Production & Supply Chain
Hydrogen Production from Methanol–Water Solution and Pure Water Electrolysis Using Nanocomposite Perfluorinated Sulfocationic Membranes Modified by Polyaniline
Oct 2022
Publication
In this work we report the preparation of Nafion membranes containing two different nanocomposite MF-4SC membranes modified with polyaniline (PANI) by the casting method through two different polyaniline infiltration procedures. These membranes were evaluated as a polymer electrolyte membrane for water electrolysis. Operating conditions were optimized in terms of current density stability and methanol concentration. A study was made on the effects on the cell performance of various parameters such as methanol concentration water and cell voltage. The energy required for pure water electrolysis was analyzed at different temperatures for the different membranes. Our experiments showed that PEM electrolyzers provide hydrogen production of 30 mL/min working at 160 mA/cm2 . Our composite PANI membranes showed an improved behavior over pristine perfluorinated sulfocationic membranes (around 20% reduction in specific energy). Methanol–water electrolysis required considerably less (around 65%) electrical power than water electrolysis. The results provided the main characteristics of aqueous methanol electrolysis in which the power consumption is 2.34 kW h/kg of hydrogen at current densities higher than 0.5 A/cm2 . This value is ~20-fold times lower than the electrical energy required to produce 1 kg of hydrogen by water electrolysis.
Photocatalytic Water Splitting: How Far Away Are We from Being Able to Industrially Produce Solar Hydrogen?
Oct 2022
Publication
Solar water splitting (SWS) has been researched for about five decades but despite successes there has not been a big breakthrough advancement. While the three fundamental steps light absorption charge carrier separation and diffusion and charge utilization at redox sites are given a great deal of attention either separately or simultaneously practical considerations that can help to increase efficiency are rarely discussed or put into practice. Nevertheless it is possible to increase the generation of solar hydrogen by making a few little but important adjustments. In this review we talk about various methods for photocatalytic water splitting that have been documented in the literature and importance of the thin film approach to move closer to the large-scale photocatalytic hydrogen production. For instance when comparing the film form of the identical catalyst to the particulate form it was found that the solar hydrogen production increased by up to two orders of magnitude. The major topic of this review with thin-film forms is discussion on several methods of increased hydrogen generation under direct solar and one-sun circumstances. The advantages and disadvantages of thin film and particle technologies are extensively discussed. In the current assessment potential approaches and scalable success factors are also covered. As demonstrated by a film-based approach the local charge utilization at a zero applied potential is an appealing characteristic for SWS. Furthermore we compare the PEC-WS and SWS for solar hydrogen generation and discuss how far we are from producing solar hydrogen on an industrial scale. We believe that the currently employed variety of attempts may be condensed to fewer strategies such as film-based evaluation which will create a path to address the SWS issue and achieve sustainable solar hydrogen generation.
Storage Batteries in Photovoltaic-electrochemical Device for Solar Hydrogen Production
Aug 2021
Publication
Hydrogen produced by water electrolysis and electrochemical batteries are widely considered as primary routes for the long- and short-term storage of photovoltaic (PV) energy. At the same time fast power ramps and idle periods in PV power generation may cause degradation of water splitting electrochemical (EC) cells. Implementation of batteries in PV-EC systems is a viable option for smoothening out intermittence of PV power. Notably the spreading of PV energy over the diurnal cycle reduces power of the EC cell and thus its overpotential loss. We study these potential advantages theoretically and experimentally for a simple parallel connected combination of PV EC and battery cells (PV-EC-B) operated without power management electronics. We show feasibility of the unaided operation of PV-EC-B device in a relevant duty cycle and explore how PV-EC-B system can operate at higher solar-to-hydrogen efficiency than the equivalent reference PV-EC system despite the losses caused by the battery.
Overview of the Hydrogen Production by Plasma-Driven Solution Electrolysis
Oct 2022
Publication
This paper reviews the progress in applying the plasma-driven solution electrolysis (PDSE) which is also referred to as the contact glow-discharge electrolysis (CGDE) or plasma electrolysis for hydrogen production. The physicochemical processes responsible for the formation of PDSE and effects occurring at the discharge electrode in the cathodic and anodic regimes of the PDSE operation are described. The influence of the PDSE process parameters especially the discharge polarity magnitude of the applied voltage type and concentration of the typical electrolytic solutions (K2CO3 Na2CO3 KOH NaOH H2SO4 ) presence of organic additives (CH3OH C2H5OH CH3COOH) temperature of the electrolytic solution the active length and immersion depth of the discharge electrode into the electrolytic solution on the energy efficiency (%) energy yield (g(H2 )/kWh) and hydrogen production rate (g(H2 )/h) is presented and discussed. This analysis showed that in the cathodic regime of PDSE the hydrogen production rate is 33.3 times higher than that in the anodic regime of PDSE whereas the Faradaic and energy efficiencies are 11 and 12.5 times greater respectively than that in the anodic one. It also revealed the energy yield of hydrogen production in the cathodic regime of PDSE in the methanol–water mixture as the electrolytic solution is 3.9 times greater compared to that of the alkaline electrolysis 4.1 times greater compared to the polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis 2.8 times greater compared to the solid oxide electrolysis 1.75 times greater than that obtained in the microwave (2.45 GHz) plasma and 5.8% greater compared to natural gas steam reforming.
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Electrolyzer and Fuel Cell System Characterization for Power System Frequency Control
Mar 2022
Publication
This work focuses on tests for control reserve of a novel Power-to-Gas-to-Power platform based on proton exchange membrane technologies and on pure oxygen instead of air in the re-electrification process. The technologies are intended as a further option to stabilize the power system therefore helping integrating renewable energy into the power system. The tests are based on the pre-qualification tests used by Swissgrid but are not identical in order to capture the maximum dynamics by the plants. The main characteristics identified are the ramping capabilities of ±8% per unit per second for the electrolyzer system and ±33% per unit per second for the fuel cell system. The ramping capabilities are mainly limited by the underlying processes of polymer electrolyte membrane technologies. Additionally the current and projected round-trip efficiencies for Power-to-Gas-to-Power of 39% in 2025 and 48% in 2040 are derived. Furthermore during the successful tests the usage of oxygen in the present Power-to-Gas and Gas-to-Power processes and its influence on the dynamics and the round-trip efficiency was assessed. In consequence fundamental data on the efficiency and the dynamics of the Power-to-Gas-to-Power technologies is presented. This data can serve as basis for prospective assessments on the suitability of the technologies investigated for frequency control in power systems.
Life Cycle Assessment and Economic Analysis of an Innovative Biogas Membrane Reformer for Hydrogen Production
Feb 2019
Publication
This work investigates the environmental and economic performances of a membrane reactor for hydrogen production from raw biogas. Potential benefits of the innovative technology are compared against reference hydrogen production processes based on steam (or autothermal) reforming water gas shift reactors and a pressure swing adsorption unit. Both biogas produced by landfill and anaerobic digestion are considered to evaluate the impact of biogas composition. Starting from the thermodynamic results the environmental analysis is carried out using environmental Life cycle assessment (LCA). Results show that the adoption of the membrane reactor increases the system efficiency by more than 20 percentage points with respect to the reference cases. LCA analysis shows that the innovative BIONICO system performs better than reference systems when biogas becomes a limiting factor for hydrogen production to satisfy market demand as a higher biogas conversion efficiency can potentially substitute more hydrogen produced by fossil fuels (natural gas). However when biogas is not a limiting factor for hydrogen production the innovative system can perform either similar or worse than reference systems as in this case impacts are largely dominated by grid electric energy demand and component use rather than conversion efficiency. Focusing on the economic results hydrogen production cost shows lower value with respect to the reference cases (4 €/kgH2 vs 4.2 €/kgH2) at the same hydrogen delivery pressure of 20 bar. Between landfill and anaerobic digestion cases the latter has the lower costs as a consequence of the higher methane content.
Development Concept of Integrated Energy Network and Hydrogen Energy Industry Based on Hydrogen Production Using Surplus Hydropower
Apr 2020
Publication
The development of hydropower industry is progressing rapidly in China and the installed capacity and power generation are increasing year by year. However due to factors such as transmission channels and power grid peaking capacity hydropower consumption in some areas is facing greater pressure. As an excellent medium for energy interconnection hydrogen energy can play an important role in promoting hydropower consumption. This paper introduces the current status and trends of hydrogen energy development in major developed countries and China and analyzes the current status of China’s hydropower abandoned water. Based on the production of hydrogen using surplus hydropower in the Dadu River Basin in Sichuan an integrated energy network research plan including hydropower electrolytic hydrogen production storage and transportation hydrogen refueling and hydrogen-powered vehicles is proposed. At the same time the development concept of hydrogen energy industry including hydrogen energy source economy hydrogen energy industry ecosphere and hydrogen energy sky road in western Sichuan is also proposed.
Hydrogenerally - Episode 6: Waste to Hydrogen
Nov 2022
Publication
In this sixth episode Steffan Eldred Hydrogen Innovation Network Knowledge Transfer Manager and Debra Jones Chemistry Knowledge Transfer Manager from Innovate UK KTN discuss why converting waste to hydrogen is so important and explore the hydrogen transition opportunities and challenges in this sector alongside their special guest Rob Dent Senior Research Engineer - Energy Linde and Application Sales Engineer at BOC UK & Ireland.
The podcast can be found on their website.
The podcast can be found on their website.
Hydrogen Production in the Light of Sustainability: A Comparative Study on the Hydrogen Production Technologies Using the Sustainability Index Assessment Method
Sep 2021
Publication
Hydrogen as an environmentally friendly energy carrier has received special attention to solving uncertainty about the presence of renewable energy and its dependence on time and weather conditions. This material can be prepared from different sources and in various ways. In previous studies fossil fuels have been used in hydrogen production but due to several limitations especially the limitation of the access to this material in the not-too-distant future and the great problem of greenhouse gas emissions during hydrogen production methods. New methods based on renewable and green energy sources as energy drivers of hydrogen production have been considered. In these methods water or biomass materials are used as the raw material for hydrogen production. In this article after a brief review of different hydrogen production methods concerning the required raw material these methods are examined and ranked from different aspects of economic social environmental and energy and exergy analysis sustainability. In the following the current position of hydrogen production is discussed. Finally according to the introduced methods their advantages and disadvantages solar electrolysis as a method of hydrogen production on a small scale and hydrogen production by thermochemical method on a large scale are introduced as the preferred methods.
Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Observatory Hydrogen Molecule Market Report
Sep 2021
Publication
The purpose of the hydrogen molecule market analysis is to track changes in the structure of hydrogen supply and demand in Europe. This report is mainly focused on presenting the current landscape - that will allow for future year-on-year comparisons in order to assess the progress Europe is making with regards to deployment of clean hydrogen production capacities as well as development of demand for clean hydrogen from emerging new hydrogen applications in the mobility sector or in industry. The following report summarizes the hydrogen molecule market landscape and contains data about hydrogen production and consumption in the EEA countries (EU countries together with Switzerland Norway Iceland and Liechtenstein). Hydrogen production capacity is presented by country and by technology whereas the hydrogen consumption data is presented by country and by end-use sector. The analysis undertaken for this report was completed using data available at the end of 2019. Hydrogen market (on both the demand and supply side) is dominated by ammonia and refining industries with three countries (DE NL PL) responsible for almost half hydrogen consumption. Today hydrogen is overwhelmingly produced by reforming of fossil fuels (mostly natural gas). Clean hydrogen production capacities are insignificant with blue hydrogen capacities at below 1% and green hydrogen production capacity below 0.1% of total.
Economic Analysis of P2G Green Hydrogen Generated by Existing Wind Turbines on Jeju Island
Dec 2022
Publication
Every wind turbine is subject to fluctuations in power generation depending on climatic conditions. When electricity supply exceeds demand wind turbines are forced to implement curtailment causing a reduction in generation efficiency and commercial loss to turbine owners. Since the frequency and amount of curtailment of wind turbines increases as the amount of renewable energy become higher on Jeju Island in South Korea Jeju is configuring a Power to Gas (P2G) water electrolysis system that will be connected to an existing wind farm to use the “wasted energy”. In this study economic analysis was performed by calculating the production cost of green hydrogen and sensitivity analysis evaluated the variance in hydrogen cost depending on several influential factors. Approaches to lower hydrogen costs are necessary for the following reasons. The operating company needs a periodical update of hydrogen sale prices by reflecting a change in the system margin price (SMP) with the highest sensitivity to hydrogen cost. Technical development to reduce hydrogen costs in order to reduce power consumption for producing hydrogen and a decrease in annual reduction rate for the efficiency of water electrolysis is recommended. Discussions and research regarding government policy can be followed to lower the hydrogen cost.
Everything About Hydrogen Podcast: Easter Eggs
Feb 2023
Publication
On today’s episode of Everything About Hydrogen we speak with Raffi Garabedian CEO and Co-Founder of Electric Hydrogen (EH2) a deep decarbonization company pioneering new technology for low cost high efficiency fossil free hydrogen systems. By using electrolyzers many times larger than the industry standard EH2 aims to help eliminate more than 30% of global GHG emissions from difficult to electrify sectors like steel ammonia and freight.
We are excited to learn more from Raffi about the EH2 technology lessons learned by scaling First Solar and what we might expect to see next.
The podcast can be found on their website.
We are excited to learn more from Raffi about the EH2 technology lessons learned by scaling First Solar and what we might expect to see next.
The podcast can be found on their website.
Water Electrolysis and Hydrogen in the European Union
Nov 2022
Publication
Renewable and low carbon hydrogen is both an energy carrier able to produce other fuels and downstream products such as the e-fuels or e-ammonia and a decarbonised gas produced through renewable electricity. It has the potential to decarbonise hard to abate sectors which are difficult to directly electrify and play a crucial role in achieving net zero emissions target in 2050. The European Commission has recently outlined the policy context and necessary actions for the development and deployment of renewable and low carbon hydrogen within the 2030 time horizon with the Hydrogen Strategy for a Climate Neutral Europe Communication (the Hydrogen Strategy). The REPowerEU Communication4 has further addressed the joint EU and Member State actions needed in the context of the crisis triggered by the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the necessity to phase out dependence on Russian supplies. The EC has strengthened the policy narrative around hydrogen and increased objectives for a pan European framework accelerating and upscaling the production of RES and low-carbon hydrogen. The main objectives and actions of the REPowerEU Plan which build on the Hydrogen Strategy are the deployment of several tens of GW of electrolyser capacity and the production and imports of 10 Mt and 10 Mt respectively of renewable hydrogen by 2030. Currently the most mature and promising green hydrogen production technology is water electrolysis. The main technologies5 considered in this report are: Alkaline electrolysis Polymer Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysis Solid Oxide electrolysis and Anion Exchange Membrane electrolysers (AEM).
Technical Performance and Environmental Assessment of an Ionic Liquid-based CCS Process for Hydrogen Production
Apr 2023
Publication
Hydrogen (H2) production combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS) is anticipated to be an important technology contributing to reduce the carbon footprint of current fossil-based H2 production systems. This work addresses for the first time the techno-environmental assessment of a CCS process based on the ionic liquid [Bmim][Acetate] for H2 production by steam methane reforming (SMR) and the comparison to conventional amine-based systems. Two different SMR plants using MDEA or [Bmim][Acetate] for CO2 capture were rigorously modelled using Aspen Plus to compute material and energy needs and emissions. Literature and simulation results were then used to perform a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) of these processes based on the ReCiPe model. Solvent synthesis CCS process and hydrogen production stages were considered for the cradle-to-gate analysis. Results showed that although [Bmim][Acetate] is a priori more harmful to the environment than amines (in a kg-to-kg comparison) LCIAs carried out for both CCS processes showed from 5 to 17 % lower environmental impacts values for all estimated categories when using [Bmim][Acetate] due to a 9.4 % more energy-efficient performance than MDEA which also reduced a 17.4 % the total utility cost. Indeed if a typical amine loss rate of 1.6 kg/tCO2 is assumed the values of the environmental impacts increase up to 14 % for the IL-based CCS plant but still maintaining its favorable results over MDEA. As consequence the SMR plant with the IL-based CCS system exhibited 3–20 % lower values for most of the studied impact categories. These results contribute to shed some light on evaluating the sustainability of ILs with respect to conventional solvents for CO2 capture and to guide the synthesis of new more sustainable ILs but also they would be used to compare the environmental burdens from the synthesis and process performance of other promising ILs for CO2 capture that are not environmentally assed yet.
Economic and Environmental Assessment of Hydrogen Production from Brazilian Energy Grid
Apr 2023
Publication
The Brazilian energy grid is considered as one of the cleanest in the world because it is composed of more than 80% of renewable energy sources. This work aimed to apply the levelized costs (LCOH) and environmental cost accounting techniques to demonstrate the feasibility of producing hydrogen (H2 ) by alkaline electrolysis powered by the Brazilian energy grid. A project of hydrogen production with a lifetime of 20 years had been evaluated by economical and sensitivity analysis. The production capacity (8.89 to 46.67 kg H2/h) production volume (25 to 100%) hydrogen sale price (1 to 5 USD/kg H2 ) and the MAR rate were varied. Results showed that at 2 USD/kg H2 all H2 production plant sizes are economically viable. On this condition a payback of fewer than 4 years an IRR greater than 31 a break-even point between 56 and 68% of the production volume and a ROI above 400% were found. The sensitivity analysis showed that the best economic condition was found at 35.56 kg H2/h of the plant size which generated a net present value of USD 10.4 million. The cost of hydrogen varied between 1.26 and 1.64 USD/kg and a LCOH of 37.76 to 48.71 USD/MWh. LCA analysis showed that the hydrogen production project mitigated from 26 to 131 thousand tons of CO2 under the conditions studied.
Prospects and Technical Challenges in Hydrogen Production through Dry Reforming of Methane
Mar 2022
Publication
Environmental issues related to greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions have pushed the development of new technologies that will allow the economic production of low-carbon energy vectors such as hydrogen (H2 ) methane (CH4 ) and liquid fuels. Dry reforming of methane (DRM) has gained increased attention since it uses CH4 and carbon dioxide (CO2 ) which are two main greenhouse gases (GHG) as feedstock for the production of syngas which is a mixture of H2 and carbon monoxide (CO) and can be used as a building block for the production of fuels. Since H2 has been identified as a key enabler of the energy transition a lot of studies have aimed to benefit from the environmental advantages of DRM and to use it as a pathway for a sustainable H2 production. However there are several challenges related to this process and to its use for H2 production such as catalyst deactivation and the low H2/CO ratio of the syngas produced which is usually below 1.0. This paper presents the recent advances in the catalyst development for H2 production via DRM the processes that could be combined with DRM to overcome these challenges and the current industrial processes using DRM. The objective is to assess in which conditions DRM could be used for H2 production and the gaps in literature data preventing better evaluation of the environmental and economic potential of this process.
Feasibility of Hydrogen Production from Steam Reforming of Biodiesel (FAME) Feedstock on Ni-supported Catalysts
Jan 2015
Publication
The catalytic steam reforming of biodiesel was examined over Ni-alumina and Ni–ceria–zirconia catalysts at atmospheric pressure. Effects of temperatures of biodiesel preheating/vaporising (190–365 ◦C) and reforming (600–800 ◦C) molar steam to carbon ratio (S/C = 2–3) and residence time in the reformer represented by the weight hourly space velocity ‘WHSV’ of around 3 were examined for 2 h. Ni supported on calcium aluminate and on ceria–zirconia supports achieved steady state hydrogen product stream within 90% of the equilibrium yields although 4% and 1% of the carbon feed had deposited on the catalysts respectively during the combined conditions of start-up and steady state. Addition of dopants to ceria–zirconia supported catalyst decreased the performance of the catalyst. Increase in S/C ratio had the expected positive effects of higher H2 yield and lower carbon deposition.
Hydrogen Production: State of Technology
May 2020
Publication
Presently hydrogen is for ~50% produced by steam reforming of natural gas – a process leading to significant emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG). About 30% is produced from oil/naphtha reforming and from refinery/chemical industry off-gases. The remaining capacity is covered for 18% from coal gasification 3.9% from water electrolysis and 0.1% from other sources. In the foreseen future hydrogen economy green hydrogen production methods will need to supply hydrogen to be used directly as fuel or to generate synthetic fuels to produce ammonia and other fertilizers (viz. urea) to upgrade heavy oils (like oil sands) and to produce other chemicals. There are several ways to produce H2 each with limitations and potential such as steam reforming electrolysis thermal and thermo-chemical water splitting dark and photonic fermentation; gasification and catalytic decomposition of methanol. The paper reviews the fundamentals and potential of these alternative process routes. Both thermo-chemical water splitting and fermentation are marked as having a long term but high "green" potential.
Baseload Electricity and Hydrogen Supply Based on Hybrid PV-wind Power Plants
Sep 2019
Publication
The reliable supplies of electricity and hydrogen required for 100% renewable energy systems have been found to be achievable by utilisation of a mix of different resources and storage technologies. In this paper more demanding parameter conditions than hitherto considered are used in measurement of the reliability of variable renewable energy resources. The defined conditions require that supply of baseload electricity (BLEL) and baseload hydrogen (BLH2) occurs solely using cost-optimised configurations of variable photovoltaic solar power onshore wind energy and balancing technologies. The global scenario modelling is based on hourly weather data in a 0.45° × 0.45° spatial resolution. Simulations are conducted for Onsite and Coastal Scenarios from 2020 to 2050 in 10-year time-steps. The results show that for 7% weighted average cost of capital Onsite BLEL can be generated at less than 119 54 41 and 33 €/MWhel in 2020 2030 2040 and 2050 respectively across the best sites with a maximum 20000 TWh annual cumulative generation potential. Up to 20000 TWhH2HHV Onsite BLH2 can be produced at less than 66 48 40 and 35 €/MWhH2HHV in 2020 2030 2040 and 2050 respectively. A partially flexible electricity demand at 8000 FLh could significantly reduce the costs of electricity supply in the studied scenario. Along with battery storage power-to-hydrogen-to-power is found to have a major role in supply of BLEL beyond 2030 as both a daily and seasonal balancing solution. Batteries are not expected to have a significant role in the provision of electricity to water electrolysers.
Thermodynamic Analysis of the Effect of Green Hydrogen Addition to a Fuel Mixture on the Steam Methane Reforming Process
Oct 2021
Publication
Steam methane (CH4–H2O) reforming in the presence of a catalyst usually nickel is the most common technology for generating synthesis gas as a feedstock in chemical synthesis and a source of pure H2 and CO. What is essential from the perspective of further gas use is the parameter describing a ratio of equilibrium concentration of hydrogen to carbon monoxide (/ = 2/). The parameter is determined by operating temperature and the initial ratio of steam concentration to methane = 2 0 /4 0 . In this paper the author presents a thermodynamic analysis of the effect of green hydrogen addition to a fuel mixture on the steam methane reforming process of gaseous phase (CH4/H2)–H2O. The thermodynamic analysis of conversion of hydrogen-enriched methane (CH4/H2)–H2O has been performed using parametric equation formalism allowing for determining the equilibrium composition of the process in progress. A thermodynamic condition of carbon precipitation in methane reforming (CH4/H2) with the gaseous phase of H2O has been interpreted. The ranges of substrate concentrations creating carbon deposition for temperature T = 1000 K have been determined based on the technologies used. The results obtained can serve as a model basis for describing the properties of steam reforming of methane and hydrogen mixture (CH4/H2)– H2O.
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