Transmission, Distribution & Storage

CO₂ capture utilization and storage (CCUS) is recognized as a uniquely important option in global efforts to control anthropogenic greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. Despite significant progress globally in advancing the maturity of the various component technologies and their assembly into full-chain demonstrations a gap remains on the path to widespread deployment in many countries. In this paper we focus on the importance of business models adapted to the unique technical features and sociopolitical drivers in different regions as a necessary component of commercial scale-up and how lessons might be shared across borders. We identify three archetypes for CCUS development—resource recovery green growth and low-carbon grids—each with different near-term issues that if addressed will enhance the prospect of successful commercial deployment. These archetypes provide a framing mechanism that can help to translate experience in one region or context to other locations by clarifying the most important technical issues and policy requirements. Going forward the archetype framework also provides guidance on how different regions can converge on the most effective use of CCUS as part of global deep-decarbonization efforts over the long term.

The Pr and Sm co-doped ceria (with up to 20 mol.% of dopants) compounds were examined as catalytic layers on the surface of SOFC anode directly fed by biogas to increase a lifetime and the efficiency of commercially available DIR-SOFC without the usage of an external reformer.

The XRD SEM and EDX methods were used to investigate the structural properties and the composition of fabricated materials. Furthermore the electrical properties of SOFCs with catalytic layers deposited on the Ni-YSZ anode were examined by a current density-time and current density-voltage dependence measurements in hydrogen (24 h) and biogas (90 h). Composition of the outlet gasses was in situ analysed by the FTIR-based unit.

It has been found out that Ce_0.9Sm_0.1O_2-δ and Ce_0.8Pr_0.05Sm_0.15O_2-δ catalytic layers show the highest stability over time and thus are the most attractive candidates as catalytic materials in comparison with other investigated lanthanide-doped ceria enhancing direct internal reforming of biogas in SOFCs.

Marked degradation of tensile properties induced by plastic deformation after dynamic interactions between strain-induced martensite transformation and hydrogen has been investigated for type 316L stainless steel by hydrogen thermal desorption analysis. Upon modified hydrogen charging reported previously the amount of hydrogen desorbed in the low temperature range increases; the degradation of tensile properties induced by interactions between plastic deformation and hydrogen at 25 °C or induced by interactions between martensite transformation and hydrogen at −196 °C occurs even for the stainless steel with high resistance to hydrogen embrittlement. The hydrogen thermal desorption behavior is changed by each interaction suggesting changes in hydrogen states. For specimen fractured at 25 °C the facet-like morphology and transgranular fracture are observed on the outer part of the fracture surface. At −196 °C a quasi-cleave fracture is observed at the initiation area. Modified hydrogen charging significantly interacts both plastic deformation and martensite transformation eventually enhancing the degradation of tensile properties. Upon plastic deformation at 25° C after the interactions between martensite transformation and hydrogen by straining to 0.2 at −196 °C cracks nucleate in association with martensite formed by the interactions at −196 °C and marked degradation of tensile properties occurs. It is likely that the interactions between martensite transformation and hydrogen induce damage directly related to the degradation thereby affecting subsequent deformation. Upon dehydrogenation after the interactions between the martensite transformation and hydrogen no degradation of tensile properties is observed. The damage induced by the interactions between martensite transformation and hydrogen probably changes to harmless defects during dehydrogenation.

Smart energy hubs (Smart Hubs) equipped with Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) charging photovoltaic (PV) energy generation and hydrogen storage capabilities are an emerging technology with potential to alleviate the impact of electric vehicles (EV) on the electricity grid. Their operation however is characterised by intermittent PV energy generation as well as uncertainties in EV traffic and driver preference. These uncertainties when combined with the need to maximise their financial return while guaranteeing driver satisfaction yields a challenging decision-making problem. This paper presents a novel Monte-Carlo-based modelling and computational framework for simulating the operation of Smart Hubs — providing a means for a holistic assessment of their technical and financial viability. The framework utilises a compact and representative mathematical model accounting for power losses PV module degradation variability in EV uptake price inflation driver preference and diversity in charge points and EVs. It provides a comprehensive approach for dealing with uncertainties and dependencies in EV data while being built on an energy management algorithm that maximises revenue generation ensures driver satisfaction and preserves battery life. The energy management problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming problem constituting a business case that includes an adequate V2G reward model for drivers. To demonstrate its applicability the framework was used to assess the financial viability of a fleet management site for various caps on vehicle stay at the site. From the assessment controlled charging was found to be more financially rewarding in all cases yielding between 1.7% and 3.1% more revenue than uncontrolled charging. The self-consumption of the site was found to be nearly 100% due mainly to local load shifting and dispatchable hydrogen generation. V2G injection was however negligible — suggesting its unattractiveness for sites that do not participate in the demand side response market. Overall the numerical results obtained validate the applicability of the proposed framework as a decision-support tool in the sustainable design and operation of Smart Hubs for EV charging.

Among several candidates of hydrogen storage liquid hydrogen methylcyclohexane (MCH) and ammonia are considered as potential hydrogen carriers in terms of their characteristics application feasibility and economic performance. In addition as a main motor in the hydrogen introduction Japan has focused and summarized the storage methods for hydrogen into these three methods. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages compared to each other. This study focuses on the effort to analyze and clarify the potential of these three hydrogen storages especially in terms of physical characteristics energy efficiency and economic cost. Liquid hydrogen faces challenges in huge energy consumption during liquefaction and boil-off during storage. MCH has main obstacles in largely required energy in dehydrogenation. Lastly ammonia encounters high energy demand in both synthesis and decomposition (if required). In terms of energy efficiency ammonia is predicted to have the highest total energy efficiency (34–37%) followed by liquid hydrogen (30–33%) and MCH (about 25%). In addition from cost calculation ammonia with direct utilization (without decomposition) is considered to have the highest feasibility for being massively adopted as it shows the lowest cost (20–22 JPY/Nm3-H2 in 2050). However in case that highly pure hydrogen (such as for fuel cell) is demanded liquid hydrogen looks to be promising (24–25 JPY/Nm3-H2 in 2050) compared to MCH and ammonia with decomposition and purification.

Renewable energy is free abundant clean and could contribute towards a significant reduction of the global warming emissions. It is massively introduced as a source of electricity production across the globe and is expected to become the primary source of energy within the following decades. However despite the naturally replenished energy the supply is not always available. For this reason it is necessary at times of excess energy any surplus quantity to be sufficiently captured stored and later used when a deficit occurs. In this paper an overview of a backup power system operating with a hydrogen-biodiesel dual-fuel internal combustion engine is provided. The system is utilizing the organic chemical hydride method for safe hydrogen storage and transportation. The high energy content of hydrogen stored in the form of an organic hydride under ambient conditions makes it an ideal energy backup medium for large-scale and long-term applications. The research work focusses on the operation and emissions output of the dual-fuel internal combustion engine running on fully renewable fuels and the results are compared with the conventional petroleum-derived diesel engine. Biodiesel-hydrogen operation shows significant benefits in the reduction of carbon and soot emissions but deteriorates the NOx formation compared to the conventional diesel-powered engines. The operation of the engine at high loads can provide high exhaust thermal energy while alternative combustion strategies are necessary to be implemented at low load conditions for the optimum operation of the backup power system.

The increasing penetration of renewable and distributed resources signals a global boom in energy transition but traditional grid utilities have yet to share in much of the triumph at the current stage. Higher grid management costs lower electricity prices fewer customers and other challenges have emerged along the path toward renewable energy but many more opportunities await to be seized. Most importantly there are insufficient studies on how grid utilities can thrive within the hydrogen economy. Through a case study on the State Grid Corporation of China we identify the strengths weaknesses opportunities and threats (SWOT) of grid utilities within the hydrogen economy. Based on these factors we recommend that grids integrate hydrogen into the energy-as-a-service model and deliver it to industrial customers who are under decarbonization pressure. We also recommend that grid utilities fund a joint venture with pipeline companies to optimize electricity and hydrogen transmissions simultaneously.

With the imminent threat of the energy crises innovation in energy technologies is happening world-wide. The aim is to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Electric vehicles with fuel-cells that use hydrogen as an energy carrier are touted to be one of the most important potential replacements of the gasoline vehicle in both future transportation scenarios and emerging smart energy grids. However hydrogen storage is a major technical barrier that lies between where we are now and the mass application of hydrogen energy. Further exploration of onboard hydrogen storage systems (OHSS) is urgently needed and in this regard a comprehensive technology opportunity analysis will help. Hence with this research we drew on scientific papers and patents related to OHSS and developed a novel methodology for investigating the past present and future development trends in OHSS. Specifically we constructed a heterogeneous knowledge network using a unique multi-component structure with three core components: hydrogen carriers hydrogen storage materials and fuel cells. From this network we extracted both the developed and underdeveloped technological solutions in the field and applied a well-designed evaluation system and prediction model to score the future development potential of these technological solutions. What emerged was the most promising directions of research in the short medium and long term. The results show that our methodology can effectively identify technology opportunities in OHSS along with providing valuable decision support to researchers and enterprise managers associated with the development and application of OHSS.

Implementation of the hydrogen economy for emission reduction will require storage facilitiesand underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in porous media offers a readily available large-scale option. Lack ofstudies on multiphase hydrogen flow in porous media is one of the several barriers for accurate predictions ofUHS. This paper reports for the first time measurements of hysteresis in hydrogen-water relative permeabilityin a sandstone core under shallow storage conditions. We use the steady state technique to measure primarydrainage imbibition and secondary drainage relative permeabilities and extend laboratory measurements withnumerical history matching and capillary pressure measurements to cover the whole mobile saturation range.We observe that gas and water relative permeabilities show strong hysteresis and nitrogen as substitute forhydrogen in laboratory assessments should be used with care. Our results serve as calibrated input to field scalenumerical modeling of hydrogen injection and withdrawal processes during porous media UHS.

Green hydrogen is identified as one of the prime clean energy carriers due to its high energy density and a zero emission of CO2. A possible solution for the transport of H2 in a safe and low-cost way is in the form of liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs). As an alternative to loading LOHC with H2 via a two-step procedure involving preliminary electrolytic production of H2 and subsequent chemical hydrogenation of the LOHC we explore here the possibility of electrochemical hydrogen storage (EHS) via conversion of proton of a proton donor into a hydrogen atom involved in covalent bonds with the LOHC (R) via a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reaction: . 2 + +2 ― + ox↔ 0 2red We chose 9-fluorenone/fluorenol (Fnone/Fnol) conversion as such a model PCET reaction. The electrochemical activation of Fnone via two sequential electron transfers was monitored with in-situ and operando spectroscopies in absence and in presence of different alcohols as proton donors of different reactivity which enabled us to both quantify and get the mechanistic insight on PCET. The possibility of hydrogen extraction from the loaded carrier molecule was illustrated by chemical activation.