as a means of producing H2 is essential. Binders are a crucial component of electrocatalysts yet they remain largely underdeveloped with a significant lack of standardization in the field. Therefore targeted research into the development of alternative binder systems is essential for advancing performance and consistency. Binders essentially act as the key to regulating the electrode (support)–catalyst–electrolyte interfacial junctions and contribute to the overall reactivity of the electrocatalyst assembly. Therefore alternative binders were explored with a focus on cost efficiency and environmental compatibility striving to achieve desirable activity and stability. Herein the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was investigated and the sluggish water dissociation step was targeted. Controlled hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol)-based hydrogel binders were designed for this application. Three hydrogel binders were evaluated without incorporated electrocatalysts namely PVA145 PVA145-blend-bPEI1.8 and PVA145-blend-PPy. Interestingly the study revealed that the hydrophilicity of the binders exhibited an enhancing effect on the observed activity resulting in improved performance compared to the commercial binder Nafion™. Notably the PVA145 system stands out with an overpotential of 224 mV at−10 mA·cm−2 (geometric) in 1.0 M KOH compared to the 238 mV exhibited by Nafion™. Inclusion of Pt as active material in PVA145 as binder exhibited a synergistic increase in performance achieving a mass activity of 1.174 A.cm−2.mg−1 Pt in comparison to Nafion™’s 0.344 A.cm−2.mg−1 Pt measured at−150 mV vs RHE. Our research aimed to contribute to the development of cost-effective and efficient binder systems stressing the necessity to challenge the dominance of the commercially available binders.
AI-driven Advances in Composite Materials for Hydrogen Storage Vessels: A Review
Sep 2025
Publication
This review provides a comprehensive examination of artificial intelligence methods applied to the design optimization and performance prediction of composite-based hydrogen storage vessels with a focus on composite overwrapped pressure vessels. Targeted at researchers engineers and industrial stakeholders in materials science mechanical engineering and renewable energy sectors the paper aims to bridge traditional mechanical modeling with evolving AI tools while emphasizing alignment with standardization and certification requirements to enhance safety efficiency and lifecycle integration in hydrogen infrastructure. The review begins by introducing HSV types their material compositions and key design challenges including high-pressure durability weight reduction hydrogen embrittlement leakage prevention and environmental sustainability. It then analyzes conventional approaches such as finite element analysis multiscale modeling and experimental testing which effectively address aspects like failure modes fracture strength liner damage dome thickness winding angle effects crash behavior crack propagation charging/discharging dynamics burst pressure durability reliability and fatigue life. On the other hand it has been shown that to optimize and predict the characteristics of hydrogen storage vessels it is necessary to combine the conventional methods with artificial intelligence methods as conventional methods often fall short in multi-objective optimization and rapid predictive analytics due to computational intensity and limitations in handling uncertainty or complex datasets. To overcome these gaps the paper evaluates hybrid frameworks that integrate traditional techniques with AI including machine learning deep learning artificial neural networks evolutionary algorithms and fuzzy logic. Recent studies demonstrate AI’s efficacy in failure prediction design optimization to mitigate structural risks structural health monitoring material property evaluation burst pressure forecasting crack detection composite lay-up arrangement weight minimization material distribution enhancement metal foam ratio optimization and optimal material selection. By synthesizing these advancements this work underscores AI’s potential to accelerate development reduce costs and improve HSV performance while advocating for physics-informed models robust datasets and regulatory alignment to facilitate industrial adoption.
Biohydrogen Production from Industrial Waste: The Role of Pretreatment Methods
Oct 2025
Publication
This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of dark fermentation in biohydrogen production from agro-industrial wastes including apple pomace brewer’s grains molasses and potato powder subjected to different pretreatment methods. The experiments were conducted at a laboratory scale using 1000 cm3 anaerobic reactors at a temperature of 35 ◦C and anaerobic sludge as the inoculum. The highest yield of hydrogen was obtained from pre-treated apple pomace (101 cm3/g VS). Molasses a less complex substrate compared to the other raw materials produced 25% more hydrogen yield following pretreatment. Methanogens are sensitive to high temperatures and low-pH conditions. Nevertheless methane constituted 1–6% of the total biogas under these conditions. The key factor was appropriate treatment of the inoculum to limit competition from methanogens. Increasing the inoculum dose from 150 cm3/dm3 to 250 cm3/dm3 had no further effect on biogas production. The physicochemical parameters and VFA data confirmed the stability and usefulness of activated sludge as a source of microbial cultures for H2 production via dark fermentation.
Sustainable Refining: Integrating Renewable Energy and Advanced Technologies
Aug 2025
Publication
Crude oil distillation is one of the most energy-intensive processes in petroleum refining consuming up to 20% of total refinery energy. Improving the energy efficiency of crude distillation units (CDUs) is essential for reducing costs lowering emissions and achieving sustainable refining. Current studies often examine energy savings operational flexibility or renewable energy integration separately. This review brings these aspects together focusing on heat integration advanced control systems and renewable energy options such as solar-assisted preheating and green hydrogen. Advanced column designs including dividing-wall and hybrid systems can cut energy use by 15–30% while AI-based optimization improves process stability and flexibility. Solar-assisted preheating can reduce fossil fuel demand by up to 20% and green hydrogen offers strong potential for decarbonization. Our findings highlight that integrated strategies including advanced simulation tools and machine learning significantly improve CDU performance. We recommend exploring hybrid algorithms renewable energy integration and sustainable technologies to address these challenges and achieve long-term environmental and economic benefits.
Modeling and Optimization Control of SOEC with Flexible Adjustment Capabilities
Jul 2025
Publication
Due to the random fluctuations in power experienced by high-temperature green electric hydrogen production systems further deterioration of spatial distribution characteristics such as temperature voltage/current and material concentration inside the solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) stack may occur. This has a negative impact on the system’s flexibility and the corresponding control capabilities. In this paper based on the SOEC electrolytic cell model a comprehensive optimization method using an adaptive incremental Kriging surrogate model is proposed. The reliability of this method is verified by accurately analyzing the dynamic performance of the SOEC and the spatial characteristics of various physical quantities. Additionally a thermal dynamic analysis is performed on the SOEC and an adaptive time-varying LPV-MPC optimization control method is established to ensure the temperature stability of the electrolysis cell stack aiming to maintain a stable efficient and sustainable SOEC operation. The simulation analysis of SOEC hydrogen production adopting a variable load operation has demonstrated the advantages of this method over conventional PID control in stabilizing the temperature of the stack. It allows for a rapid adjustment in the electrolysis voltage and current and improves electrolysis efficiency. The results highlighted that the increase in the electrolysis load increases the current density while the water vapor electrolysis voltage and H2 flow rate significantly decrease. Finally the SOEC electrolytic hydrogen production module is introduced for optimization scheduling of energy consumption in Xinjiang China. The findings not only confirmed that the SOEC can transition to the current load operating point at each scheduling period but also demonstrated higher effectiveness in stabilizing the stack temperature and improving electrolysis efficiency.
Influence of Hydrogen-Based Direct Reduction Shaft Furnace Interior Structure on Shaft Furnace Performance
Oct 2025
Publication
Hydrogen-based direct reduction of iron ore is a promising route to reduce CO2 emissions in steelmaking where uniform particle flow inside shaft furnaces is essential for efficient operation. In this study a full-scale three-dimensional Discrete Element Method (DEM) model of a shaft furnace was developed to investigate the effects of a diverter device on granular flow. By systematically varying the radial width and top/bottom diameters of the diverter particle descent velocity residence time compressive force distribution and collision energy dissipation were analyzed. The results demonstrate that introducing a diverter effectively suppresses funnel flow prolongs residence time and improves radial flow uniformity. Among the tested configurations the smaller central diameter diverter showed the most favorable performance achieving a faster and more uniform descent reduced compressive force concentration and lower collision energy dissipation. These findings highlight the critical role of diverter design in regulating particle dynamics and provide theoretical guidance for optimizing shaft furnace structures to enhance the efficiency of hydrogen-based direct reduction processes.
Zero-emission Traction for Rail
Jul 2025
Publication
Replacing the energy density and convenience of diesel fuel for all forms of fossil fuel-powered trains presents significant challenges. Unlike the traditional evolutions of rail which has largely self-optimised to different fuels and cost structures over 150 years the challenges now present with a timeline of just a few decades. Fortunately unlike the mid-1800s simulation and modelling tools are now quite advanced and a full range of scenarios of operations and train trips can be simulated before new traction systems are designed. Full trip simulations of large heavy haul trains or high speed passenger trains are routinely completed controlled by emulations of human drivers or automated control systems providing controls of the “virtual train”. Recent developments in digital twins can be used to develop flexible and dynamic models of passenger and freight rail systems to support the new complexities of decarbonisation efforts. Interactions between many different traction components and the train multibody system can be considered as a system of systems. Adopting this multi-modelling paradigm enables the secure and integrated interfacing of diverse models. This paper demonstrates the application of the multi-modelling approach to develop digital twins for rail decarbonisation traction and it presents physics-based multi-models that include key components required for studying rail decarbonisation problems. Specifically the challenge of evaluating zero-emission options is addressed by adding further layers of modelling to the existing fully detailed multibody dynamics simulations. The additional layers detail control options energy storage the alternate traction system components and energy management systems. These traction system components may include both electrical system and inertia dynamics models to accurately represent the driveline and control systems. This paper presents case study examples of full trip scenarios of both long haul freight trains and higher speed passenger trains. These results demonstrate the many complex scenarios that are difficult to anticipate. Flowing on from this risks can be assessed and practical designs of zero-emission systems can be proposed along with the required recharging or refuelling systems.
Maximization and Efficient Production Rates of Different Zero Carbon Electrofuels using Dry Alkaline Electroyzers
Aug 2025
Publication
The present work focused on the comparison between HHO and hydrogen electrolyzers in design gas production and various parameters which affect the performance and efficiency of alkaline electrolyzers. The primary goal is to generate the highest possible hydrogen and HHO gas flow rates. Hydrogen and HHO were produced using 3 mm electrode of stainless steel 316L with 224 cm2 surface area. Hydroxy and hydrogen rates were affected by electrolyte content cell connection electric current operating time electrolyte temperature and voltage. Maximum HHO generation values were 1020 1076 1125 and 1175 mL min−1 n at 5 10 15 and 20 g L−1 of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with supply currents of 15 15.3 15.6 and 16 A respectively. Once it stabilized after 30 min the temperature increased to 26 30 35 and 38 °C respectively and remained there. With currents of 18 18.45 18.7 19.2 19.5 and 19.8 A hydrogen output peak values after 60 min. stayed constant at 680 734 785 846 897 and 945 mL min-1. at 5 10 15 and 20 g L−1 NaOH catalyst concentrations. At 5 10 15 and 20 g L−1 catalyst ratios the temperatures were elevated to constant values of 28.5 32 37.9 40.5 41.4 and 43 °C respectively. With cell design [4C3A19N] electrolyte concentration of 5 g L−1 NaOH and current of 14 A maximum HHO productivity was 866 mL min−1. and 74.23% efficiency. In a cell design of [4C5A17N] with catalyst content of 10 g L−1 maximum productivity was 680 mL min−1 for hydrogen and highest production efficiency of 72.85% was attained at 18 A.
Optimization Using RSM of Combined Cycle of Power, NG, and Hydrogen Production by a Bi-geothermal Energy Resource and LNG Heat Sink
Aug 2025
Publication
This study presents a comprehensive optimization of a tri-generation system that integrates dual geothermal wells Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) cold energy recovery and hydrogen production using an advanced Response Surface Methodology (RSM) approach. The system combines two geothermal wells with different temperature profiles power generation via an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and hydrogen production through a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer enhanced by integrated LNG regasification for improved energy recovery. The primary novelty of this work lies in the first application of RSM for multi-objective optimization of geothermal-based tri-generation systems moving beyond the conventional single-objective approaches. A 40-run experimental design is employed to simultaneously optimize three critical performance indicators: exergy efficiency power-specific cost and hydrogen production rate considering six key operating parameters. The RSM framework enables systematic exploration of parameter interactions and delivers statistically validated predictive models offering a robust and computationally efficient optimization strategy. The optimized system achieves outstanding performance with an exergy efficiency of 44.60% a competitive power-specific cost of 19.70 $/GJ and a hydrogen production rate of 5.15 kg/hr. Comparative analysis against prior studies confirms the superiority of the RSM-based approach demonstrating a 1% improvement in exergy efficiency (44.60% vs. 44.16%) a significant 44.1% increase in hydrogen production rate (5.15 kg/hr vs. 3.575 kg/hr) and a 0.81% reduction in power-specific cost compared to genetic algorithm-based optimization.
Research on the Optimization Decision Method for Hydrogen Load Aggregators to Participate in Peak Shaving Market
Oct 2025
Publication
Zhenya Lei,
Libo Gu,
Zhen Hu and
Tao Shi
This article takes the perspective of Hydrogen Load Aggregator (HLA) to optimize the declaration strategy of peak shaving market improve the flexible regulation capability of power system and HLA economy as the research objectives and proposes an optimization strategy method for HLA to participate in peak shaving market. Firstly an improved Convolutional Neural Networks–Long Short-Term Memory (CNN-LSTM) time series prediction model is developed to address peak shaving demand uncertainty. Secondly a bidding strategy model incorporating dynamic pricing is constructed by comprehensively considering electrolyzer regulation costs market supply–demand relationships and system constraints. Thirdly a market clearing model for peak shaving markets with HLA participation is designed through analysis of capacity contribution and marginal costs among different regulation resources. Finally the capacity allocation model is designed with the goal of minimizing the total cost of peak shaving among various stakeholders within HLA and the capacity won by HLA in the peak shaving market is reasonably allocated. Simulations conducted on a Python3.12-based experimental platform demonstrate the following: the improved CNN-LSTM model exhibits strong adaptability and robustness the bidding model effectively enhances HLA market competitiveness and the clearing model reduces system operator costs by 5.64%.
Investigating Ammonia as an Alternative Marine Fuel: A SWOT Analysis Using the Best–Worst Method
Oct 2025
Publication
The shipping industry remains heavily dependent on heavy fuel oils which account for approximately 77% of fuel consumption and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In line with the IMO’s decarbonization targets ammonia has emerged as a promising carbon-free alternative. This study evaluates the strategic viability of ammonia especially green production as a marine fuel through a hybrid SWOT–Best–Worst Method (BWM) analysis combining literature insights with expert judgment. Data were collected from 17 maritime professionals with an average of 15.7 years of experience ensuring robust sectoral representation and methodological consistency. The results highlight that opportunities hold the greatest weight (0.352) particularly the criteria “mandatory carbonfree by 2050” (O3:0.106) and “ammonia–hydrogen climate solution” (O2:0.080). Weaknesses rank second (0.270) with “higher toxicity than other marine fuels” (W5:0.077) as the most critical concern. Strengths (0.242) underscore ammonia’s advantage as a “carbonfree and sulfur-free fuel” (S1:0.078) while threats (0.137) remain less influential though “costly green ammonia” (T3:0.035) and “uncertainty of green ammonia” (T1:0.034) present notable risks. Overall the analysis suggests that regulatory imperatives and environmental benefits outweigh safety technical and economic challenges. Ammonia demonstrates strong potential to serve as viable marine fuel in achieving the maritime sector’s long-term decarbonization goals.
Underground Hydrogen Storage in Salt Cavern: A Review of Advantages, Challenges, and Prospects
Jun 2025
Publication
The transition to a sustainable energy future hinges on the development of reliable large-scale hydrogen storage solutions to balance the intermittency of renewable energy and decarbonize hard-to-abate industries. Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in salt caverns emerged as a technically and economically viable strategy leveraging the unique geomechanical properties of salt formations—including low permeability self-healing capabilities and chemical inertness—to ensure safe and high-purity hydrogen storage under cyclic loading conditions. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the advantages of salt cavern hydrogen storage such as rapid injection and extraction capabilities cost-effectiveness compared to other storage methods (e.g. hydrogen storage in depleted oil and gas reservoirs aquifers and aboveground tanks) and minimal environmental impact. It also addresses critical challenges including hydrogen embrittlement microbial activity and regulatory fragmentation. Through global case studies best operational practices for risk mitigation in real-world applications are highlighted such as adaptive solution mining techniques and microbial monitoring. Focusing on China’s regional potential this study evaluates the hydrogen storage feasibility of stratified salt areas such as Jiangsu Jintan Hubei Yunying and Henan Pingdingshan. By integrating technological innovation policy coordination and cross-sector collaboration salt cavern hydrogen storage is poised to play a pivotal role in realizing a resilient hydrogen economy bridging the gap between renewable energy production and industrial decarbonization.
Evaluation of Passenger Train Safety in the Event of a Liquid Hydrogen Release from a Freight Train in a Tunnel Along an Italian High-Speed/High-Capacity Rail Line
Oct 2025
Publication
The global shift towards cleaner energy sources is driving the adoption of hydrogen as an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. Among the forms currently available Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) offers high energy density and efficient storage making it suitable for large-scale transport by rail. However the flammability of hydrogen poses serious safety concerns especially when transported through confined spaces such as railway tunnels. In case of an accidental LH2 release from a freight train the rapid accumulation and potential ignition of hydrogen could cause catastrophic consequences especially if freight and passenger trains are present simultaneously in the same tunnel tube. In this study a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model was developed to simulate the dispersion and explosion of LH2 following an accidental leak from a freight train’s cryo-container in a single-tube double-track railway tunnel when a passenger train queues behind it on the same track. The overpressure results were analyzed using probit functions to estimate the fatality probabilities for the passenger train’s occupants. The analysis suggests that a significant number of fatalities could be expected among the passengers. However shorter users’ evacuation times from the passenger train’s wagons and/or longer distances between the two types of trains might reduce the number of potential fatalities. The findings by providing additional insight into the risks associated with LH2 transport in railway tunnels indicate the need for risk mitigation measures and/or traffic management strategies.
Economic and Environmental Assessment of Different Energy Storage Methods for Hybrid Energy Systems
Jul 2025
Publication
Ying Liu and
Yaru Zhang
Due to the environmental impact of fossil fuels renewable energy such as wind and solar energy is rapidly developed. In energy systems energy storage units are important which can regulate the safe and stable operation of the power system. However different energy storage methods have different environmental and economic impacts in renewable energy systems. This paper proposed three different energy storage methods for hybrid energy systems containing different renewable energy including wind solar bioenergy and hydropower meanwhile. Based on Homer Pro software this paper compared and analyzed the economic and environmental results of different methods in the energy system through the case of a residential community in Baotou City. The result showed that (1) the use of batteries as energy storage in communities posed the lowest energy costs whose NPC was $197396 and LCOE was $0.159 consisting of 20 batteries 19.3 kW PV 6 wind turbines a 12.6 kW converter. (2) Lower fuel cell prices mean lower NPC and the increase in the Electric Load Scaled Average implied a decrease in LCOE and the increase of the NPC. (3) The use of fuel cells also had impacts on the environment such as resulting CO2 and SO2.
Process Integration and Exergy-based Assessment of High-temperature Solid Oxide Electrolysis Configurations
Sep 2025
Publication
Solid oxide electrolysis (SOEL) is considered an efficient option for largely emission-free hydrogen production and thus for supporting the decarbonization of the process industry. The thermodynamic advantages of high-temperature operation can be utilized particularly when heat integration from subsequent processes is realized. As the produced hydrogen is usually required at a higher pressure level the operating pressure of the electrolysis is a relevant design parameter. The study compares pressurized and near-atmospheric designs of 126 MW SOEL systems with and without the integration of process heat from a downstream ammonia synthesis and the inefficiencies that occur in the processes. Furthermore process improvements by sweep-air utilization are investigated. Pinch analysis is applied to determine the potential of internal heat recovery and the minimum external heating and cooling demand. It is shown that pressurized SOEL operation does not necessarily decrease the overall power consumption for compression due to the high power requirement of the sweep-air compressor. The exergetic efficiencies of the standalone SOEL processes achieve similar values of = 81 %. Results further show that integrating the heat of reaction from ammonia synthesis can replace almost the entire electrically supplied thermal energy thereby improving the overall exergetic efficiency by up to 3.5 percentage points. However the exergetic efficiency strongly depends on the applied air ratio. The highest exergetic efficiency of 86 % can be achieved by employing sweep-air utilization with an expander. The results demonstrate that integrating downstream process heat and applying sweep-air utilization can significantly enhance overall efficiency and thus reduce external energy requirements.
Design and Assessment of an Integrated PV-based Hydrogen Production Facility
Jun 2025
Publication
This study develops a photovoltaic (PV)-based hydrogen production system specifically designed for university campuses which is expected to lead in sustainability efforts. The proposed system aims to meet the electricity demand of a Hydrogen Research Center while supplying energy to an electric charging station and a hydrogen refueling station for battery-electric and fuel-cell electric vehicles operating within the campus. In this integrated system the electricity generation capacity of PV panels installed on the research center’s roof is determined and the surplus electricity after meeting the energy demand is allocated to cover the varying proportions needed for both electric charging station and hydrogen production system. The green hydrogen produced by the system is compressed to 100 350 and 700 bar with intermediate cooling stages where the heat generated at the compressor outlet is absorbed by a cooling fluid and repurposed in a condenser for domestic hot water production. A full thermodynamic analysis of this entirely renewable energy-powered system is conducted by considering a 9-hour daily operational period from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The average incoming solar radiation is determined to be 484.63 W/m2 resulting in an annual electricity generation capacity of 494.86 MWh. Based on the assumptions and data considered the energy and exergy efficiencies of the proposed system are calculated as 17.71 % and 17.01 % respectively with an annual hydrogen production capacity of 3.642 tons. Various parametric studies are performed for varying solar intensity values and PV surface areas to investigate how the overall system capacities and efficiencies are affected. The results show that an integration of hydrogen production systems with solar energy offers significant advantages including mitigating intermittency issues found in standalone renewable systems reducing carbon emissions compared to fossil-based alternatives and enhancing the flexibility of energy systems.
Grid Infrastructure and Renewables Integration for Singapore Energy Transition
Oct 2025
Publication
Considering rising environmental concerns and the energy transition towards sustainable energy Singapore’s power sector stands at a crucial juncture. This study explores the integration of grid infrastructure with both generated and imported renewable energy (RE) sources as a strategic pathway for the city-state’s energy transition to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Employing a combination of simulation modeling and data analysis for energy trading and advanced energy management technologies we examine the current and new grid infrastructure’s capacity to assimilate RE sources particularly solar photovoltaic and energy storage systems. The findings reveal that with strategic upgrades and smart grid technologies; Singapore’s grid can efficiently manage the variability and intermittency of RE sources. This integration is pivotal in achieving a higher penetration of renewables as well as contributing significantly to Singapore’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and sustainable development goals. While the Singapore’s power system has links to the Malay Peninsula the planned ASEAN regional interconnection might alter the grid operation in Singapore and possibly make Singapore a new green energy hub. The study also highlights the key challenges and opportunities associated with cross-border energy trade with ASEAN countries including the need for harmonized regulatory frameworks and incentives to foster public–private partnerships. The insights from this study could guide policymakers industry stakeholders and researchers offering a roadmap for a sustainable energy transition in Singapore towards meeting its 2050 carbon emission goals.
Techno-economic and Environmental Optimization of Hydrogen-based Hybrid Energy Systems for Remote Off-grid Australian Communities
Jun 2025
Publication
This study presents a techno-economic and environmental optimization of hydrogen-based hybrid energy systems (HESs) for Broken Hill City Council in New South Wales Australia. Two configurations are evaluated: Configuration 1 includes solar PV battery fuel cell electrolyzer and hydrogen storage while Configuration 2 includes solar PV fuel cell electrolyzer and hydrogen storage but excludes the battery. The system is optimized using advanced metaheuristic algorithms such as Harris Hawks Algorithm (HHA) Red-Tailed Hawk Algorithm and Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II while ensuring real-time supply–demand balance and system stability through a robust energy management strategy. This integrated approach simultaneously determines the optimal sizes of PV arrays battery storage (where applicable) fuel cells electrolyzers and hydrogen storage units and maintains reliable energy supply. Results show that HHA Configuration 1 achieves the lowest net present cost of $338111 a levelized cost of electricity of $0.185/kWh and a levelized cost of hydrogen of $4.60/kg. Sensitivity analysis reveals that PV module and hydrogen storage costs significantly impact system economics while improving fuel cell efficiency from 40% to 60% can reduce costs by up to 40%. Beyond cost-effectiveness life cycle analysis demonstrates annual CO2 emission reductions exceeding 500000 kg compared to an equivalent diesel generator system meeting the same load demand. Socio-economic assessments further indicate that the HES can support improvements in the Human Development Index by enhancing access to healthcare education and economic opportunities while also creating local jobs in PV installation battery maintenance and hydrogen infrastructure. These findings establish hydrogen-based HES as a scalable cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solution for energy access in remote areas.
Opportunities for Emission Reduction in the Transformation of Petroleum Refining
Sep 2025
Publication
Crude oil accounts for approximately 40% of global energy consumption and the refining sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions particularly through the production of hard-to-abate fuels such as aviation fuel and fuel oil. This study disaggregates the refinery into its key process units to identify decarbonization opportunities along the entire production chain. Units are categorized into combustion-based processes— including crude and vacuum distillation hydrogen production coking and fluid catalytic cracking—and non-combustion processes which exhibit lower emission intensities. The analysis reveals that GHG emissions can be reduced by up to 60% with currently available technologies without requiring major structural changes. Electrification residual heat recovery renewable hydrogen for desulfurization and process optimization through digital twins are identified as priority measures many of which are also economically viable in the short term. However achieving full decarbonization and alignment with net-zero targets will require the deployment of carbon capture technologies. These results highlight the significant potential for emission reduction in refineries and reinforce their strategic role in enabling the transition toward low-carbon fuels.
Optimal Configuration of Hydrogen Energy Storage Systems Considering the Operational Efficiency Characteristics of Multi-Stack Electrolyzers
Sep 2025
Publication
Enhancing the economics of microgrid systems and achieving a balance between energy supply and demand are critical challenges in capacity allocation research. Existing studies often neglect the optimization of electrolyzer efficiency and multi-stack operation leading to inaccurate assessments of system benefits. This paper proposes a capacity allocation model for wind-PV-hydrogen integrated microgrid systems that incorporates hydrogen production efficiency optimization. This paper analyzes the relationship between the operating efficiency of the electrolyzer and the output power regulates power generation-load mismatches through a renewable energy optimization model and establishes a double-layer optimal configuration framework. The inner layer optimizes electrolyzer power allocation across periods to maximize operational efficiency while the outer layer determines configuration to maximize daily system revenue. Based on the data from a demonstration project in Jiangsu Province China a case study is conducted to verify that the proposed method can improve system benefits and reduce hydrogen production costs.
Numerical Simulation of Natural Gas/Hydrogen Combustion in a Novel Laboratory Combustor
Jun 2025
Publication
Hydrogen is a promising fuel in the current transition to zero-net CO2 emissions. However most practical combustion equipment is not yet ready to burn pure hydrogen without adaptation. In the meantime blending hydrogen with natural gas is an interesting option. This work reports a computational study of the performance of swirl-stabilized natural gas/hydrogen flames in a novel combustion chamber design. The combustor employs an air-staging strategy introducing secondary air through a top-mounted plenum in a direction opposite to the fuel jet. The thermal load is fixed at 5 kW and the effects of fuel composition (hydrogen molar fraction ranging from zero to one) excess air coefficient (λ = 1.3 1.5 or 1.7) and primary air fraction (α = 50–100%) on the velocity temperature and emissions are analysed. The results show that secondary air changes the flow pattern reducing the central recirculation zone and lowering the temperature in the primary reaction zone while increasing it further downstream. Secondary air improves the performance of the combustor for pure hydrogen flames reducing NO emissions to less than 50 ppm for λ = 1.3 and 50% primary air. For natural gas/hydrogen blends a sufficiently high excess air level is required to keep CO emissions within acceptable limits.
Increasing Public Acceptance of Fuel Cell Vehicles in Germany: A Perspective on Pioneer Users
Jun 2025
Publication
Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) represent an intriguing alternative to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). While the acceptance of BEVs has been widely discussed acceptance-based recommendations for promoting adoption of FCVs remain ambiguous. This paper aims to improve our understanding by reporting results from a pioneer study based on the standardized Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2). The sample consists of n1 = 258 registered customers of H2mobility in Germany. For effect control another n2 = 294 participant sample was drawn from the baseline population. Data were analyzed using SmartPLS 4 and importance-performance mapping (IPMA). Results demonstrate that FCV acceptance primarily relies on Perceived Usefulness Perceived Conditions and Normative Influence while surprisingly hypotheses involving Perceived Risk and Green Attitude are rejected. Finally a discussion reveals ways to increase the level of public acceptance. Three practical strategies emerge. For future acceptance analyses the authors suggest incorporating the young concept of ‘societal readiness’.
A Comprehensive Review of Advances in Bioenergy including Emerging Trends and Future Directions
Aug 2025
Publication
Bioenergy is a promising alternative to fossil fuels-based energy with significant potential to transform global energy systems and promote environmental sustainability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of bioenergy emphasizing its role in the global transition to sustainable energy. It explores a diverse range of biomass sources including forest and agricultural residues algae and industrial by-products and their conversion into energy via thermochemical biochemical and physicochemical pathways. The paper also highlights recent technological advancements and assesses the environmental sustainability of bioenergy systems. Additionally it examines key challenges hindering bioenergy development such as feedstock logistics technological limitations economic viability and policy gaps that need resolution to fully realise its potential. By synthesizing literature from 2010 to 2025 the review identifies strategic priorities for research and deployment aiming to inform efforts that align bioenergy utilization with global decarbonization goals.
Optimizing Vietnam's Hydrogen Strategy: A Life-cycle Perspective on Technology Choices, Environmental Impacts, and Cost Trade-offs
Sep 2025
Publication
Vietnam recognizes hydrogen as a key fuel for decarbonization under its National Hydrogen Strategy. Here we quantified the environmental and economic performance of Vietnam’s optimal hydrogen-production pathways by evaluating combinations of green and blue hydrogen under varying demand scenarios using life-cycle assessment and optimization modeling techniques. The environmental performance of hydrogen production proved highly sensitive to the electricity source with water electrolysis powered by renewable energy offering the most favorable outcomes. Although green hydrogen production reduced carbon emissions it shifted environmental burdens toward increased resource extraction. Producing 20 Mt of hydrogen by 2050 would require 741.56 TWh of electricity 178 Mt of water and USD 294 billion in investment and it would emit 50.48 Mt CO2. These findings highlight the importance of strategic hydrogen planning and resource strategy aligned with national priorities for energy transition to navigate trade-offs among technology selection emissions costs and resource consumption.
Investigating the Effects of Flow Regime on Hydrogen Transport in Salt Rock
Jun 2025
Publication
Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in salt caverns is emerging as a promising solution for the transition to a sustainable energy future. However a thorough understanding of hydrogen flow mechanisms through salt rock is essential to ensure safe and efficient storage operations. In this study we conducted hydrogen flow experiments in salt rocks using the pressure pulse decay (PPD) method covering a range of hydrogen pore pressures from 0.4 MPa to 7.5 MPa within the slip and transitional flow regimes (Knudsen numbers between 0.04 and 1.5). The Knudsen numbers were determined by measuring the pore size distribution (PSD) of the salt rock samples and assigning an average pore size to each sample based on the measured PSD. Our results indicate that the intrinsic permeability of the tested salt rock samples ranges from 5 × 10− 21 m2 to 1.0 × 10− 20 m2 . However a significant enhancement in apparent permeability up to 10 times the intrinsic permeability was observed particularly at lower pressures. This permeability enhancement is attributed to the nanoscale pore structure of salt rocks where the mean free path of hydrogen becomes comparable to the pore sizes leading to a shift from slip flow to the transitional flow regime. The results further reveal that the first-order slip model underestimates the apparent permeability in the transitional flow regime despite its satisfactory accuracy in the slip region. Moreover the higher-order slip model demonstrates acceptable accuracy across both the slip and transitional flow regimes.
Alternative Fuels in Aero Engine Performance Calculations
Oct 2025
Publication
This paper presents a method for gas turbine performance calculations with alternative fuels with a particular focus on their use in aircraft engines. The effects of various alternative aviation fuels on fuel consumption CO2 emissions and contrail formation are examined in a comparative study. We use the GasTurb performance software and calculate heat release and hot section gas properties using a chemical equilibrium solver. Fuels with complex compositions are included in the calculation via surrogates of a limited number of known species that mimic the relevant properties of the real fuel. An automated method is used for the fuel surrogate formulation. We compare the results of this rigorous approach with the simplified approach of calculating the heat release using an alternative fuel’s heating value while still using the gas properties of conventional Jet A-1. The results show that the latter approach systematically overpredicts fuel consumption by up to 0.2% for aromaticsfree synthetic kerosene (e.g. “biofuels”). Overall aircraft engines running on alternative fuels tend to be more fuel efficient due to their often higher hydrogen contents and thus fuel heating values. We find reductions in fuel consumption of up to 2.8% during cruise when using aromatics-free synthetic kerosene. We further assess how alternative fuels affect contrail formation based on the Schmidt-Appleman criterion. Contrails can form 200 m lower under cruise conditions when burning aromatics-free synthetic kerosene instead of Jet A-1 with identical thrust requirements and under the same atmospheric conditions mainly due to their higher hydrogen content. In summary we present a flexible yet easy-to-use method for studying fuel effects in performance calculations that avoids small but systematic errors by rigorously calculating the heat release and hot section gas properties for each fuel.
Numerical Investigation of Hydrogen Leakage Quantification and Dispersion Characteristics in Buried Pipelines
Sep 2025
Publication
As a clean energy carrier hydrogen is essential for global low-carbon energy transitions due to its unique combination of safe transport properties and energy density. This investigation employs computational fluid dynamics (ANSYS Fluent) to systematically characterize hydrogen dispersion through soil media from buried pipelines. The research reveals three fundamental insights: First leakage orifices smaller than 2 mm demonstrate restricted hydrogen migration regardless of directional orientation. Second dispersion patterns remain stable under both low-pressure conditions (below 1 MPa) and minimal thermal gradients with pipeline temperature variations limited to 63 K and soil fluctuations under 40 K. Third dispersion intensity increases proportionally with higher leakage pressures (exceeding 1 MPa) greater soil porosity and larger particle sizes while inversely correlating with burial depth. The study develops a predictive model through Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) optimization demonstrating exceptional accuracy (mean absolute error below 10%) for modeling continuous hydrogen flow through moderateporosity soils under medium-to-high pressure conditions with weak inertial effects. These findings provide critical scientific foundations for designing safer hydrogen transmission infrastructure establishing robust risk quantification frameworks and developing effective early-warning systems thereby facilitating the practical implementation of hydrogen energy systems.
Efficiently Coupling Water Electrolysis with Solar PV for Green Hydrogen Production
Aug 2025
Publication
Solar-driven water electrolysis has emerged as a prominent technology for the production of green hydrogen facilitated by advancements in both water electrolyzers and solar cells. Nevertheless the majority of integrated solar-to-hydrogen systems still struggle to exceed 20% efficiency particularly in large-scale applications. This limitation arises from suboptimal coupling methodologies and system-level inefficiencies that have rarely been analyzed. To address these challenges this study investigates the fundamental principles of solar hydrogen production and examines key energy losses in photovoltaic-electrolyzer systems. Subsequently it systematically discusses optimization strategies across three dimensions: (1) enhancing photovoltaic (PV) system output under variable irradiance (2) tailoring electrocatalysts and electrolyzer architectures for high-performance operation and (3) minimizing coupling losses through voltage-matching technologies and energy storage devices. Finally we review existing large-scale solar hydrogen infrastructure and propose strategies to overcome barriers related to cost durability and scalability. By integrating material innovation with system engineering this work offers insights to advance solar-powered electrolysis toward industrial applications.
Liquid Hydrogen Application for Aero-Engine More-Electrical System: Current Status, Challenges and Future Prospects
Mar 2025
Publication
The integration of more-electric technologies into aero-engines has revolutionized their multi-power architectures substantially improving system maintainability and operational reliability. This advancement has established more-electric systems as a cornerstone of modern aerospace electrification research. Concurrently liquid hydrogen (LH2) emerges as a transformative solution for next-generation power generation systems particularly in enabling the transition from 100 kW to megawatt-class propulsion systems. Beyond its superior energy density LH2 demonstrates dual functionality in thermal management: it serves as both an efficient coolant for power electronics (e.g. controllers) and a cryogenic source for superconducting motor applications. This study systematically investigates the electrification pathway for LH2-fueled aero-engine multi-electric systems. First we delineate the technical framework elucidating its architectural characteristics and associated challenges. Subsequently we conduct a comprehensive analysis of three critical subsystems including LH2 storage and delivery systems cryogenic cooling systems for superconducting motors and Thermal management systems for high-power electronics. Finally we synthesize current research progress and propose strategic directions to accelerate the development of LH2-powered more-electric aero-engines addressing both technical bottlenecks and future implementation scenarios.
A Critical Review of China's Hydrogen Supply Chain and Equipment
Sep 2025
Publication
China’s dual-carbon goals have positioned hydrogen as a central pillar of its energy transition. This review examines the recent development of China’s hydrogen supply chain with particular focus on manufacturing technologies for alkaline electrolysers high-pressure cylinders and diaphragm compressors. In 2024 China produced 36.5 million tons of hydrogen of which 77 % was grey and only 1 % derived from electrolysis. Storage and transportation account for nearly 30 % of end-use costs while reliance on imported compressors increases refuelling station expenses by approximately 40 %. We identify key bottlenecks including limited electrolyser efficiency the high cost of carbon fibres for Type III/IV cylinders and insufficient domestic capacity for highreliability compressors. To address these challenges targeted advances are proposed: membrane materials with engineered hydrophilicity advanced surface modifications and hydrophilic inhibitors; liner design incorporating grooved-liner braided layers with double-fibre configurations; and a three-layer diaphragm compressor architecture. By consolidating fragmented studies this review provides the integrated manufacturing perspective on China’s hydrogen supply chain offering both scientific insights and practical guidance for accelerating costeffective large-scale low-carbon hydrogen deployment.
Hydrogen Storage Systems at Ports for Enhanced Safety and Sustainability: A Review
Sep 2025
Publication
With the increasing demand for clean energy and the global push toward carbon neutrality hydrogen has emerged as a promising alternative fuel. Ports are critical nodes in the hydrogen supply chain that are increasingly being utilized as long-term hydrogen storage hubs. However integrating hydrogen storage systems into port infrastructure presents unique technical environmental and safety challenges. This review systematically examines current technologies used for hydrogen storage in port environments—including compressed gas cryogenic liquid cryocompressed gas ammonia liquid organic hydrogen carriers solid-state hydrides and underground storage. Each technology is evaluated based on performance infrastructure requirements accident risks environmental impact and cost. The study also assesses port-specific infrastructure vulnerabilities under operational stress and climate change conditions and explores strategies for accident prevention emergency response and postincident recovery. A comprehensive framework is proposed to enhance the resilience and safety of hydrogen storage systems at ports. This study offers valuable insights for stakeholders and researchers by addressing technical gaps regulatory challenges and future directions for sustainable and safe hydrogen storage in port facilities
Feasibility Assessment into the Use of Hybrid Gas-hydride Tanks for Use in Improving the Flexibility of Offshore Hydrogen Production using Wind Power
Oct 2025
Publication
Offshore hydrogen production offers a promising solution for harnessing wind energy far from shore by using hydrogen as an energy carrier instead of electrical cables. Flexibility in hydrogen production systems is crucial to maximising the conversion of intermittent wind energy into hydrogen. To improve the performance of lowpressure compressed gas buffer stores hybrid gas-hydride tanks have been identified as a viable solution increasing useable storage density from 1.2 kg m− 3 to 6.3 kg m− 3 with just a 5 vol% addition of hydride. This study evaluates the reduction in tank volume reduction in cost and enhancements in useable storage density achieved by integrating different hydrides under varying temperature conditions. Using hydrogen mass flow rate profiles a storage mass target was determined for optimisation. The results demonstrate that hybrid gas-hydride tanks can reduce tank size by around 80 % lowering costs by 24 % and achieve a 5.1-fold improvement in useable storage density.
The Trans-critical Process Control of Hydrogen Based on a Flow Distribution Method for Enhancement of Heat Transfer
Aug 2025
Publication
The heat transfer performance of the thermal management system plays a crucial role in the hydrogen-powered aviation engine cycle. As an exceptional fuel the thermophysical parameters of hydrogen change drastically with temperature in the trans-critical state. While previous studies on heat transfer enhancement mainly focused on changing the geometrical structure few studies have been conducted on realizing heat transfer enhancement based on the properties of the fluid itself. Utilizing the drastic changes in thermophysical parameters of hydrogen in the trans-critical state to achieve heat transfer enhancement could greatly contribute to the thermal management system of the hydrogen-powered cycle. In this study a trans-critical process control method for heat transfer enhancement based on multidirectional impact flow distribution is proposed. The distributions and variation patterns of temperature density specific heat capacity and equivalent thermal conductivity along the flow directions were investigated the flow and heat transfer performance of the channel optimized by the proposed method was numerically simulated and the control of the trans-critical process and the mechanism of heat transfer enhancement were analyzed. The effects of the key design parameters such as flow distribution ratio number and spacing of gaps on the flow and heat transfer performance of the heat transfer unit were comparatively analyzed by taking various factors into account and finally a relatively optimal combination of key design parameters was obtained.
Green Hydrogen Viability in the Transition to a Fully-Renewable Energy Grid
Sep 2025
Publication
With the transition to a fully renewable energy grid arises the need for a green source of stability and baseload support which classical renewable generation such as wind and solar cannot offer due to their uncertain and highly-variable generation. In this paper we study whether green hydrogen can close this gap as a source of supplemental generation and storage. We design a two-stage mixed-integer stochastic optimization model that accounts for uncertainties in renewable generation. Our model considers the investment in renewable plants and hydrogen storage as well as the operational decisions for running the hydrogen storage systems. For the data considered we observe that a fully renewable network driven by green hydrogen has a greater potential to succeed when wind generation is high. In fact the main investment priorities revealed by the model are in wind generation and in liquid hydrogen storage. This long-term storage is more valuable for taking full advantage of hydrogen than shorter-term intraday hydrogen gas storage. In addition we note that the main driver for the potential and profitability of green hydrogen lies in the electricity demand and prices as opposed to those for gas. Our model and the investment solutions proposed are robust with respect to changes in the investment costs. All in all our results show that there is potential for green hydrogen as a source of baseload support in the transition to a fully renewable-powered energy grid.
A Review of Caprock Integrity in Underground Hydrogen Storage Sites: Implication of Wettability, Interfacial Tension, and Diffusion
Oct 2025
Publication
As industry moves from fossil fuels to green energy substituting hydrocarbons with hydrogen as an energy carrier seems promising. Hydrogen can be stored in salt caverns depleted hydrocarbon fields and saline aquifers. Among other criteria these storage solutions must ensure storage safety and prevent leakage. The ability of a caprock to prevent fluid from flowing out of the reservoir is thus of utmost importance. In this review the main factors influencing fluid flow are examined. These are the wettability of the caprock formation the interfacial tension (IFT) between the rock and the gas or liquid phases and the ability of gases to diffuse through it. To achieve effective sealing the caprock formation should possess low porosity a disconnected or highly complicated pore system low permeability and remain strongly water-wet regardless of pressure and temperature conditions. In addition it must exhibit low rock–liquid IFT while presenting high rock–gas and liquid–gas IFT. Finally the effective diffusion coefficient should be the lowest possible. Among all of the currently reviewed formations and minerals the evaporites low-organic-content shales mudstones muscovite clays and anhydrite have been identified as highly effective caprocks offering excellent sealing capabilities and preventing hydrogen leakages.
Decarbonising Agriculture with Green Hydrogen: A Stakeholder Guided Feasibility Study
Oct 2025
Publication
Green hydrogen offers a promising yet underexplored pathway for agricultural decarbonisation requiring technological readiness and coordinated action from policymakers industry and farmers. This paper integrates techno-economic modelling with stakeholder engagement (semi-structured interviews and an expert workshop) to assess its potential. Analyses were conducted for farms of 123 hectares and clusters of 10 farms complemented by seven interviews and a workshop with nine sector experts. Findings show both opportunities and barriers. While on-farm hydrogen production is technically feasible it remains economically uncompetitive due to high levelised costs shaped by seasonal demand variability and low utilisation of electrolysers and storage. Pooling demand across multiple users is essential to improve cost-effectiveness. Stakeholders identified three potential business models: fertiliser production via ammonia synthesis cooperative-based models and local refuelling stations. Of these cooperative hydrogen hubs emerged as the most promising enabling clusters of farms to jointly invest in renewable-powered electrolysers storage and refuelling facilities thereby reducing costs extending participation to smaller farms and mitigating risks through collective investment. By linking techno-economic feasibility with stakeholder perspectives and business model considerations the results contribute to socio-technical transition theory by showing how technological institutional and social factors interact in shaping hydrogen adoption in agriculture. With appropriate policy support cooperative hubs could lower costs ease concerns over affordability and complexity and position hydrogen as a practical driver of agricultural decarbonisation and rural resilience. Keywords: green
Development of Sustainability Assessment Framework for Preliminary Design of Chemical Process: Hydrogen Production as Case Study
Aug 2025
Publication
Sustainable process design has become increasingly important in transitioning from conventional to sustainable chemical production yet comprehensive sustainability assessment at the preliminary design stage remains a challenge. This study addresses this gap by proposing a hierarchical framework that integrates the Principles Criteria and Indicators (PC&I) method with multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tools including entropy weighting TOPSIS and weighted addition. The framework guides the systematic selection of sustainability indicators across economic environmental and social dimensions. To validate its applicability a case study on hydrogen production via four process routes natural gas reforming biomass-derived syngas methanol purge gas recovery and alkaline electrolysis is conducted. Results show that the methanol purge gas process exhibits the best overall sustainability followed by biomass syngas and alkaline electrolysis. The case demonstrates the framework’s capability to differentiate between alternatives under conflicting sustainability dimensions. This work provides a structured and replicable approach to support sustainable decision-making in early-stage chemical process design.
Scaling of Automotive Fuel Cells in Terms of Operating Indicators
Oct 2025
Publication
The search for alternatives to fossil fuels has led to hydrogen becoming an important factor in the powering means of transportation. Its most effective application is in fuel cells. A single fuel cell is not a sufficient source of power which is why a stack of fuel cells is the more common solution. Fuel cells are tested using single units as this allows all cell parameters (the current density flow rates and efficiency) to be evaluated. Therefore the scalability of fuel cells is an essential factor. This paper analyses the scalability of fuel cells with a power of approximately 100 kW and 1.2 kW. Road tests of the fuel cells were compared with stationary tests which allowed the load to be reproduced and scaled. This provided a representation of the scaled current and the scalable power of the fuel cell. The research provided voltage–current characteristics of fuel cell stacks and their individual equivalents. It was concluded that regardless of the power scaling or current values the characteristics obtain similar patterns. A very important element of the research is the awareness of the properties of these cells (the number of cells and active charge exchange area) in order to compare the unit characteristics of fuel cells.
Numerical Investigation on the Diffusion and Ventilation Characteristics of Hydrogen-Blended Natural Gas Leakage in Indoor Spaces
Oct 2025
Publication
The blending of hydrogen significantly impacts the diffusion and safety characteristics of natural gas within indoor environments. This study employs ANSYS Fluent 2021 R1 to numerically investigate the diffusion and ventilation characteristics of hydrogen-blended natural gas (HBNG) leakage in indoor spaces. A physical and mathematical model of gas leakage from pipelines is established to study hazardous areas flammable regions ventilation characteristics alarm response times safe ventilation rates and the concentration distribution of leaked gas. The effects of hydrogen blending ratio (HBR) ventilation conditions and space dimensions on leakage diffusion and safety are analyzed. Results indicate that HBNG leakage forms vertical concentration stratification in indoor spaces with ventilation height being negatively correlated with gas concentration and flammable regions. In the indoor space conditions of this study by improving ventilation conditions the hazardous area can be reduced by up to 92.67%. Increasing HBR substantially expands risk zones—with pure hydrogen producing risk volumes over five times greater than natural gas. Mechanical ventilation significantly enhances indoor safety. Safe ventilation rates escalate with hydrogen content providing quantitative safety criteria for HBNG implementation. The results underscore the critical influence of HBR and ventilation strategy on risk assessment providing essential insights for the safe indoor deployment of HBNG.
Thermochemical Aspects of Substituting Natural Gas by Hydrogen in Blister Copper Deoxidation
Aug 2025
Publication
This study employs computational thermodynamics to evaluate the feasibility of replacing methane with hydrogen as both burner fuel and reductant during blister copper deoxidation aiming to enhance deoxidation efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. A comprehensive thermodynamic model was developed using FactSage 8.3 for dilute Cu–O and Cu–S–O melts containing trace impurities (Fe Ni Pb Zn) incorporating methane thermal decomposition and temperature-dependent variations in liquid copper density with oxygen and sulfur content. Model parameters were optimized against over 105 deoxidation simulation data points yielding temperature- and composition-dependent expressions for rapid density estimates. Benchmarking against existing literature models demonstrated improved accuracy. Key findings include: (1) increasing impurities contents from electronics waste recycling (Fe Ni Pb Zn) reduces oxygen activity deteriorating the deoxidation efficiency; (2) under global equilibrium methane provides greater reducing power per mole than hydrogen due to full thermal cracking but real-world mass transfer limitations render hydrogen more consistently effective up to 1200 C with methane gas needing to achieve at least 472 C to match hydrogen’s performance; (3) adiabatic flame equilibrium studies show that O2/H2 ratios of 0.5 to 1 yield liquid copper oxygen activities comparable to industrial O2/CH4 ratios of 2 to 3 supporting the direct substitution of methane with hydrogen in oxy-fuel anode furnace burners without compromising metal quality.
Analysis of the Efficiency of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle (HFCV) Applications in Manufacturing Processes Using Computer Simulation
Oct 2025
Publication
Implementing innovative solutions in the internal transport of manufacturing enterprises is becoming an important element of improving operational efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This article assesses the potential of hydrogen fuel cell (HFCV) forklifts in a steel products manufacturing plant. The verification was carried out using a computer simulation which enabled the comparison of electric combustion and HFCV fleets under identical logistical conditions. The results showed that the HFCV fleet allowed for shorter process execution times and higher utilization compared to electric and combustion variants mainly due to the elimination of charging and refueling interruptions. Additionally when powered by green hydrogen the HFCV fleet offered clear environmental benefits and lower operating costs. The study confirms that HFCV technology can improve the efficiency of internal transport and reduce energy-related operating expenses although the costs of hydrogen refueling infrastructure were not included and should be addressed in future research.
Techno-Economic Optimization of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRESs) and Feasibility Study on Replacing Diesel and Photovoltaic Systems with Hydrogen for Electrical and Small Deferrable Loads: Case Study of Cameroon
Oct 2025
Publication
To reduce the amount of harmful gases produced by fossil fuels more environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives are being proposed around the world. As a result technologies for manufacturing hydrogen fuel cells and producing green hydrogen are becoming more widespread with an impact on energy production and environmental protection. In many countries around the world and in Africa in particular leaders scientists and populations are considering switching from fossil fuels to so-called green energies. Hydrogen is therefore an interesting alternative that deserves to be explored especially since both rural and urban populations have shown an interest in using it in the near future which would reduce pollution and the proliferation of greenhouse gases thereby mitigating global warming. The aim of this paper is to determine the hybrid energy system best suited to addressing the energy problem in the study area and then to make successive substitutions of different energy sources starting with the most polluting in order to assess the possibilities for transitioning the energy used in the area to green hydrogen. To this end this study began with a technical and economic analysis which based on climatic parameters led to the proposal of a PV/DG-BATTery system configuration with a Net Present Cost (NPC) of USD 19267 and an average Cost Of Energy (COE) of USD 0.4 and with a high proportion of CO2 emissions compared with the PV/H2GEN-BATT and H2GEN systems. The results of replacing fossil fuel generators with hydrogen generators are beneficial in terms of environmental protection and lead to a reduction in energy-related expenses of around 2.1 times the cost of diesel and a reduction in mass of around 2.7 times the mass of diesel. The integration of H2GEN at high duty percentages increases the Cost Of Energy whether in a hybrid PV/H2GEN system or an H2GEN system. This shows the interest in the study country in using favorable duty proportions to make the use of hydrogen profitable.
Transforming Ports for a Low-carbon Future: Nexus Modeling of Hydrogen Infrastructure, Employment, and Resource Management in Contrasting Climates
Aug 2025
Publication
This research study highlights a transformative approach to port development for a lowcarbon future by integrating Climate Land Energy and Water Systems (CLEWs) and Water-Energy-Food (WEF) frameworks. The proposed nexus model integrates the hydrogen infrastructure with green employment and resource management in contrasting climates. The scenarios analyzed include Business As Usual (BAU) Balanced Reduction Approach (BRA) and Maximal Sustainability Push (MSP) which focuses mainly on energy efficiency resource utilization and workforce sustainability. By BRA it is estimated that carbon emissions will decline by 30% in cold climates and 20% in warm climates without changing renewable power plants producing 45% and 30% of the electricity supply mix. In the MSP scenario emission reductions rise to 90% in cold and 40% in warm climates with renewables providing 62% and 40% of the electricity mix. Under the whole capacity of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and fish waste under anaerobic digestion and fish waste rendering by 2040 across all BRA and MSP scenarios. In transport 44% replacement of marine vehicles and 87% of land vehicles with hydrogen electric and carbon capture and storage (CCS)-equipped vehicles is made under the BRA scenario. These percentages increase to 100% under the MSP scenario in cold climates while remaining at 87% in warm climates. By this integrated framework the present study demonstrates the potential of ports to be powerful engines for sustainable economic growth optimized resource efficiency and the creation of resilient green employment systems in diverse environmental contexts.
Hydrogen Safety in Energy Infrastructure: A Review
Oct 2025
Publication
For the transition to emission-free or low-emission energy hydrogen is a promising energy carrier and fuel of the future with the possibility of long-term storage. Due to its specific properties it poses certain safety risks; therefore it is necessary to have a comprehensive understanding of hydrogen. This review article contains ten main chapters and provides by synthesizing current findings primarily from standards and scientific studies (predominantly from 2023 to 2024) the theoretical basis for further research directed toward safe hydrogen infrastructure.
Study on the Thermodynamic Behavior of Large Volume Liquid Hydrogen Bottle Under the Coupling of Different Motion States and Operational Parameters
Oct 2025
Publication
Jun Shen,
Yuhang Liu,
Yongmei Hao,
Fei Li and
Hui Zhou
To investigate the variations in the thermodynamic behavior of large-volume liquid hydrogen tanks under different influencing factors a numerical model for liquid hydrogen tanks was developed. The changes in thermodynamic behavior in vehicle-mounted liquid hydrogen bottles under different motion states different operational pressures and different insulation thicknesses and their mutual coupling scenarios were studied. The results show that the movement makes the phase state in the liquid hydrogen bottle more uniform the pressure drop rate faster and the temperature lower: the heating rate in the liquid hydrogen bottle at 0.85 MPa operational pressure is lower than that at 0.5 MPa and 1.2 MPa. When the operational pressure is coupled with the motion state the influence of the motion state on the thermodynamic behavior of the fluid is dominant: the temperature near the wall rises rapidly. The temperature near the tank wall rises rapidly; however as the thickness of the insulation layer increases both the heating rate inside the liquid hydrogen tank and the temperature difference within the tank gradually tend to stabilize and become uniform.
Exploring the Potential of Ammonia as a Fuel: Advances in Combustion Understanding and Large-scale Furnace Applications
Sep 2025
Publication
From an environmental standpoint carbon-free energy carriers such as ammonia and hydrogen are essential for future energy systems. However their hightemperature chemical behavior remains insufficiently understood posing challenges for the development and optimization of advanced combustion technologies. Ammonia in particular is globally available and cost-effective especially for energy-intensive industries. The addition of ammonia or hydrogen to methane significantly reduces the accuracy of existing predictive models. Therefore validated and detailed data are urgently needed to enable reliable design and performance predictions. This review highlights the compatibility of ammonia with existing combustion infrastructure facilitating a smoother transition to more sustainable heating methods without the need for entirely new systems. Applications in high-temperature heating processes such as metal processing ceramics and glass production and power generation are of particular interest. This review focuses on the systematic assessment of alternative fuel mixtures comprising ammonia and hydrogen as well as natural gas with particular consideration of existing safety-related parameters and combustion characteristics. Fundamental quantities such as the laminar burning velocity are discussed in the context of their relevance for fuel mixtures and their scalability toward turbulent flame propagation which is of critical importance for industrial burner and reactor design. The influence of fuel composition on ignition limits is examined as these are essential parameters for safety margin definitions and operational boundary conditions. Furthermore flame stability in mixed-fuel systems is addressed to evaluate the practical feasibility and robustness of combustion under varying process conditions. A detailed overview of current diagnostic and analysis methods follows encompassing both pollutant measurement techniques and the detection of key radical species. These diagnostics form the experimental basis for reaction kinetics modeling and mechanism validation. Given the importance of emission formation in combustion systems a dedicated subsection summarizes major emission trends even though a comprehensive treatment would exceed the scope of this review. Thermal radiation effects which are highly relevant for heat transfer and system efficiency in large-scale applications are then reviewed. In parallel current developments in numerical simulation approaches for industrial-scale combustion systems are presented including aspects of model accuracy boundary conditions and computational efficiency. The review also incorporates insights from materials engineering particularly regarding high-temperature material performance corrosion resistance and compatibility with combustion products. Based on these interdisciplinary findings operational strategies for high-temperature furnaces are outlined and selected industrial reference systems are briefly presented. This integrated approach aims to support the design optimization and safe operation of next-generation combustion technologies utilizing carbon-free or low-carbon fuels.
Catalytic Hydrogen Combustion as Heat Source for the Dehydrogenation of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers using a Novel Compact Autothermal Reactor
Sep 2025
Publication
The experimental performance of an autothermal hydrogen release unit comprising a perhydro benzyltoluene (H12-BT) dehydrogenation chamber and a catalytic hydrogen combustion (CHC) chamber in thermal contact is discussed. In detail the applied set-up comprised a multi-tubular CHC heating based on seven parallel tubes with the reactor shell containing a commercial dehydrogenation catalyst. In this way the CHC heated the endothermal LOHC dehydrogenation using a part of the hydrogen generated in the dehydrogenation. The proposed heating concept for autothermal LOHC dehydrogenation offers several advantages over state-of-the-art heating concepts including minimized space consumption high efficiency and zero NOx emissions. During performance tests the process reached a minimum hydrogen combustion fraction of 37 % while the minimum heat requirement for the dehydrogenation reaction for industrial scale plants is 33 %. The reactor orientation (vertical vs horizontal) and the flow configuration (counter-current vs. co-current) showed very little influence on the performance demonstrating the robustness of the proposed reactor design.
A Comprehensive Review of Green Hydrogen Technology: Electrolysis Methods, Topologies and Control Strategies, Applications
Oct 2025
Publication
As a pivotal clean energy carrier for achieving carbon neutrality green hydrogen technology has attracted growing global attention. This review systematically examines four mainstream water electrolysis technologies—alkaline electrolysis proton exchange membrane electrolysis solid oxide electrolysis and anion exchange membrane electrolysis—analyzing their fundamental principles material challenges and development trends. It further classifies and compares power electronic converter topologies including non-isolated and isolated DC–DC converters as well as AC–DC converter architectures and summarizes advanced control strategies such as dynamic power regulation and fault-tolerant operation aimed at enhancing system efficiency and stability. A holistic “electrolyzer–power converter–control strategy” integration framework is proposed to provide tailored technological solutions for diverse application scenarios. Finally the challenges and future prospects of green hydrogen across the energy transportation and industrial sectors are discussed underscoring its potential to accelerate the global transition toward a sustainable low-carbon energy system.
Experimental Investigation of Hydrogen Production Performance of PEM Electrolyze
Jul 2025
Publication
As global awareness of environmental protection increases hydrogen is seen as a promising solution due to its high energy density and zero-emission combustion. The PEM electrolyze combined with renewable energy power generation is an effective method to solve the problem of hydrogen production. The market competitiveness of PEM electrolyte will be enhanced in the future and the equipment cost can be reduced by 35.8%. The fast dynamic response performance of PEM electrolyzes especially during start-up and shutdown affects system flexibility and stability. The 190 Nm3/h test platform is established to study the fast dynamic response performance considering the cold startup thermal start-up and shutdown behaviors. The results shown that the 190 Nm³/h PEM electrolyze required 6340 s to achieve cold start-up 1100 s to achieve thermal start-up and 855 s to complete shutdown. When operating stably the temperature fluctuation of the PEM remains below 5 °C demonstrating the excellent temperature control performance. However during cold start-up and shutdown the concentrations of hydrogen and oxygen fluctuate significantly which can easily lead to a decrease in system performance. These findings provide guidance for optimizing the design and operating parameters of PEM Electrolyze systems.
Learning in Green Hydrogen Production: Insights from a Novel European Dataset
Jun 2025
Publication
The cost reduction of electrolysers is critical for scaling up green hydrogen production and achieving decarbonization targets. This study presents a novel and comprehensive dataset of electrolyser projects in Europe. It includes full cost and capacity details for each project and capturing project-specific characteristics such as technology type location and project type for the period 2005–2030. We apply the learning curve methodology to assess cost reductions across different electrolyser technologies and project sizes. Our findings indicate a significant learning effect for PEM and AEL electrolysers in the last 20 years with learning rates of 32.1% and 22.9% respectively. While AEL cost reductions are primarily driven by scaling effects PEM electrolysers benefit from both technological advancements and economies of scale. Small-scale electrolysers exhibit a stronger learning effect (25%) whereas large-scale projects show no clear cost reductions due to their early stage of deployment. Projections based on our learning rates suggest that reaching Europe’s 2030 target of 40 GW electrolyser capacity would require an estimated total investment of 14 billion EUR. These results align closely with previous studies and such predictions are closed to estimates from other organization. The dataset is publicly available allowing for further analysis and periodic updates to track cost trends.
Artificial Intelligence-based Multi-objective Optimization of a Solar-driven System for Hydrogen Production with Integrated Oxygen and Power Co-generation Across Different Climates
Oct 2025
Publication
This study develops and optimizes a solar-powered system for hydrogen generation with oxygen and power coproducts addressing the need for efficient scalable carbon-free energy solutions. The system combines a linear parabolic collector a Steam Rankine cycle and a Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer (PEME) to produce electricity for electrolysis. Thermodynamic modeling was accomplished in Engineering Equation Solver while a hybrid Artificial Intelligence (AI) framework combining Artificial Neural Networks and Genetic Algorithms in Statistica coupled with Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) decision support optimized technical and economic performance. Optimization considered seven key decision variables covering collector design thermodynamic inputs and component efficiencies. The optimization achieved energy and exergy efficiencies of 30.83 % and 26.32 % costing 47.02 USD/h and avoiding CO2 emissions equivalent to 190 USD/ton. Economic and exergy analyses showed the solar and hydrogen units had the highest costs (38.17 USD/h and 9.61 USD/h) with 4503 kWh of exergy destruction to generate 575 kWh of electricity. A case study across six cities suggested that Perth Bunbury and Adelaide with higher solar irradiance delivered the highest annual power and hydrogen outputs consistent with irradiance–electrolyzer correlation. Unlike conventional single-site studies this work delivers a climate-responsive multi-city analysis integrating solar thermal and PEME within an AI-driven framework. By linking techno-economic performance with quantified environmental value and co-production synergies of hydrogen oxygen and electricity the study highlights a novel pathway for scalable clean hydrogen measurable CO2 reductions and global decarbonization with future work focused on digital twins and dynamic uncertainty-aware optimization.
The Concept of an Infrastructure Location to Supply Buses with Hydrogen: A Case Study of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland
Jun 2025
Publication
The growing energy crisis and increasing threat of climate change are driving the need to take action regarding the use of alternative fuels in transport including public transport. Hydrogen is undoubtedly a fuel which is environmentally friendly and constitutes an alternative to fossil fuels. The wider deployment of hydrogen-powered vehicles involves the need to adapt infrastructure to support the operation of these vehicles. Such infrastructure includes refuelling stations for hydrogen-powered vehicles. The widespread use of hydrogen-powered vehicles is dependent on the development of a network of hydrogen refuelling stations. The aim of this article is to propose the conceptual location of infrastructure for fuelling public transport vehicles with hydrogen in selected cities of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in particular the cities of Szczecin and Koszalin. The methodology used to determine the number of refuelling stations is described and the concept of the location for the refuelling stations has been proposed. Based on a set assumptions it was stated that two stations may be located in the Voivodeship in 2025 and seven stations in 2040. The research results will be of interest to infrastructure developers public transport companies and municipalities involved in making decisions related to the purchase and operation of hydrogen-powered buses.
Prospective Life Cycle Assessment of Future Swedish Hydrogen-powered Aviation Pathways
Jun 2025
Publication
Hydrogen-powered aviation is promoted as a low-carbon alternative for future long-distance air travel but its broader environmental impacts remain unclear. This study evaluates the potential environmental impacts of six future air travel pathways in Sweden including e-kerosene liquid hydrogen and fossil kerosene using prospective life cycle assessment. Results show that hydrogen-powered aviation has lower global warming potential than fossil kerosene but higher impacts on other environmental issues such as toxicity and land use. Key hotspots include resources in energy infrastructure and energy use in fuel production and airport operations however resource substitutions and energy efficiency improvements have limits. This study highlights the potential environmental benefits and tradeoffs of hydrogen-powered aviation and also the dependency of aviation on other sectors. Further research should integrate technological innovations in long-distance air travel pathways with scenarios that account for demand-side measures as well as regulatory political and economic barriers.
Technoeconomic analysis of Hydrogen Versus Natural Gas Considering Safety Hazards and Energy Efficiency Indicators
Aug 2025
Publication
Hydrogen (H2) is emerging as a key alternative to fossil fuels in the global energy transition. This study presents a comparative techno-economic analysis of H2 and natural gas (NG) focusing on safety hazards energy output CO2 emissions and cost-effectiveness aspects. Our analysis showed that compared to NG and other highly flammable gases like acetylene (C2 H2) and propane (C3 H8) H2 has a higher hazard potential due to factors such as its wide flammability range low ignition energy and high flame speed. In terms of energy output 1 kg of NG produces 48.60 MJ while conversion to liquefied natural gas (LNG) grey H2 and blue H2 reduces energy output to 45.96 MJ 35.45 MJ and 31.21 MJ respectively. Similarly while unconverted NG emits 2.72 kg of CO2 per kg emissions increase to 3.12 kg for LNG and 3.32 kg for grey H2. However blue H2 significantly reduces CO2 emissions to 1.05 kg per kg due to carbon capture and storage. From an economic perspective producing 1 kg of NG yields a profit of $0.011. Converting NG to grey H2 is most profitable yielding a net profit of $0.609 per kg of NG while blue H2 despite higher production costs remains viable with a profit of $0.390 per kg of NG. LNG conversion also shows profitability with $0.061 per kg of NG. This analysis highlights the trade-offs between energy efficiency environmental impact and economic viability providing valuable insights for stakeholders formulating hydrogen and LNG implementation strategies.
The Need for Change: A Roadmap for the Sustainable Transformation of the Chemical Industry
Jun 2025
Publication
The chemical industry faces major challenges worldwide. Since 1950 production has increased 50-fold and is projected to continue growing particularly in Asia. It is one of the most energy- and resource-intensive industries contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and the depletion of finite resources. This development exceeds planetary boundaries and calls for a sustainable transformation of the industry. The key transformation areas are as follows: (1) Non-Fossil Energy Supply: The industry must transition away from fossil fuels. Renewable electricity can replace natural gas while green hydrogen can be used for high-temperature processes. (2) Circularity: Chemical production remains largely linear with most products ending up as waste. Sustainable product design and improved recycling processes are crucial. (3) Non-Fossil Feedstock: To achieve greenhouse gas neutrality oil gas and coal must be replaced by recycling plastics renewable biomaterials or CO2-based processes. (4) Sustainable Chemical Production: Energy and resource savings can be achieved through advancements like catalysis biotechnology microreactors and new separation techniques. (5) Sustainable Chemical Products: Chemicals should be designed to be “Safe and Sustainable by Design” (SSbD) meaning they should not have hazardous properties unless essential to their function. (6) Sufficiency: Beyond efficiency and circularity reducing overall material flows is essential to stay within planetary boundaries. This shift requires political economic and societal efforts. Achieving greenhouse gas neutrality in Europe by 2050 demands swift and decisive action from industry governments and society. The speed of transformation is currently too slow to reach this goal. Science can drive innovation but international agreements are necessary to establish a binding framework for action.
Energy Storage in the Energy Transition and Blue Economy: Challenges, Innovations, Future Perspectives, and Educational Pathways
Sep 2025
Publication
Transitioning to renewable energy is vital to achieving decarbonization at the global level but energy storage is still a major challenge. This review discusses the role of energy storage in the energy transition and the blue economy focusing on technological development challenges and directions. Effective storage is vital for balancing intermittent renewable energy sources like wind solar and marine energy with the power grid. The development of battery technologies hydrogen storage pumped hydro storage and emerging technologies like sodium-ion and metal-air batteries is discussed for their potential for large-scale deployment. Shortages in critical raw materials environmental impact energy loss and costs are some of the challenges to large-scale deployment. The blue economy promises opportunities for offshore energy storage notably through ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) and compressed air energy storage (CAES). Moreover the capacity of datadriven optimization and artificial intelligence to enhance storage efficiency is discussed. Policy interventions and economic incentives are necessary to spur the development and deployment of sustainable energy storage technology. Education and workforce training are also important in cultivating future researchers engineers and policymakers with the ability to drive energy innovation. Merging sustainability training with an interdisciplinary approach can potentially establish an efficient workforce that is capable of addressing energy issues. Future work needs to focus on higher energy density efficiency recyclability and cost-effectiveness of the storage technologies without sacrificing their environmental sustainability. The study underlines the need for converging technological economic and educational approaches to enable a sustainable and resilient energy future.
Day-Ahead Dispatch Optimization of an Integrated Hydrogen–Electric System Considering PEMEL/PEMFC Lifespan Degradation and Fuzzy-Weighted Dynamic Pricing
Sep 2025
Publication
Integrated Hydrogen–Energy Systems (IHES) have attracted widespread attention; however distributed energy sources such as photovoltaics (PV) and wind turbines (WT) within these systems exhibit significant uncertainty and intermittency posing key challenges to scheduling complexity and system instability. As a core mechanism for the integrated operation of IHES electricity price regulation can promote the absorption of renewable energy optimize resource allocation and enhance operational economy. Nevertheless uncertainties in IHES hinder the formulation of accurate electricity prices which easily lead to delays in scheduling responses and an increase in cumulative operating costs. To address these issues this study develops lifespan models for Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers (PEMELs) and Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) constructs dynamic equations for the demand side and response side and proposes a fuzzy-weighted dynamic pricing strategy. Simulation results show that compared with fixed pricing the proposed dynamic pricing strategy reduces economic indicators by an average of 15.3% effectively alleviates energy imbalance and optimizes the energy supply of components. Additionally it reduces the lifespan degradation of PEMELs by 21.59% and increases the utilization rate of PEMFCs by 54.8%.
Overcoming Hurdles and Harnessing the Potential of the Hydrogen Transition in Germany
Jun 2025
Publication
Green hydrogen has become a core element of Europe’s energy transition to assist in lowering carbon emissions. However the transition to green hydrogen faces challenges including the cost of production availability of renewable energy sources public opposition and the need for supportive government policies and financial initiatives. While there are other alternatives for producing low-carbon hydrogen for example blue hydrogen German funding favours projects that involve hydrogen production via electrolysis. Beyond climate goals it is anticipated that a green hydrogen industry will create economic benefits and a wide-range of collaborative opportunities with key international partnerships increasing energy security if done appropriately. Germany a leader in green hydrogen technology will need to rely on imports to meet long-term demand due to limited renewable energy capacity. Despite the current obstacles to transitioning to green hydrogen it is felt that ultimately the benefits of this industry and reducing emissions will outweigh the associated costs of production. This study analyses the hydrogen transition in Germany by interviewing 37 European experts guided by the research question: What are the key perceived barriers and opportunities influencing the successful adoption and integration of hydrogen technologies in Germany’s hydrogen transition?
Renewables, Electrification and Flexibility for a Competitive EU Energy System Transformation by 2030
Jun 2025
Publication
The European Union is on a pathway to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This report explores the historic and necessary efforts to align Europe′s electricity heating and transport systems with transformative EU benchmarks for 2030 to meet that longer-term goal. CO2 emissions have declined significantly in the EU electricity subsystem over the past few decades. This presents an important opportunity to decarbonise rapidly in the near future and to roll out electrification to other sectors while strengthening energy independence security and competitiveness for all EU countries. Through accelerated gains in energy and resource efficiency and the alignment of Member States′ efforts within a more coherent EU energy system the rapid electrification of buildings transport and industry can greatly reduce Europe′s reliance on foreign fossil fuels and unlock critical progress in heating and transport. Over the past five years EU policy frameworks for climate mitigation and energy system transformation have become far more coherent and complete. Infrastructure security and resilience have been bolstered through integrated climate and energy planning in tandem with national and cross-border efforts to ensure sound policy implementation. It is now critical that decision-makers translate objectives and priorities for the energy system transition into actionable measures. This includes crafting fiscal strategies to finance key upfront infrastructure investments; distributing the cost of capital proportionally to not overburden taxpayers; aligning taxation pricing and information signals across the whole energy system; and regularly monitoring and evaluating performance to recalibrate policies when needed.
Effect of Injection Timing on Gas Jet Developments in a Hydrogen Low-pressure Direct-injection Spark-ignition Engine
Sep 2025
Publication
Injection timing in low-pressure hydrogen direct injection (H2LPDI) engines plays a critical role in optimising gas jet structure and mixture formation due to the complex and transient nature of ambient air flow and density inside the cylinder. This study systematically investigates the macroscopic characteristics of gas jet development at five distinct injection timings from 210 to 120 ◦CA bTDC with the intake valve closure (IVC) as a reference point in a motored inline four-cylinder spark-ignition engine at 2000 rpm and 160 Nm load using low-pressure injection of 3.5 MPa. Optical access was made with two endoscopes: one for high-speed imaging and the other for laser insertion to realise laser shadowgraph imaging of the gas jet delivered using a side-mounted outwardopening pintle nozzle injector. The experimental results reveal spatial and temporal variations in jet morphology penetration spreading angle and mixture dispersion as a function of injection timing. Pre-IVC injection (210 ◦CA bTDC) produced a narrow mean cone angle of ~40◦ and the highest penetration-rate proxy (0.49) whereas postIVC injection (120 ◦CA bTDC) retained a wider ~53◦ cone yet reduced the penetration rate to 0.28 while increasing the sheet-based mixing index from − 0.084 to − 0.106. Pre-IVC injection occurring under low ambient pressure and with active intake airflow was found to produce elongated jets with enhanced penetration and mixing rates though accompanied by substantial cyclic variations. Conversely post-IVC injection was strongly influenced by a fully developed tumble flow which redirected the jet trajectory towards the pent-roof and facilitated mixing through increased turbulence. However the elevated air density constrained the jet penetration. At-IVC injection resulted in a more uniform and stable jet structure. However the lack of convective flow constrained the overall mixing effectiveness. Quantitative analysis of jet spreading angle pixel intensity gradient and centroid movement using 100 consecutive cycles confirms the critical role of injection timing in shaping the gas jet development as suggested by the images.
Harnessing Wind for Hydrogen: Comparative MCDM-GIS Assessment of Optimal Plant Locations
Jul 2025
Publication
This research aimed to perform an in-depth comparative analysis of MCDM methods utilizing ArcGIS Pro 3.0.2 to identify the most suitable sites for wind-powered hydrogen production plants in Erbil Governorate Iraq. VIKOR TOPSIS SAW and Weighted Overlay techniques were implemented and applied to evaluate various criteria. A comparative analysis determined that VIKOR had the highest consistency and robustness making it the most suitable approach for selecting a site for windpowered hydrogen facilities. Spatial analysis showed that the southern and southwestern regions of Erbil Governorate were the most favourable areas for hydrogen generation. Wind turbine technical feasibility assessments identified the E112/4500 and V126e3.45 turbine models as the most efficient for these regions with high annual hydrogen production. The spatial configuration including the optimal turbine spacing had a significant effect on the capacity and production potential. ArcPro integration with MCDM significantly enhanced spatial analysis providing high-resolution data processing and advanced visualization capabilities.
Flexible Economic Energy Management Including Environmental Indices in Heat and Electrical Microgrids Considering Heat Pump with Renewable and Storage Systems
Oct 2025
Publication
This study discusses energy management in thermal and electrical microgrids while taking heat pumps renewable sources thermal and hydrogen storages into account. The weighted total of the operating cost grid emissions level voltage and temperature deviation function and other factors makes up the objective function of the suggested method. The restrictions include the operationflexibility model of resources and storages micro-grid flexibility limits and optimum power flow equations. Point Estimation Method is used in this work to simulate load energy price and renewable phenomenon uncertainty. A fuzzy decision-making methodology is used to arrive at a compromise solution that satisfies network operators’ operational environmental and financial goals. The innovations of this paper include energy management of various smart microgrids simultaneous modeling of several indicators especially flexibility investigation of optimal performance of resources and storage devices and modeling of uncertainty considering low computational time and an accurate flexibility model. Numerical findings indicate that the fuzzy decision-making approach has the capability to reach a compromise point in which the objective functions approach their minimum values. The integration of the proposed uncertainty modeling with precise flexibility modeling results in a reduction in computational time when compared to stochastic optimization based on scenarios. For the compromise point and uncertainty modeling with PEM by efficiently managing resources and thermal and hydrogen storages scheme is capable of attaining high flexibility conditions. Compared to load flow studies the approach can enhance the operational environmental and economic conditions of smart microgrids by approximately 33–57% 68% and 33–68% respectively under these circumstances.
Research on Hydrogen Leakage Risk Control Methods in Deck Compartments of Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Powered Ships Based on CFD Simulation and Ventilation Optimization
Oct 2025
Publication
Hydrogen fuel cell vessels represent a vital direction for green shipping but the risk of large-scale hydrogen leakage and diffusion in their enclosed compartments is particularly prominent. To enhance safety a simplified three-dimensional model of the deck-level cabins of the “Water-Go-Round” passenger ship was established using SolidWorks (2023) software. Based on a hydrogen leakage and diffusion model the effects of leakage location leakage aperture and initial ambient temperature on the diffusion patterns and distribution of hydrogen within the cabins were investigated using FLUENT software. The results show that leak location significantly affects diffusion direction with hydrogen leaking from the compartment ceiling diffusing horizontally much faster than from the floor. When leakage occurs at the compartment ceiling hydrogen can reach a maximum horizontal diffusion distance of up to 5.04 m within 540 s; the larger the leak aperture the faster the diffusion with a 10 mm aperture exhibiting a 40% larger diffusion range than a 6 mm aperture at 720 s. The study provides a theoretical basis for the safety design and risk prevention of hydrogen fuel cell vessels.
Preliminary Design of Regional Aircraft—Integration of a Fuel Cell-Electric Energy Network in SUAVE
Mar 2025
Publication
To enable climate-neutral aviation improving the energy efficiency of aircraft is essential. The research project Synergies of Highly Integrated Transport Aircraft investigates cross-disciplinary synergies in aircraft and propulsion technologies to achieve energy savings. This study examines a fuel cell electric powered configuration with distributed electric propulsion. For this a reverse-engineered ATR 72-500 serves as a reference model for calibrating the methods and ensuring accurate performance modeling. A baseline configuration featuring a state-of-the-art turboprop engine with the same entry-into-service is also introduced for a meaningful performance comparison. The analysis uses an enhanced version of the Stanford University Aerospace Vehicle Environment (SUAVE) a Python-based aircraft design environment that allows for novel energy network architectures. This paper details the preliminary aircraft design process including calibration presents the resulting aircraft configurations and examines the integration of a fuel cell-electric energy network. The results provide a foundation for higher fidelity studies and performance comparisons offering insights into the trade-offs associated with hydrogen-based propulsion systems. All fundamental equations and methodologies are explicitly presented ensuring transparency clarity and reproducibility. This comprehensive disclosure allows the broader scientific community to utilize and refine these findings facilitating further progress in hydrogen-powered aviation technologies.
Case Study of a Greenfield Blue Hydrogen Plant: A Comparative Analysis of Production Methods
Jun 2025
Publication
Blue hydrogen is a key pathway for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while utilizing natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS). This study conducts a techno-economic and environmental analysis of a greenfield blue hydrogen plant in Saskatchewan Canada integrating both SMR and ATR technologies. Unlike previous studies that focus mainly on production units this research includes all process and utility systems such as H2 and CO2 compression air separation refrigeration co-generation and gas dehydration. Aspen HYSYS simulations revealed ATR’s energy demand is 10% lower than that of SMR. The hydrogen production cost was USD 3.28/kg for ATR and USD 3.33/kg for SMR while a separate study estimated a USD 2.2/kg cost for design without utilities highlighting the impact of indirect costs. Environmental analysis showed ATR’s lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) compared to SMR reducing its carbon footprint. The results signified the role of utility integration site conditions and process selection in optimizing energy efficiency costs and sustainability.
A Review of Green Hydrogen Technologies and Their Role in Enabling Sustainable Energy Access in Remote and Off-Grid Areas Within Sub-Saharan Africa
Sep 2025
Publication
Electricity access deficits remain acute in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where more than 600 million people lack reliable supply. Green hydrogen produced through renewablepowered electrolysis is increasingly recognized as a transformative energy carrier for decentralized systems due to its capacity for long-duration storage sector coupling and near-zero carbon emissions. This review adheres strictly to the PRISMA 2020 methodology examining 190 records and synthesizing 80 peer-reviewed articles and industry reports released from 2010 to 2025. The review covers hydrogen production processes hybrid renewable integration techno-economic analysis environmental compromises global feasibility and enabling policy incentives. The findings show that Alkaline (AEL) and PEM electrolyzers are immediately suitable for off-grid scenarios whereas Solid Oxide (SOEC) and Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolyzers present high potential for future deployment. For Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) the levelized costs of hydrogen (LCOH) are in the range of EUR5.0–7.7/kg. Nonetheless estimates from the learning curve indicate that these costs could fall to between EUR1.0 and EUR1.5 per kg by 2050 assuming there is (i) continued public support for the technology innovation (ii) appropriate flexible and predictable regulation (iii) increased demand for hydrogen and (iv) a stable and long-term policy framework. Environmental life-cycle assessments indicate that emissions are nearly zero but they also highlight serious concerns regarding freshwater usage land occupation and dependence on platinum group metals. Namibia South Africa and Kenya exhibit considerable promise in the early stages of development while Niger demonstrates the feasibility of deploying modular community-scale systems in challenging conditions. The study concludes that green hydrogen cannot be treated as an integrated solution but needs to be regarded as part of blended off-grid systems. To improve its role targeted material innovation blended finance and policies bridging export-oriented applications to community-scale access must be established. It will then be feasible to ensure that hydrogen
Operational Optimization of Electricity–Hydrogen Coupling Systems Based on Reversible Solid Oxide Cells
Sep 2025
Publication
To effectively address the issues of curtailed wind and photovoltaic (PV) power caused by the high proportion of renewable energy integration and to promote the clean and lowcarbon transformation of the energy system this paper proposes a “chemical–mechanical” dual-pathway synergistic mechanism for the reversible solid oxide cell (RSOC) and flywheel energy storage system (FESS) electricity–hydrogen hybrid system. This mechanism aims to address both short-term and long-term energy storage fluctuations thereby minimizing economic costs and curtailed wind and PV power. This synergistic mechanism is applied to regulate system operations under varying wind and PV power output and electricity–hydrogen load fluctuations across different seasons thereby enhancing the power generation system’s ability to integrate wind and PV energy. An economic operation model is then established with the objective of minimizing the economic costs of the electricity–hydrogen hybrid system incorporating RSOC and FESS. Finally taking a large-scale new energy industrial park in the northwest region as an example case studies of different schemes were conducted on the MATLAB platform. Simulation results demonstrate that the reversible solid oxide cell (RSOC) system—integrated with a FESS and operating under the dual-path coordination mechanism—achieves a 14.32% reduction in wind and solar curtailment costs and a 1.16% decrease in total system costs. Furthermore this hybrid system exhibits excellent adaptability to the dynamic fluctuations in electricity– hydrogen energy demand which is accompanied by a 5.41% reduction in the output of gas turbine units. Notably it also maintains strong adaptability under extreme weather conditions with particular effectiveness in scenarios characterized by PV power shortage.
Sustainable Transition Pathways for Steel Manufacturing: Low-Carbon Steelmaking Technologies in Enterprises
Jun 2025
Publication
Amid escalating global climate crises and the urgent imperative to meet the Paris Agreement’s carbon neutrality targets the steel industry—a leading contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions—confronts unprecedented challenges in driving sustainable industrial transformation through innovative low-carbon steelmaking technologies. This paper examines decarbonization technologies across three stages (source process and end-of-pipe) for two dominant steel production routes: the long process (BF-BOF) and the short process (EAF). For the BF-BOF route carbon reduction at the source stage is achieved through high-proportion pellet charging in the blast furnace and high scrap ratio utilization; at the process stage carbon control is optimized via bottom-blowing O2-CO2-CaO composite injection in the converter; and at the end-of-pipe stage CO2 recycling and carbon capture are employed to achieve deep decarbonization. In contrast the EAF route establishes a low-carbon production system by relying on green and efficient electric arc furnaces and hydrogen-based shaft furnaces. At the source stage energy consumption is reduced through the use of green electricity and advanced equipment; during the process stage precision smelting is realized through intelligent control systems; and at the end-of-pipe stage a closed-loop is achieved by combining cascade waste heat recovery and steel slag resource utilization. Across both process routes hydrogen-based direct reduction and green power-driven EAF technology demonstrate significant emission reduction potential providing key technical support for the low-carbon transformation of the steel industry. Comparative analysis of industrial applications reveals varying emission reduction efficiencies economic viability and implementation challenges across different technical pathways. The study concludes that deep decarbonization of the steel industry requires coordinated policy incentives technological innovation and industrial chain collaboration. Accelerating large-scale adoption of low-carbon metallurgical technologies through these synergistic efforts will drive the global steel sector toward sustainable development goals. This study provides a systematic evaluation of current low-carbon steelmaking technologies and outlines practical implementation strategies contributing to the industry’s decarbonization efforts.
Optimization Framework for Efficient and Robust Renewable Energy Hub Operation
Oct 2025
Publication
This research proposes an advanced optimization framework for renewable energy hubs within integrated electrical and thermal networks aimed at improving energy management. The motivation stems from the need for a more flexible and efficient solution that addresses the variability of renewable energy sources such as wind and bio-waste units while integrating storage solutions like hydrogen and thermal systems. The hypothesis is that combining a market-clearing price model with robust decision-making frameworks can optimize both economic viability and operational efficiency. The methodology adopts a two-tier optimization approach: the upper tier maximizes hub profits and the lower tier minimizes operational costs through a market-clearing price model. The study also incorporates a robust optimization model that accounts for decision-dependent uncertainties with a novel class of polyhedral uncertainty sets used for improved decision-making. Numerical results from case studies demonstrate that the proposed method increases the objective function by approximately 3% and achieves a 25% faster solution time compared to the Benders decomposition approach. These findings support the conclusion that the proposed framework enhances both flexibility and economic performance of energy hubs offering a viable solution for modern energy systems.
Techno-Economic Environmental Risk Analysis (TERA) in Hydrogen Farms
Sep 2025
Publication
This study presents a techno-economic environmental risk analysis (TERA) of large-scale green hydrogen production using Alkaline Water Electrolysis (AWE) and Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) systems. The analysis integrates commercial data market insights and academic forecasts to capture variability in capital expenditure (CAPEX) efficiency electricity cost and capacity factor. Using Libya as a case study 81 scenarios were modelled for each technology to assess financial and operational trade-offs. For AWE CAPEX is projected between $311 billion and $905.6 billion for 519 GW (gigawatts) of installed capacity equivalent to 600–1745 $/kW. PEM systems show a wider range of $612 billion to $1020 billion for 510 GW translating to 1200–2000 $/kW. Results indicate that AWE while requiring greater land use provides significant cost advantages due to lower capital intensity and scalability. In contrast PEM systems offer compact design and operational flexibility but at substantially higher costs. The five most economical scenarios for both technologies consistently feature low CAPEX and high efficiency while sensitivity analyses confirm these two parameters as the dominant cost drivers. The findings emphasise that technology choice should reflect context-specific priorities such as land availability budget and performance needs. This study provides actionable guidance for policymakers and investors developing cost-effective hydrogen infrastructure in emerging green energy markets.
Mitigating Microbial Artifacts in Laboratory Research on Underground Hydrogen Storage
Jul 2025
Publication
The global energy sector is aiming to substantially reduce CO2 emissions to meet the UN climate goals. Among the proposed strategies underground storage solutions such as radioactive disposal CO2 NH3 and underground H2 storage (UHS) have emerged as promising options for mitigating anthropogenic emissions. These approaches require rigorous research and development (R&D) often involving laboratory-scale experiments to establish their feasibility before being scaled up to pilot plant operations. Microorganisms which are ubiquitous in laboratory environments can significantly influence geochemical reactions under variable experimental conditions of porous media and a salt cavern. We have selected a consortium composed of Bacillus sp. Enterobacter sp. and Cronobacter sp. bacteria which are typically present in the laboratory environment. These microorganisms can contaminate the rock sample and develop experimental artifacts in UHS experiments. Hence it is pivotal to sterilize the rock prior to conduct experimental research related to effects of microorganisms in the porous media and the salt cavern for the investigation of UHS. This study investigated the efficacy of various disinfection and sterilization methods including ultraviolet irradiation autoclaving oven heating ethanol treatments and gamma irradiation in removing the microorganisms from silica sand. Additionally the consideration of their effects on mineral properties are reviewed. A total of 567 vials each filled with 9 mL of acid-producing bacteria (APB) media were used to test killing efficacy of the cleaning methods. We conducted serial dilutions up to 10−8 and repeated them three times to determine whether any deviation occurred. Our findings revealed that gamma irradiation and autoclaving were the most effective techniques for eradicating microbial contaminants achieving sterilization without significantly altering the mineral characteristics. These findings underscore the necessity of robust cleaning protocols in hydrogeochemical research to ensure reliable reproducible data particularly in future studies where microbial contamination could induce artifacts in laboratory research.
Underground Hydrogen Storage Suitability Index: A Geological Tool for Evaluating and Ranking Storage Sites
Jun 2025
Publication
Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS) is a promising solution to maximize the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier. This study presents a standardized methodology for assessing UHS quality by introducing the Underground Hydrogen Storage Suitability Index (UHSSI) which integrates three sub-indices: the Caprock Potential Index (CPI) the Reservoir Quality Index (RQI) and the Site Potential Index (SPI). Parameters such as porosity permeability lithology caprock thickness depth temperature and salinity are evaluated and ranked from 0 (unsuitable) to 5 (excellent). The methodology was validated using data from six worldwide sites including salt caverns and aquifers. Sites like Moss Bluff Clemens Dome and Spindletop (USA) scored highly while Teesside (UK) Lobodice (Czech Republic) and Beynes (France) were classified as unsuitable due to shallow depths and microbial activity. A software tool the UHSSI Calculator was developed to automate site evaluations. This approach offers a cost-effective tool for preliminary screening and supports the safer development of UHS.
Exploring the Gas Permeability of Type IV Hydrogen Storage Cylinder Liners: Research and Applications
Jul 2025
Publication
As hydrogen fuel cell vehicles gain momentum as crucial zero-emission transportation solutions the urgency to address hydrogen permeability through the polymer liner becomes paramount for ensuring the safety efficiency and longevity of Type IV hydrogen storage tanks. This paper synthesizes existing research findings analyzes the influence of different materials and structures on gas permeability elucidates the dissolution and diffusion mechanisms of hydrogen in plastic liners and discusses their engineering applications. We focus on measurement methods influencing factors and improvement strategies for liner gas permeability. Additionally we explore the prospects of Type IV hydrogen storage tanks in fields such as automotive aerospace and energy storage industries. Through this comprehensive review of liner gas permeability critical insights are provided to guide the development of efficient and safe hydrogen storage and transportation systems. These insights are vital for advancing the widespread application of hydrogen energy technology and fostering sustainable energy development significantly contributing to efforts aimed at enhancing the performance and safety of Type IV hydrogen storage tanks.
Global Warming Impacts of the Transition from Fossil Fuel Conversion and Infrastructure to Hydrogen
Jul 2025
Publication
Emissions from fossil fuel extraction conveyance and combustion are among the most significant causes of air pollution and climate change leading to arguably the most acute crises mankind has ever faced. The transition from fossil fuel-based energy systems to hydrogen is essential for meeting a portion of global decarbonization goals. Hydrogen offers certain features such as high gravimetric energy density that is required for heavy-duty shipping and freight applications and chemical properties such as high temperature combustion and reducing capabilities that are required for steel chemicals and fertilizer industries. However hydrogen that leaks has indirect climate implications stemming from atmospheric interactions that are emerging as a critical area of research. This study reviews recent literature on hydrogen’s global warming potential (GWP) highlighting its indirect contributions to radiative forcing via methane’s extended atmospheric lifetime tropospheric ozone formation and stratospheric water vapor formation. The 100-year GWP (GWP100) of hydrogen estimated to range between 8 and 12.8 underscores the need to minimize leakage throughout the hydrogen supply chain to maximize the climate benefits of using hydrogen instead of fossil fuels. Comparisons with methane reveal hydrogen’s shorter atmospheric lifetime and reduced long-term warming effects establishing it as a viable substitute for fossil fuels in sectors such as steel cement and heavy-duty transport. The analysis emphasizes the importance of accurate leakage assessments robust policy frameworks and advanced infrastructure to ensure hydrogen realizes its potential as a sustainable energy carrier that displaces the use of fossil fuels. Future research is recommended to refine climate models better understand atmospheric sinks and hydrogen leakage phenomena and develop effective strategies to minimize hydrogen emissions paving the way for environmentally sound use of hydrogen.
Injection Strategies in a Hydrogen SI Engine: Parameter Selection and Comparative Analysis
Oct 2025
Publication
Injection strategies play a crucial role in determining hydrogen engine performance. The diversity of these strategies and the limited number of comparative studies highlight the need for further investigation. This study focuses on the analysis parameter selection and comparison of single early and late direct injection single injection with ignition occurring during injection (the so-called jet-guided operation) and dual injection in a hydrogen spark-ignition engine. The applicability and effectiveness of these injection strategies are assessed using contour maps with ignition timing and start of injection as coordinates representing equal levels of key engine parameters. Based on this approach injection and ignition settings are selected for a range of engine operating modes. Simulations of engine performance under different load conditions are carried out using the selected parameters for each strategy. The results indicate that the highest indicated thermal efficiencies are achieved with single late injection while the lowest occur with dual injection. At the same time both dual injection and jet-guided operation provide advantages in terms of knock suppression peak pressure reduction and reduced nitrogen oxide emissions.
Multi-Objective Optimal Energy Management Strategy for Grid-Interactive Hydrogen Refueling Stations in Rural Areas
Mar 2025
Publication
The transportation sector is a significant contributor to global carbon emissions thus necessitating a transition toward renewable energy sources (RESs) and electric vehicles (EVs). Among EV technologies fuel-cell EVs (FCEVs) offer distinct advantages in terms of refueling time and operational efficiency thus rendering them a promising solution for sustainable transportation. Nevertheless the integration of FCEVs in rural areas poses challenges due to the limited availability of refueling infrastructure and constraints in energy access. In order to address these challenges this study proposes a multi-objective energy management model for a hydrogen refueling station (HRS) integrated with RESs a battery storage system an electrolyzer (EL) a fuel cell (FC) and a hydrogen tank serving diverse FCEVs in rural areas. The model formulated using mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) optimizes station operations to maximize both cost and load factor performance. Additionally bi-directional trading with the power grid and hydrogen network enhances energy flexibility and grid stability enabling a more resilient and self-sufficient energy system. To the best of the authors’ knowledge this study is the first in the literature to present a multi-objective optimal management approach for grid-interactive renewablesupported HRSs serving hydrogen-powered vehicles in rural areas. The simulation results demonstrate that RES integration improves economic feasibility by reducing costs and increasing financial gains while maximizing the load factor enhances efficiency cost-driven strategies that may impact stability. The impact of the EL on cost is more significant while RES capacity has a relatively smaller effect on cost. However its influence on the load factor is substantial. The optimization of RES-supported hydrogen production has been demonstrated to reduce external dependency thereby enabling surplus trading and increasing financial gains to the tune of USD 587.83. Furthermore the system enhances sustainability by eliminating gasoline consumption and significantly reducing carbon emissions thus supporting the transition to a cleaner and more efficient transportation ecosystem.
Hydrogen Generation through Solar Photocatalytic Processes: A Review of the Configuration and the Properties of Effective Metal-Based Semiconductor Nanomaterials
Oct 2017
Publication
Photocatalytic water splitting and organic reforming based on nano-sized composites are gaining increasing interest due to the possibility of generating hydrogen by employing solar energy with low environmental impact. Although great efforts in developing materials ensuring high specific photoactivity have been recently recorded in the literature survey the solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiencies are currently still far from meeting the minimum requirements for real solar applications. This review aims at reporting the most significant results recently collected in the field of hydrogen generation through photocatalytic water splitting and organic reforming with specific focus on metal-based semiconductor nanomaterials (e.g. metal oxides metal (oxy)nitrides and metal (oxy)sulfides) used as photocatalysts under UVA or visible light irradiation. Recent developments for improving the photoefficiency for hydrogen generation of most used metal-based composites are pointed out. The main synthesis and operating variables affecting photocatalytic water splitting and organic reforming over metal-based nanocomposites are critically evaluated.
A Proposal of Hydrogen Safety Technology for Decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station
Mar 2025
Publication
The safe removal transportation and long-term storage of fuel debris in the decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi is the biggest challenge facing Japan. In the nuclear power field passive autocatalytic recombiners (PARs) have become established as a technology to prevent hydrogen explosions inside the containment vessel. To utilize PAR as a measure to reduce the concentration of hydrogen generated in the fuel debris storage canister which is currently an issue it is required to perform in a sealed environment with high doses of radiation low temperature and high humidity and there are many challenges different from conventional PAR. A honeycombshaped catalyst based on automotive catalyst technology has been newly designed as a PAR and research has been conducted to solve unique problems such as high dose radiation low temperature high humidity coexistence of hydrogen and low oxygen and catalyst poisons. This paper summarizes the challenges of hydrogen generation in a sealed container the results of research and a guide to how to use the PAR for fuel debris storage canisters.
Net-Zero Backup Solutions for Green Ammonia Hubs Based on Hydrogen Power Generation
Jun 2025
Publication
This paper explores cleaner and techno-economically viable solutions to provide electricity heat and cooling using green hydrogen (H2) and green ammonia (NH3) across the entire decarbonized value chain. We propose integrating a 100% hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine (e.g. Jenbacher JMS 420) as a stationary backup solution and comparing its performance with other backup technologies. While electrochemical storage systems or battery energy storage systems (BESSs) offer fast and reliable short-term energy buffering they lack flexibility in relocation and typically involve higher costs for extended backup durations. Through five case studies we highlight that renewable-based energy supply requires additional capacity to bridge longer periods of undersupply. Our results indicate that for cost reasons battery–electric solutions alone are not economically feasible for longterm backup. Instead a more effective system combines both battery and hydrogen storage where batteries address daily fluctuations and hydrogen engines handle seasonal surpluses. Despite lower overall efficiency gas engines offer favorable investment and operating costs in backup applications with low annual operating hours. Furthermore the inherent fuel flexibility of combustion engines eventually will allow green ammonia-based backup systems particularly as advancements in small-scale thermal cracking become commercially available. Future studies will address CO2 credit recognition carbon taxes and regulatory constraints in developing more effective dispatch and master-planning solutions.
Modeling Porosity Distribution Strategies in PEM Water Electrolyzers: A Comparative Analytical and Numerical Study
Jun 2025
Publication
Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) are a promising technology for green hydrogen production. However the adoption of PEMWE-based hydrogen production systems remains limited due to several challenges including high material costs limited performance and durability and difficulties in scaling the technology. Computational modeling serves as a powerful tool to address these challenges by optimizing system design improving material performance and reducing overall costs thereby accelerating the commercial rollout of PEMWE technology. Despite this conventional models often oversimplify key components such as porous transport and catalyst layers by assuming constant porosity and neglecting the spatial heterogeneity found in real electrodes. This simplification can significantly impact the accuracy of performance predictions and the overall efficiency of electrolyzers. This study develops a mathematical framework for modeling variable porosity distributions—including constant linearly graded and stepwise profiles—and derives analytical expressions for permeability effective diffusivity and electrical conductivity. These functions are integrated into a three-dimensional multi-domain COMSOL simulation to assess their impact on electrochemical performance and transport behavior. The results reveal that although porosity variations have minimal effect on polarization at low voltages they significantly influence internal pressure species distribution and gas evacuation at higher loads. A notable finding is that reversing stepwise porosity—placing high porosity near the membrane rather than the channel—can alleviate oxygen accumulation and improve current density. A multi-factor comparison highlights this reversed configuration as the most favorable among the tested strategies. The proposed modeling approach effectively connects porous media theory and systemlevel electrochemical analysis offering a flexible platform for the future design of porous electrodes in PEMWE and other energy conversion systems.
Who Is in and How? A Comprehensive Study on Stakeholder Perspectives in the Green Hydrogen Sector in Luxembourg
Oct 2025
Publication
Green hydrogen has the potential to contribute to the decarbonization of the fossil fuel industry and its development is expected to increase in the coming years. The social dynamics among the various actors in the green hydrogen sector are studied to understand their public perception. Using the technological innovation system research approach for the stakeholder analysis and the qualitative thematic analysis method for the interviews with experts this study presents an overview of the actors in the green hydrogen sector and their relations in Luxembourg. As a central European country with strategic political and geographic relevance Luxembourg offers a timely case for analyzing public perception before the large-scale implementation of green hydrogen. Observing this early stage allows for future comparative insights as the national hydrogen strategy progresses. Results show high expectations for green hydrogen in mobility and industry but concerns persist over infrastructure costs safety and public awareness. Regional stakeholders demonstrate a strong willingness to collaborate recognizing that local public acceptance still requires effort particularly in areas such as clear and inclusive communication sharing knowledge and fostering trust. These findings provide practical insights for stakeholder engagement strategies and theoretical contributions to the study of social dynamics in sustainability transitions.
Socio-political Determinants of Public Acceptance of Green Hydrogen
Mar 2025
Publication
Green hydrogen produced through renewable energy sources is emerging as a pivotal element in global energy transitions. Despite its potential public acceptance remains a critical barrier to its large-scale implementation. This study aims to identify the socio-political and demographic determinants of public acceptance of green hydrogen. Using advanced variable selection methods including ridge lasso and elastic net regression we analyzed perceptions of climate change trust in government policies and demographic characteristics. The findings reveal that individuals prioritizing climate change over economic growth perceiving its impacts as severe and recognizing it as South Korea’s most pressing issue are more likely to accept green hydrogen. Trust in the government’s climate change response also emerged as a key factor. Demographic characteristics such as younger age higher income advanced education smaller family size and conservative political ideology were significantly associated with greater acceptance. These results highlight the importance of raising public awareness about the urgency of climate change and enhancing trust in government policies to promote societal acceptance of green hydrogen. Policymakers should consider these factors when developing strategies to advance the adoption of green hydrogen technologies and foster sustainable energy transitions.
Machine Learning-driven Stochastic Bidding for Hydrogen Refueling Station-integrated Virtual Power Plants in Energy Market
Aug 2025
Publication
Virtual power plants (VPPs) are gaining significance in the energy sector due to their capacity to aggregate distributed energy resources (DERs) and optimize energy trading. However their effectiveness largely depends on accurately modeling the uncertain parameters influencing optimal bidding strategies. This paper proposes a deep learning-based forecasting method to predict these uncertain parameters including solar irradiation temperature wind speed market prices and load demand. A stochastic programming approach is introduced to mitigate forecasting errors and enhance accuracy. Additionally this research assesses the flexibility of VPPs by mapping the flexible regions to determine their operational capabilities in response to market dynamics. The study also incorporates power-to‑hydrogen (P2H) and hydrogen-to-power (H2P) conversion processes to facilitate the integration of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) into VPPs enhancing both technical and economic aspects. A network-aware VPP connected to generation resources storage facilities demand response programming (DRP) vehicle-to-grid technology (V2G) P2H and H2P is used to evaluate the proposed method. The problem is formulated as a convex model and solved using the GUROBI optimizer. Results indicate that a hydrogen refueling station can increase profits by approximately 49 % compared to the base case of directly selling surplus generation from renewable energy sources (RESs) to the market and profits can further increase to roughly 86 % when other DERs are incorporated alongside the hydrogen refueling station.
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