Publications

The production of hydrogen through water splitting in a photoelectrochemical cell suffers from an overpotential that limits the efficiencies. In addition hydrogen-peroxide formation is identified as a competing process affecting the oxidative stability of photoelectrodes. We impose spin-selectivity by coating the anode with chiral organic semiconductors from helically aggregated dyes as sensitizers; Zn-porphyrins and triarylamines. Hydrogen peroxide formation is dramatically suppressed while the overall current through the cell correlating with the water splitting process is enhanced. Evidence for a strong spin-selection in the chiral semiconductors is presented by magnetic conducting (mc-)AFM measurements in which chiral and achiral Zn-porphyrins are compared. These findings contribute to our understanding of the underlying mechanism of spin selectivity in multiple electron-transfer reactions and pave the way toward better chiral dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells.

In our previous studies of a plasma reformer system the effects of temperature of the reactants and input voltage have not been considered. In the present investigation the plasma reformer system has been modified to study the influence of the reactants’ temperature and input voltage on hydrogen production experimentally. The plasma reformer system includes a supersonic atomizer a plasma generator and a controlling device. In the experiment the operating parameters include the temperature of the reactants and the input voltage. The temperature of the reactants varies from 25 °C to 50 °C and the input voltage ranges from 12.5 V to 14.5 V. Results show that the increase in temperature of the reactants and input voltage will improve the production of hydrogen. In addition the improvement of heating on the reactants shows significant influence on hydrogen production.

Due to energy and environmental issues hydrogen has become a more attractive clean fuel. Furthermore there is high interest in producing hydrogen from biomass with a view to sustainability. The thermochemical process for hydrogen production i.e. gasification is the focus of this work. This paper discusses the mathematical modeling of hydrogen production process via biomass steam gasification with calcium oxide as sorbent in a gasifier. A modelling framework consisting of kinetics models for char gasification methanation Boudouard methane reforming water gas shift and carbonation reactions to represent the gasification and CO2 adsorption in the gasifier is developed and implemented in MATLAB. The scope of the work includes an investigation of the influence of the temperature steam/biomass ratio and sorbent/biomass ratio on the amount of hydrogen produced product gas compositions and carbon conversion. The importance of different reactions involved in the process is also discussed. It is observed that hydrogen production and carbon conversion increase with increasing temperature and steam/biomass ratio. The model predicts a maximum hydrogen mole fraction in the product gas of 0.81 occurring at 950 K steam/biomass ratio of 3.0 and sorbent/biomass ratio of 1.0. In addition at sorbent/biomass ratio of 1.52 purity of H2 can be increased to 0.98 mole fraction with all CO2 present in the system adsorbed.

After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (NPP) accident new regulatory requirements were enforced in July 2013 and a backfit was required for all existing nuclear power plants. It is required to take measures to prevent severe accidents and mitigate their radiological consequences. The Regulatory Standard and Research Department Secretariat of Nuclear Regulation Authority (S/NRA/R) has been conducting numerical studies and experimental studies on relevant severe accident phenomena and countermeasures. This article highlights fission product (FP) release and hydrogen risk as two major areas. Relevant activities in the S/NRA/R are briefly introduced as follows: 1. For FP release: Identifying the source terms and leak mechanisms is a key issue from the viewpoint of understanding the progression of accident phenomena and planning effective countermeasures that take into account vulnerabilities of containment under severe accident conditions. To resolve these issues the activities focus on wet well venting pool scrubbing iodine chemistry (in-vessel and ex-vessel) containment failure mode and treatment of radioactive liquid effluent. 2. For hydrogen risk: because of three incidents of hydrogen explosion in reactor buildings a comprehensive reinforcement of the hydrogen risk management has been a high priority topic. Therefore the activities in evaluation methods focus on hydrogen generation hydrogen distribution and hydrogen combustion.

Automated and electric mass transit will play a significant role in the connectivity of our cities and regions. But automated mass transit must be placed within the wider context of the optimum transport needs of those cities and regions— transport networks based on shared and multi-modal mobility. Realising the full potential of these networks will require sustained policy development and investment.<br/>This report examines current and future developments in the use of automation and new energy sources in land-based mass transit including rail and road mass transit point-to-point transport using automated vehicles and the role and responsibilities of the Commonwealth in the development of these technologies. It will analyse the opportunities and challenges presented by automation and new energy sources and the role the Australian Government has to play in managing this transport revolution.

In this study we model seven scenarios for the European power system in 2050 based on 100% renewable energy sources assuming different levels of future demand and technology availability and compare them with a scenario which includes low-carbon non-renewable technologies. We find that a 100% renewable European power system could operate with the same level of system adequacy as today when relying on European resources alone even in the most challenging weather year observed in the period from 1979 to 2015. However based on our scenario results realising such a system by 2050 would require: (i) a 90% increase in generation capacity to at least 1.9 TW (compared with 1 TW installed today) (ii) reliable cross-border transmission capacity at least 140GW higher than current levels (60 GW) (iii) the well-managed integration of heat pumps and electric vehicles into the power system to reduce demand peaks and biogas requirements (iv) the implementation of energy efficiency measures to avoid even larger increases in required biomass demand generation and transmission capacity (v) wind deployment levels of 7.5GWy−1 (currently 10.6GWy−1) to be maintained while solar photovoltaic deployment to increase to at least 15GWy−1 (currently 10.5GWy−1) (vi) large-scale mobilisation of Europe’s biomass resources with power sector biomass consumption reaching at least 8.5 EJ in the most challenging year (compared with 1.9 EJ today) and (vii) increasing solid biomass and biogas capacity deployment to at least 4GWy−1 and 6 GWy−1 respectively. We find that even when wind and solar photovoltaic capacity is installed in optimum locations the total cost of a 100% renewable power system (∼530 €bn y−1) would be approximately 30% higher than a power system which includes other low-carbon technologies such as nuclear or carbon capture and storage (∼410 €bn y−1). Furthermore a 100% renewable system may not deliver the level of emission reductions necessary to achieve Europe’s climate goals by 2050 as negative emissions from biomass with carbon capture and storage may still be required to offset an increase in indirect emissions or to realise more ambitious decarbonisation pathways.

The electric power industry sector has become increasingly aware of how counterproductive voltage sag affects distribution network systems (DNS). The voltage sag backfires disastrously at the demand load side and affects equipment in DNS. To settle the voltage sag issue this paper achieved its primary purpose to mitigate the voltage sag based on integrating a hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) with the DNS using a distribution static synchronous compensator (D-STATCOM) system. Besides this paper discusses the challenges and opportunities of D-STATCOM in DNS. In this paper using HFC is well-designed modeled and simulated to mitigate the voltage sag in DNS with a positive impact on the environment and an immediate response to the issue of the injection of voltage. Furthermore this modeling and controller are particularly suitable in terms of cost-effectiveness as well as reliability based on the adaptive network fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) fuzzy logic system (FLC) and proportional–integral (P-I). The effectiveness of the MATLAB simulation is confirmed by implementing the system and carrying out a DNS connection obtaining efficiencies over 94.5% at three-phase fault for values of injection voltage in HFC D-STATCOM using a P-I controller. Moreover the HFC D-STATCOM using FLC proved capable of supporting the network by 97.00%. The HFC D-STATCOM based ANFIS proved capable of supporting the network by 98.00% in the DNS.

To achieve the Paris Agreement’s long-term temperature goal current energy systems must be transformed. Australia represents an interesting case for energy system transformation modelling: with a power system dominated by fossil fuels and specifically with a heavy coal component there is at the same time a vast potential for expansion and use of renewables. We used the multi-sectoral Australian Energy Modelling System (AUSeMOSYS) to perform an integrated analysis of implications for the electricity transport and selected industry sectors to the mid-century. The state-level resolution allows representation of regional discrepancies in renewable supply and the quantification of inter-regional grid extensions necessary for the physical integration of variable renewables. We investigated the impacts of different CO₂ budgets and selected key factors on energy system transformation. Results indicate that coal-fired generation has to be phased out completely by 2030 and a fully renewable electricity supply achieved in the 2030s according to the cost-optimal pathway implied by the 1.5 °C Paris Agreement-compatible carbon budget. Wind and solar PV can play a dominant role in decarbonizing Australia’s energy system with continuous growth of demand due to the strong electrification of linked energy sectors.

This paper focuses on hydrogen production for green mobility applications (other applications are currently under investigation). Firstly a brief state of the art of hydrogen generation by hydrolysis with magnesium is shown. The hydrolysis performance of Magnesium powder ball–milled along with different additives (graphite and transition metals TM = Ni Fe and Al) is taken for comparison. The best performance was observed with Mg–10 wt.% g mixtures (95% of theoretical hydrogen generation yield in about 3 min). An efficient solution to control this hydrolysis reaction is proposed to produce hydrogen on demand and to feed a PEM fuel cell. Tests on a bench fitted with a 100 W Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell have demonstrated the technological potential of this solution for electric assistance applications in the field of light mobility.

The EU and a number of its member states have now published hydrogen strategies and Europe continues to lead the way in the decarbonisation of its gas sector. In this latest OIES Energy Podcast James Henderson talks with Martin Lambert and Simon Schulte about their latest paper entitled “Contrasting European Hydrogen Pathways” which examines the plans in six major EU countries. They discuss the outlook for various forms of hydrogen supply contrasting the potential for green hydrogen from renewable energy with the outlook for blue hydrogen using steam-reforming of methane as well as hydrogen generated from surplus nuclear energy. They also examine the potential sources of demand considering existing use of hydrogen in industrial processes as well as the potential for hydrogen to displace hydrocarbons in the steel and cement industries. Finally the podcast also looks at the potential for imports of hydrogen and its distribution within Europe while also considering some key milestones that can provide indicators of how the region’s hydrogen plans are playing out.

The podcast can be found on their website