Policy & Socio-Economics

Growth in Australia’s demand for engineers is fast outpacing supply. A significant challenge for Australia to achieve high projected low emissions hydrogen export targets by 2030 will be finding engineers with suitable knowledge skills and attributes to deliver hydrogen engineering projects safely and sustainably. This systematic review investigates educational outcomes needed to develop a hydrogen engineering workforce. Sixteen relevant studies published between 2003 and 2023 were identified to explore “What key knowledge skills and attributes support the development of a hydrogen engineering workforce?”. While these studies advocated the need for training and prescribed areas of required knowledge for the low-emissions hydrogen sector there was limited empirical evidence that informed what knowledge skills and attributes are relevant for entry to practice. This finding represents a significant opportunity for researchers to engage with employers and engineering practitioners within emerging low-emissions hydrogen sector capture empirical evidence and inform the design of educational programs.

As part of the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) SDG target 7.1 recognizes universal electrification and the provision of clean cooking fuel as two fundamental challenges for global society. Faltering progress toward SDG target 7.1 calls for innovative technologies to stimulate advancements. Hydrogen has been proposed as a versatile energy carrier to be applied in both pillars of SDG target 7.1: electrification and clean cooking. This paper conducts a semi-systematic literature review to provide the status quo of research on the application of hydrogen in the rationale of SDG 7.1 covering the technical integration pathways as well as the key economic environmental and social aspects of its use. We identify decisive factors for the future development of hydrogen use in the rationale of SDG target 7.1 and by complementing our analysis with insights from the related literature propose future avenues of research. The literature on electrification proposes that hydrogen can serve as a backup power supply in rural off-grid communities. While common electrification efforts aim to supply appliances that use lower amounts of electricity a hydrogen-based power supply can satisfy appliances with higher power demands including electric cook stoves while simultaneously supporting clean cooking efforts. Alternatively with the exclusive aim of stimulating clean cooking hydrogen is proposed to be used as a clean cooking fuel via direct combustion in distribution and utilization infrastructures analogous to Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). While expected economic and technical developments are seen as likely to render hydrogen technologies economically competitive with conventional fossil fuels in the future the potential of renewably produced hydrogen usage to reduce climate-change impacts and point-of-use emissions is already evident today. Social benefits are likely when meeting essential safety standards as a hydrogen-based power supply offers service on a high tier that might overachieve SDG 7.1 ambitions while hydrogen cooking via combustion fits into the existing social habits of LPG users. However the literature lacks clear evidence on the social impact of hydrogen usage. Impact assessments of demonstration projects are required to fill this research gap.

The global momentum towards hydrogen has led to various initiatives aimed at harnessing hydrogen’s potential. In particular low-carbon hydrogen is recognized for its crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions across hard-to-abate sectors such as steel cement and heavy-duty transport. This study focuses on the presentation of all hydrogen-related financing initiatives in Italy providing a comprehensive overview of the various activities and their geographical locations. The examined funding comes from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) from projects directly funded through the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) and from several initiatives supported by private companies or other funding sources (hydrogen valleys). Specific calls for proposals within the PNRR initiative outline the allocation of funds focusing on hydrogen production in brownfield areas (52 expected hydrogen production plants by 2026) hydrogen use in hard-to-abate sectors and the establishment of hydrogen refuelling stations for both road (48 refuelling stations by 2026) and railway transport (10 hydrogen-based railway lines). A detailed description of the funded initiatives (150 in total) is presented encompassing their geographical location typology and size (when available) as well as the funding they have received. This overview sheds light on regions prioritising decarbonisation efforts in heavy-duty transport especially along cross-border commercial routes as evident in northern Italy. Conversely some regions concentrate more on local transport typically buses or on the industrial sector primarily steel and chemical industries. Additionally the study presents initiatives aimed at strengthening the national manufacturing capacity for hydrogenrelated technologies alongside new regulatory and incentive schemes for hydrogen. The ultimate goal of this analysis is to foster connections among existing and planned projects stimulate new initiatives along the entire hydrogen value chain raise an awareness of hydrogen among stakeholders and promote cooperation and international competitiveness.

This article examines the role of European port authorities in assembling the green hydrogen frontier through the production of speculative connections with prospective hydrogen export zones in the global South. Specifically it analyses the role of a particular discursive tool the pre-feasibility report in fixing the meaning of Namibian territory for the purposes of green hydrogen export disembedding hydrogen products from the social political and ecological bases of their production. We argue that the green hydrogen frontier is fundamentally a speculative project insofar as it both accentuates the productive indeterminacy of green hydrogen as an energy commodity and develops a series of discursive strategies designed to measure map and capture the anticipated value of this commodity. The article’s findings advance geographical debates on energy territory and speculation by demonstrating the role of the port authority - an under-researched actor in the literature on energy transitions - in the reimagination and transformation of littoral territories in the global South.

Continuing from previous episodes about encouraging global investment in green hydrogen Patrick Molloy and Alicia Eastman speak with Ignacio de Calonje Chief Investment Officer IFC Global Infrastructure. Ignacio breaks down the role of the IFC and its relationship with other Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to encourage decarbonization and bespoke solutions for the Global South.

The podcast can be found on their website.

This report delves into the European renewable hydrogen supply chain to offer recommendations for Europe to become a leader in the hydrogen economy.

China as both a major energy consumer and the largest carbon emitter globally views carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) hydrogen production as a crucial and innovative technology for achieving its dual carbon goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. The development of such technologies requires strong policy guidance making the quantification of policy pathways essential for understanding their effectiveness. This study employs a data-driven framewor integrating LDA topic modeling and the PMC-TE index to analyze the regional and temporal dynamics of CCUS-hydrogen development policies. The research identifies 16 optimal policy topics highlighting gaps in policy design and implementation. The analysis uncovers significant fragmentation in policy pathways with supply-side policies receiving disproportionate attention while demand-side and environmental policies remain under-supported. Regional disparities are evident with wealthier provinces showing higher policy engagement compared to underdeveloped regions. The study also reveals that policy evolution has been largely reactive emphasizing the need for a more proactive and consistent long-term strategy. These findings provide valuable insights for creating more balanced integrated and regionally tailored policy approaches to effectively drive CCUS-hydrogen development in China.

Recently worldwide the attention being paid to hydrogen and its derivatives as alternative carbon-free (or low-carbon) options for the electricity sector the transport sector and the industry sector has increased. Several projects in the field of low-emission hydrogen production (particularly electrolysis-based green hydrogen) have either been constructed or analyzed for their feasibility. Despite the great ambitions announced by some nations with respect to becoming hubs for hydrogen production and export some quantification of the levels at which hydrogen and its derived products are expected to penetrate the global energy system and its various demand sectors would be useful in order to judge the practicality and likelihood of these ambitions and future targets. The current study aims to summarize some of the expectations of the level at which hydrogen and its derivatives could spread into the global economy under two possible future scenarios. The first future scenario corresponds to a business-as-usual (BAU) pathway where the world proceeds with the same existing policies and targets related to emissions and low-carbon energy transition. This forms a lower bound for the level of the role of hydrogen and its penetration into the global energy system. The second future scenario corresponds to an emission-conscious pathway where governments cooperate to implement the changes necessary to decarbonize the economy by 2050 in order to achieve net-zero emissions of carbon dioxide (carbon neutrality) and thus limit the rise in the global mean surface temperature to 1.5 ◦C by 2100 (compared to pre-industrial periods). This forms an upper bound for the level of the role of hydrogen and its penetration into the global energy system. The study utilizes the latest release of the annual comprehensive report WEO (World Energy Outlook—edition year 2023 the 26th edition) of the IEA (International Energy Agency) as well as the latest release of the annual comprehensive report WETO (World Energy Transitions Outlook—edition year 2023 the third edition) of the IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency). For the IEA-WEO report the business-as-usual situation is STEPS (Stated “Energy” Policies Scenario) and the emissions-conscious situation is NZE (Net-Zero Emissions by 2050). For the IRENA-WETO report the business-asusual situation is the PES (Planned Energy Scenario) and the emissions-conscious situation is the 1.5◦C scenario. Through the results presented here it becomes possible to infer a realistic range for the production and utilization of hydrogen and its derivatives in 2030 and 2050. In addition the study enables the divergence between the models used in WEO and WETO to be estimated by identifying the different predictions for similar variables under similar conditions. The study covers miscellaneous variables related to energy and emissions other than hydrogen which are helpful in establishing a good view of how the world may look in 2030 and 2050. Some barriers (such as the uncompetitive levelized cost of electrolysis-based green hydrogen) and drivers (such as the German H2Global initiative) for the hydrogen economy are also discussed. The study finds that the large-scale utilization of hydrogen or its derivatives as a source of energy is highly uncertain and it may be reached slowly given more than two decades to mature. Despite this electrolysis-based green hydrogen is expected to dominate the global hydrogen economy with the annual global production of electrolysis-based green hydrogen expected to increase from 0 million tonnes in 2021 to between 22 million tonnes and 327 million tonnes (with electrolyzer capacity exceeding 5 terawatts) in 2050 depending on the commitment of policymakers toward decarbonization and energy transitions.

Green hydrogen stands as a promising clean energy carrier with potential net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. However different system-level configurations for green hydrogen production yield different levels of efficiency cost and maturity necessitating a comprehensive assessment. This review evaluates the components of hydrogen production plants from technical and economic perspectives. The study examines six renewable energy sources—solar photovoltaics solar thermal wind biomass hydro and geothermal—alongside three types of electrolyzers (alkaline proton exchange membrane and solid oxide electrolyzer cells) and five hydrogen storage methods (compressed hydrogen liquid hydrogen metal hydrides ammonia and liquid organic hydrogen carriers). A comprehensive assessment of 90 potential system configurations is conducted across five key performance indicators: the overall system cost efficiency emissions production scale and technological maturity. The most cost-effective configurations involve solar photovoltaics or wind turbines combined with alkaline electrolyzers and compressed hydrogen storage. For enhanced system efficiency geothermal sources or biomass paired with solid oxide electrolyzer cells utilizing waste heat show significant promise. The top technologically mature systems feature combinations of solar photovoltaics wind turbines geothermal or hydroelectric power with alkaline electrolyzers using compressed hydrogen or ammonia storage. The highest hydrogen production scales are observed in systems with solar PV wind or hydro power paired with alkaline or PEM electrolyzers and ammonia storage. Configurations using hydro geothermal wind or solar thermal energy sources paired with alkaline electrolyzers and compressed hydrogen or liquid organic hydrogen carriers yield the lowest life cycle GHG emissions. These insights provide valuable decision-making tools for researchers business developers and policymakers guiding the optimization of system efficiency and the reduction of system costs.

Promoting the development of China’s hydrogen energy industry is crucial for achieving green energy transition. However existing research lacks systematic studies on the spatial layout of the hydrogen industry chain. This study constructed a comprehensive theoretical framework encompassing hardware infrastructure software systems and soft power. Using multi-source heterogeneous data GIS analysis and NVivo text coding methods the current regional layout and challenges of China’s hydrogen infrastructure industry chain were systematically evaluated. The findings determined that economically developed eastern regions lead in infrastructure and soft power while central and western regions leverage their resource and manufacturing advantages. Major challenges include regional imbalances in hardware infrastructure uneven distribution of soft power and misalignment between software systems and actual needs. Analysis of the “14th Five-Year Plan” of various regions elucidated deep insights into the diversity of local hydrogen energy development strategies identifying five types of hydrogen cities: resource-advantaged market-oriented regionally collaborative innovation-driven and policy-supported. Accordingly strategies to enhance industry chain synergy clarify city roles and optimize regional ecosystems were proposed. It is recommended to integrate hydrogen infrastructure with urban planning and incorporate environmental impact assessments into spatial optimization decisions. This study provides a systematic analytical framework and progressive policy recommendations for the efficient and green layout of China’s hydrogen infrastructure offering important implications for the sustainable development of the hydrogen industry and other rapidly developing economies.

Low-carbon hydrogen plays a key role in European industrial decarbonization strategies. This work investigates the cost-optimal planning of European low-carbon hydrogen supply chains in the near term (2025–2035) comparing several hydrogen production technologies and considering multiple spatial scales. We focus on mature hydrogen production technologies: steam methane reforming of natural gas biomethane reforming biomass gasification and water electrolysis. The analysis includes carbon capture and storage for natural gas and biomass-derived hydrogen. We formulate and solve a linear optimization model that determines the costoptimal type size and location of hydrogen production and transport technologies in compliance with selected carbon emission targets including the EU fit for 55 target and an ambitious net-zero emissions target for 2035. Existing steam methane reforming capacities are considered and optimal carbon and biomass networks are designed. Findings identify biomass-based hydrogen production as the most cost-efficient hydrogen technology. Carbon capture and storage is installed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions while electrolysis remains costdisadvantageous and is deployed on a limited scale across all considered sensitivity scenarios. Our analysis highlights the importance of spatial resolution revealing that national perspectives underestimate costs by neglecting domestic transport needs and regional resource constraints emphasizing the necessity for highly decarbonized infrastructure designs aligned with renewable resource availabilities.

Renewable hydrogen is a flexible and versatile energy vector that can facilitate the decarbonization of several sectors and simultaneously ease the stress on the electricity grids that are currently being saturated with intermittent renewable power. But hydrogen technologies are currently facing limitations related to existing infrastructure limitations available markets as well as production storage and distribution costs. These challenges will be gradually addressed through the establishment operation and scaling-up of hydrogen valleys. Hydrogen valleys are an important stepping stone towards the full-scale implementation of the hydrogen economy with the target to foster sustainability lower carbon emissions and derisk the associated hydrogen technologies. These hydrogen ecosystems integrate renewable energy sources efficient hydrogen production storage transportation technologies as well as diverse end-users within a defined geographical region. This study offers an overview of the hydrogen valleys concept analyzing the critical aspects of their design and the key segments that constitute the framework of a hydrogen valley. А holistic overview of the key characteristics of a hydrogen valley is provided whereas an overview of key on-going hydrogen valley projects is presented. This work underscores the importance of addressing challenges related to the integration of renewable energy sources into electricity grids as well as scale-up challenges associated with economic and market conditions society awareness and political decision-making.

The high potential in renewable energy sources (RES) and the availability of strategic minerals for green hydrogen technologies place Africa in a promising position for the development of a climate-compatible economy leveraging on hydrogen. This study reviews the potential hydrogen value chain in Africa considering production and final uses while addressing perspectives on policies possible infrastructures and facilities for hydrogen logistics. Through scientific studies research and searching in relevant repositories this review features the collection analysis of technical data and georeferenced information about key aspects of the hydrogen value chain. Detailed maps and technical data for gas transport infrastructure and liquefaction terminals in the continent are reported to inform and elaborate findings about readiness for hydrogen trading and domestic use in Africa. Specific maps and technical data have been also collected for the identification of potential hydrogen offtakers focusing on individual industrial installations to produce iron and steel chemicals and oil refineries. Finally georeferenced data are presented for main road and railway corridors as well as for most important African ports as further end-use and logistic platforms. Beyond technical information this study collects and discusses more recent perspectives about policies and implementation initiatives specifically addressing hydrogen production logistics and final use also introducing potential criticalities associated with environmental and social impacts.

Green hydrogen is expected to play a vital role in decarbonizing the energy system in Europe. However large-scale deployment of green hydrogen has associated potential trade-offs in terms of climate and other environmental impacts. This study aims to shed light on a comprehensive sustainability assessment of this large-scale green hydrogen deployment based on the EMPIRE energy system modeling compared with other decarbonization paths. Process-based Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is applied and connected with the output of the energy system model revealing 45% extra climate impact caused by the dedicated 50% extra renewable infrastructure to deliver green hydrogen for the demand in the sectors of industry and transport in Europe towards 2050. Whereas the analysis shows that green hydrogen eventually wins on the climate impact within four designed scenarios (with green hydrogen with blue hydrogen without green hydrogen and baseline) mainly compensated by its clean usage and renewable electricity supply. On the other hand green hydrogen has a lower performance in other environmental impacts including human toxicity ecotoxicity mineral use land use and water depletion. Furthermore a monetary valuation of Life Cycle Impact (LCI) is estimated to aggregate 13 categories of environmental impacts between different technologies. Results indicate that the total monetized LCI cost of green hydrogen production is relatively lower than that of blue hydrogen. In overview a large-scale green hydrogen deployment potentially shifts the environmental pressure from climate and fossil resource use to human health mineral resource use and ecosystem damage due to its higher material consumption of the infrastructure.

Hydrogen is gaining importance to decarbonize the energy system and tackle the climate crisis. This exploratory study analyzes three focus groups with representatives from relevant organizations in a Northern German region that has unique beneficial characteristics for the transition to a hydrogen economy. Based upon this data (1) a category system of innovation adoption barriers for hydrogen technologies is developed (2) decision levels associated with the barriers are identified (3) detailed insights on how decision levels contribute to the adoption barriers are provided and (4) the barriers are evaluated in terms of their importance. Our analysis adds to existing literature by focusing on short-term barriers and exploring relevant decision levels and their associated adoption barriers. Our main results comprise the following: flaws in the funding system complex approval procedures lack of networks and high costs contribute to hydrogen adoption barriers. The (Sub-)State level is relevant for the uptake of the hydrogen economy. Regional entities have leeway to foster the hydrogen transition especially with respect to the distribution infrastructure. Funding policy technological suitability investment and operating costs and the availability of distribution infrastructure and technical components are highly important adoption barriers that alone can impede the transition to a hydrogen economy.

This brochure provides a detailed overview of the EU’s funding mechanisms and an inspiring look at real projects managed by CINEA. These examples illustrate how diverse stakeholders from industry leaders to research institutions are translating hydrogen ambitions into impactful on-the-ground solutions that address both technological and societal needs.

Hydrogen valleys are envisaged (imagined) integrated industrial systems where hydrogen is produced stored and utilized. Here we show how hydrogen valleys as sociotechnical imaginaries are differentiated in terms of their specific configurations but homogenous in terms of reflecting the interests of large industrial fossil fuel suppliers and consumers. This path dependence is anticipated in sociotechnical transitions theory which emphasises the power of incumbents with vested interests to maintain basic templates or regimes of production and consumption. The simultaneously heterogeneous and homogenous nature of hydrogen valley imaginaries can be thought of as a form of glocalisation for which we draw on Roudometof's theory of glocalisation as involving the local refraction of diffusing global tendencies. To illustrate this we compare two hydrogen valleys one in the north of the Netherlands and one in southern Spain. In the north Netherlands the hydrogen valley imaginary comprises use of offshore windpower to electrolyse hydrogen for transport fuel and as feedstock to heavy industry in proximate regions including northern Germany and Belgium. This is consistent with existing gas distribution networks connecting industrial consumers. In the southern Spanish case the imaginary positions Spain as a major exporter of green hydrogen to the rest of Europe via onshore renewable electrolysis with export including via ocean tankers and chemical refining in existing infrastructure in Rotterdam. Overall the study explores empirically theoretically-informed themes concerning the interrelationship of mutually supportive local and global imaginaries – hence our term glocalised imaginaries.

This report is an output of the Clean Energy Technology Observatory (CETO) and is an update of the “Water electrolysis and hydrogen in the European Union” 2023 CETO report. CETO’s objective is to provide an evidencebased analysis feeding the policy making process and hence increasing the effectiveness of R&I policies for clean energy technologies and solutions. It monitors EU research and innovation activities on clean energy technologies needed for the delivery of the European Green Deal; and assesses the competitiveness of the EU clean energy sector and its positioning in the global energy market. CETO is being implemented by the Joint Research Centre for DG Research and Innovation Energy in coordination with DG Energy.

The combustion of liquid fossil fuels in the transportation sector disposal and incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) are the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions in cities across the world. In an effort to decarbonize the transportation sector the South African government is dedicated to advancing green trans portation through the hydrogen economy. Waste-to-hydrogen production can simultaneously achieve the goals of green transportation and waste management through widespread availability of hydrogen refuelling stations. This study assesses the techno-economic and environmental viability of waste-to-hydrogen refuelling stations in five selected South Africa cities. The refuelling stations’ capacity was determined based on assumption that a 5 kg hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicle is refuelled per day. The economic feasibility was premised on net present value (NPV) payback period (PBP) internal rate of return (IRR) and levelized cost of hydrogen refuelling (LCOHr). The environmental analysis was based on ecological efficiency and carbon emission reduction potential. Some of the main findings indicate that the City of Tshwane and City of Johannesburg have refuelling station capacities of 356 thousand kg/day H2 and 395 thousand kg/day H2 respectively. Economically the project is viable with positive NPV between 1.099 and 8.0563 Billion $ LCOHr in the range of 3.99 $/kg - 5.63 $/kg PBP of 9.03–13.74 years and IRR of 18.16 %–39.88 %. An ecological efficiency of 99.982 % was obtained which in dicates an environmentally friendly system with the potential to save 1439 million litres and 1563 million litres of diesel fuel and gasoline respectively capable of preventing about 4 kilo-tons of CO2 into the atmosphere annually. Sensitivity analysis indicates that reforming efficiency selling price of hydrogen and station capacity are crucial parameters with great influence on the economic profitability of waste-to-hydrogen refuelling station.

This research aims to determine the position and the breakthrough trajectory of sustainable energy technologies. Fine-grained insights into these breakthrough positions and trajectories are limited. This research seeks to fill this gap by analyzing sustainable energy technologies’ breakthrough positions and trajectories in terms of development application and upscaling. To this end the breakthrough positions and trajectories of seven sustainable energy technologies i.e. hydrogen from seawater electrolysis hydrogen airplanes inland floating photovoltaics redox flow batteries hydrogen energy for grid balancing hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and smart sustainable energy houses are analyzed. This is guided by an extensively researched and literature-based model that visualizes and describes these technologies’ experimentation and demonstration stages. This research identifies where these technologies are located in their breakthrough trajectory in terms of the development phase (prototyping production process and organization and niche market creation and sales) experiment and demonstration stage (technical organizational and market) the form of collaboration (public–private private–public and private) physical location (university and company laboratories production sites and marketplaces) and scale-up type (demonstrative and first-order and second-order transformative). For scientists this research offers the opportunity to further refine the features of sustainable energy technologies’ developmental positions and trajectories at a detailed level. For practitioners it provides insights that help to determine investments in various sustainable energy technologies.

Hydrogen is a zero-carbon energy carrier with potential to decarbonize industrial and transportation sectors but its life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions depend on its energy supply chain and carbon management measures (e.g. carbon capture and storage). Global support for clean hydrogen production and use has recently intensified. In the United States Congress passed several laws that incentivize the production and use of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022 which provides tax credits of up to $3/kg depending on the carbon intensity of the produced hydrogen. A comprehensive life-cycle accounting of GHG emissions associated with hydrogen production is needed to determine the carbon intensity of hydrogen throughout its value chain. In the United States Argonne’s R&D GREET® (Greenhouse Gases Regulated emissions and Energy use in Technologies) model has been widely used for hydrogen carbon intensity calculations. This paper describes the major hydrogen technology pathways considered in the United States and provides data sources and carbon intensity results for each of the hydrogen production and delivery pathways using consistent system boundaries and most recent technology performance and supply chain data.

This study examines the effects of transitioning to hydrogen production in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Palawan Province Philippines focusing on technology environment and stakeholder impact. This research conducted through a July 2022 survey aimed to assess public awareness knowledge risk perception and acceptance of hydrogen and its environmentally friendly variant green hydrogen infrastructure. Disparities were found between urban NCR and rural Palawan with lower awareness in Palawan. Safety concerns were highlighted with NCR respondents generally considering hydrogen production safe while Palawan respondents had mixed feelings particularly regarding nuclear-based hydrogen generation. This report emphasizes the potential ecological advantages of hydrogen technology but highlights potential issues concerning water usage and land impacts. It suggests targeted public awareness campaigns robust safety assurance programs regional pilot projects and integrated environmental plans to facilitate the seamless integration of hydrogen technology into the Philippines’ energy portfolio. This collective effort aims to help the country meet climate action obligations foster sustainable development and enhance energy resilience.

The coastal region of Ceará Brazil is expected to host offshore wind farms aimed at producing green hydrogen (GH2) through electrolysis. However the viability and cost of these developments may be affected by the mechanical behaviour of the marine subsoil which is largely composed of carbonate sands. These sediments are known for their complex and variable geotechnical properties which can influence the foundation performance. This study investigates the geotechnical characteristics of carbonate sands in comparison with quartz sands to support the design of offshore wind turbine foundations. Field testing using the Ménard pressuremeter and laboratory analyses including particle size distribution microscopy X-ray fluorescence calcimetry direct shear and triaxial testing were performed to determine the key strength and stiffness parameters. The results show substantial differences between carbonate and quartz sands particularly in terms of the stiffness and friction angle with notable variability even within the same material type. These findings highlight the need for site-specific characterisation in offshore foundation design. This study contributes data that can improve geotechnical risk assessments and assist in selecting appropriate foundation solutions under local conditions supporting the planned offshore wind energy infrastructure essential to Ceará’s green hydrogen strategy.

This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the feasibility of green hydrogen economies in Western and Southern African regions focusing on the ECOWAS and SADC countries. Utilizing a novel approach based on composite indicators the research evaluates the potential readiness and overall feasibility of green hydrogen production and export across these regions. The study incorporates various factors including the technical potential of renewable energy sources water resource availability energy security and existing infrastructure for transport and export. Country-specific analyses reveal unique insights into the diverse potential of nations like South Africa Lesotho Ghana Nigeria Angola and Namibia each with its unique strengths and challenges in the context of green hydrogen. The research findings underscore the complexity of developing green hydrogen economies highlighting the need for nuanced region-specific approaches that consider technical socioeconomic geopolitical and environmental factors. The paper concludes that cooperation and integration between countries in the regions may be crucial for the success of a future green hydrogen economy

Curtailment of renewable energy is a growing issue in global energy infrastructure. A case study is carried out to investigate wind energy curtailment occurring in Scotland which presents a growing issue with an increasing amount of renewable energy going to waste. Complex relationships between grid constraints and wind farm operations must be explored to maximise utilisation of low-carbon electricity and to avoid the “turnup” of non-renewable sources. Transmission zones and boundaries are considered and mapped and a novel method of direct measurement of curtailment for transmission-level assets is proposed with an intuitive reproducible approach utilising balancing mechanism data. Curtailment data is examined and combined to find national trends explore the viability of distributed hydrogen electrolysis and compare curtailment and constraint directly across transmission boundaries. The weaknesses of the data collection methods are considered solutions for a future iteration are proposed and further uses of the outputs are discovered.