HIAD – hydrogen incident and accident database

The Hydrogen Incident and Accident Database (HIAD) is being developed as a repository of systematic data describing in detail hydrogen-related undesired events (incidents or accidents). It is an open web-based information system serving various purposes such as a data source for lessons learnt, risk communication and partly risk assessment. The paper describes the features of the three HIAD modules – the Data Entry Module (DEM), the Data Retrieval Module (DRM) and the Data Analysis Module (DAM) – and the potential impact the database may have on hydrogen safety. The importance of data quality assurance process is also addressed.     

Hydrogen supply chain architecture for bottom-up energy systems models. Part 2: Techno-economic inputs for hydrogen production pathways

This article is the second paper of a serial study on hydrogen energy system modelling. In the first study, we proposed a stylized hydrogen supply chain architecture and its pathways for the representation of hydrogen systems in bottom-up energy system models. In this current paper, we aim to present and assess techno-economic inputs and bandwidths for a hydrogen production module in bottom-up energy system models. After briefly summarizing the current technological status for each production method, we introduce the parameters and associated input data that are required for the representation of hydrogen production technologies in energy system modelling activities. This input data is described both as numeric values and trend line modes that can be employed in large or small energy system models. Hydrogen production technologies should be complemented with hydrogen storage and delivery pathways to fully understand the system integration. In this context, we will propose techno-economic inputs and technological background information for hydrogen delivery pathways in later work, as the final paper of this serial study.     

On the development of an International Curriculum on Hydrogen Safety Engineering and its implementation into educational programmes

The present paper provides an overview of the development of an International Curriculum on Hydrogen Safety Engineering and its implementation into new educational programmes. The curriculum is being developed as part of the educational and training activities of the European Network of Excellence “Safety of Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier” (HySafe). It has a modular structure consisting of five basic, six fundamental and four applied modules. The reasons for this particular structure are explained. To accelerate the development of teaching materials and their implementation in training/educational programmes, an annual European Summer School on Hydrogen Safety will be held (the first Summer School was from 15–24 August 2006, Belfast, UK), where leading experts deliver keynote lectures to an audience of researchers on topics covering the state-of-the-art in hydrogen safety science and engineering. The establishment of a postgraduate certificate course in hydrogen safety engineering at the University of Ulster (starting in January 2007) as a first step in the development of a worldwide system of hydrogen safety education and training is described.     

Development and environmental impact of hydrogen supply chain in Japan: Assessment by the CGE-LCA method in Japan with a discussion of the importance of biohydrogen

Hydrogen is an attractive and clean source of energy with a high energy content and environmentally friendly production using green power. Hydrogen is therefore considered to be one of the future alternatives to fossil fuels that can limit the damage done by climate change. A dynamic GTAP model with LCA method is utilized herein in this investigation to forecast the development of the hydrogen supply chain and CO₂ emissions in Japan. The supply chain incorporates six hydrogen-related industries – biohydrogen, steam reforming, electrolysis, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCV), hydrogen fuel cells (HFC), and hydrogen fueling stations.     

The importance of hydrogen for energy diversity of Turkey's energy production: 2030 projection

Hydrogen and hydrogen-related technologies will have an important role in world energy projection in the near future. Interest in hydrogen technologies will also increase, especially due to the smart cities concept and the increase in renewable energy supply. In addition to being a clean energy source, the tendency of hydrogen to 100% renewable energy supply makes it ahead of other alternative fuels. The share of hydrogen and related energy technologies in reducing global warming and emissions will continue to increase day by day. For this reason, projections and investment opportunities should be determined for the coming years. In energy projections, the evaluation of hydrogen in terms of energy diversity until 2030 is carried out with EnergyPlan software. Accordingly, the reduction in the amount of emissions and costs were determined by mixing hydrogen into the natural gas pipelines by 5–10, and 20% by volume by producing electrolyzers with photovoltaic systems and according to the number of vehicles with fuel cells in the transportation sector until 2030.     

Hydrogen and fuel cell activities at UNIDO-ICHET

To place hydrogen energy usage into proper perspective, International Center for Hydrogen Energy Technologies (ICHET) has been implementing measures to demonstrate potential benefits of the “hydrogen and fuel cell systems” in developing countries. Demonstration of technologies is the most important aspect of ICHET vision for the formation of an industry in the developing world. ICHET has embarked on a series of educational and laboratory activities designed to increase the knowledge and awareness of students and advanced researchers concerning hydrogen energy technologies. The state of the art fuel cell laboratory is available for joint technology development and demonstration activities. Internship activities facilitate knowledge transfer, exchange of information at regional, national and international levels and involve academics, researchers, experts and service providers. Collaboration is a key part of the organizational strategy for joint projects, funding and trainings in the field of hydrogen and fuel cells.     

Hydrogen the fuel for 21st century

Non-Conventional Energy Sources, such as solar and hydrogen energy will remain available for infinite period. One of the reasons of great worry for all of us is reducing sources of conventional energies. The rate of fossil fuel consumption is higher than the rate of the fossil fuel production by the nature. The results will be the scarcity of automobile fuel in the world which will create lot of problems in transport sector. The other aspect is pollution added by these sources in our environment which increases with more use of these sources, resulting in the poor quality of life on this planet. There is constant search of alternate fuel to solve energy shortage which can provide us energy without pollution.Hence most frequently discussed source is hydrogen which when burnt in air produces a clean form of energy. In the last one decade hydrogen has attracted worldwide interest as a secondary energy carrier. This has generated comprehensive investigations on the technology involved and how to solve the problems of production, storage and transportation of hydrogen. The interest in hydrogen as energy of the future is due to it being a clean energy, most abundant element in the universe, the lightest fuel, richest in energy per unit mass and unlike electricity, it can be easily stored. Hydrogen gas is now considered to be the most promising fuel of the future. In future it will be used in various applications, e.g. it can generate Electricity, useful in cooking food, fuel for automobiles, hydrogen powered industries, Jet Planes, Hydrogen Village and for all our domestic energy requirements.Hydrogen as a fuel has already found applications in experimental cars and all the major car companies are in competition to build a commercial car and most probably they may market hydrogen fuel automobiles in near future but at a higher cost compared to gasoline cars but it is expected that with time the cost of hydrogen run cars will decrease with time. Long lasting, light and clean metal hydride batteries are already commercial for lap top computers. Larger capacity batteries are being developed for electrical cars. Hydrogen is already being used as the fuel of choice for space programmes around the world. It will be used to power aerospace transports to build the international space station, as well as to provide electricity and portable water for its inhabitants. Present article deals with the storage and applications of hydrogen in the present energy scenario.     

Hydrogen in energy transition: A review

The energy transition is not something that awaits us in the next decade. On the contrary, it is a process in which we are already deeply enrolled. The main step towards the creation of a carbon-neutral society is the implementation of renewable energy sources (RES) as replacements for fossil fuels. Given the intermittency of RES, energy storage has an essential role to play in this transition. Hydrogen technology with its many advances was recognized to be the most promising choice. As multiple hydrogen applications were researched relatively recently, the current development of its technology is not yet on the large-scale implementation level. With the increasing number of studies and initiated projects, the utilization of hydrogen's immense ecological potential is to be expected in the next few decades. New innovative solutions of hydrogen technology that includes hydrogen production, storage, distribution, and usage, are permeating all industry sectors. In a rapidly changing world, technological advances bring forth public discussions, that are a deciding factor whether society will be able to adapt and accept those new contributions or reject them. Currently, hydrogen is the best associated with fuel cell electric vehicles which emit only water vapour and warm air, producing no harmful tailpipe emissions. As various scientists are stressing the gravity of climate change effects that are reaching the physical environment, ecosystems, and humanity in general, concern for the future is becoming the main global topic. Consequently, governments are implementing new sustainable policies that promote RES as a substitute for fossil fuels. Increasing progress in hydrogen technology instigated nations worldwide to incorporate hydrogen in their energy legislations and national development plans, which resulted in numerous national hydrogen strategies. This work shows the progress of hydrogen taking its place as a key factor of the future green energy society. It reviews recent developments of hydrogen technologies, their social, industrial, and environmental standing, as well as the stage of transitioning economies of both advanced and beginner countries. An example of the ongoing energy transition is Croatia, which is in the process of implementing a hydrogen strategy with the ambition to be able to one day equally participates in the rapidly emerging hydrogen market.     

French hydrogen markets in 2008 - Overview and future prospects

This study analyses the current industrial hydrogen markets in France on both a European and international scale, while endeavouring to assess future prospects by 2030. Hydrogen is produced either on purpose or unintentionally as a co-product. Intentional production of hydrogen, generally from natural gas, is classified as captive or merchant hydrogen. France produces about 920,000 metric tons of hydrogen annually. The producer and consumer industries are, in decreasing order of importance are: oil for refinery and petrochemicals, ammonia, iron & steel (co-production), chemicals, and chlorine (co-production). The intentional production of hydrogen from natural gas amounts to less than that co-produced: 40% compared with 60%. The amount of burned hydrogen is about 25% of the total. Production-related carbon dioxide emissions range between 1% and 2% of the total emissions in France. There is an increasing trend in the industrial hydrogen production, essentially due to the oil industry whereas a decline in production is expected in the ammonia industry. The annual production around 2030 should therefore be greater than 1 million metric tons (MMT) per year. If the iron & steel industry were to use hydrogen in every possible situation, it would double the total quantity of hydrogen produced and consumed in France.     

Flexibility improvement evaluation of hydrogen storage based on electricity–hydrogen coupled energy model

To achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, decarbonization in the energy sector is crucial. Hydrogen is expected to be vital for achieving the aim of carbon neutrality for two reasons: use of power-to-hydrogen (P2H) can avoid carbon emissions from hydrogen production, which is traditionally performed using fossil fuels; Hydrogen from P2H can be stored for long durations in large scales and then delivered as industrial raw material or fed back to the power system depending on the demand. In this study, we focus on the analysis and evaluation of hydrogen value in terms of improvement in the flexibility of the energy system, particularly that derived from hydrogen storage. An electricity–hydrogen coupled energy model is proposed to realize the hourly-level operation simulation and capacity planning optimization aiming at the lowest cost of energy. Based on this model and considering Northwest China as the region of study, the potential of improvement in the flexibility of hydrogen storage is determined through optimization calculations in a series of study cases with various hydrogen demand levels. The results of the quantitative calculations prove that effective hydrogen storage can improve the system flexibility by promoting the energy demand balance over a long term, contributing toward reducing the investment cost of both generators and battery storage and thus the total energy cost. This advantage can be further improved when the hydrogen demand rises. However, a cost reduction by 20% is required for hydrogen-related technologies to initiate hydrogen storage as long-term energy storage for power systems. This study provides a suggestion and reference for the advancement and planning of hydrogen storage development in regions with rich sources of renewable energy.     

Ovonic Renewable Hydrogen (ORH) – low temperature hydrogen from renewable fuels

ECD has developed a new technology to produce hydrogen from various organic matters. In this technology termed Ovonic Renewable Hydrogen (ORH), base material such as NaOH is used as a reactant to facilitate the reforming of the organic matters to hydrogen gas. This Base-Facilitated Reforming (BFR) process is a one-step process and has number of advantages over the conventional steam reforming and gasification processes including lower operation temperature and lower heat consumption. This paper will describe the ORH process and discuss its technological and economics advantages over the conventional hydrogen production processes. ORH process has been studied and demonstrated on variety of renewable fuels including liquid biofuels and solid biomass materials. Results of these studies will be presented.     

Hydrogen flow chart in China

In this paper, the life cycle of hydrogen, flowing from production to consumption in China is described. Chinese industry and statistics data are used to calculate the total and segmental hydrogen production and consumption, and the by-product hydrogen are estimated. In 2007, about 12.42 million tons hydrogen was generated on-site, in which, 57.3%, 23.0% and 19.7% were produced by coal, natural gas and oil respectively. Hydrogen is mainly consumed by the following manufacturing processes: ammonia, methanol and oil refining, and the corresponding percentages are 75.8%, 10.5% and 13.7%. There are about 5.3 million tons and 0.42 million tons of by-product hydrogen produced during the carbonization process and the sodium hydroxide producing respectively. The by-product hydrogen is collected and utilized in vehicles to fuel hydrogen fuel cells or internal combustion engine technologies. Therefore, it could replace about 16 million tons of gasoline or fuel 17.7 million hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.     

可再生能源制氢综合能源管理平台研究

  目的  氢能是一种绿色高效的清洁能源,可以通过多种方式转化为电能、热能等加以利用。可再生能源制氢是实现碳达峰、碳中和目标的重要支撑。可再生能源制氢属于新型项目,是电力行业与化工行业的结合,系统间耦合性不强,提高能源综合利用率是可再生能源制氢的研究重点。  方法  文章介绍了当前主要的制氢工艺,对比了灰氢、蓝氢和绿氢的主要特点,阐述了风电及光伏制氢的主要系统,并提出了通过构建综合能源管理平台对可再生能源制氢各系统进行统筹管控的思路。  结果  在综合能源管理平台制定控制策略可以平衡功率,实现最优调度从而减少弃风弃光,而且还可以降低单位制氢成本。  结论  综合能源管理平台可以提高可再生能源制氢的能源综合利用率,对可再生能源制氢项目的推广起到支撑的作用,为可再生能源制氢领域的研究人员提供了重要的参考借鉴     

An updated overview of Canada's hydrogen related research and development activities

Finding nature-friendly replacements for fossil-fuels based energy sources are considered vital, and such a task becomes critical for sustainable development. In this regard, hydrogen carries a significant weight potentially and becomes an essential driver in transitioning the economic sectors to carbon-free ones. While the world experiences this kind of transition with hydrogen, Canada appears to be among top ten countries conducting research, development and innovation activities extensively on hydrogen and intending to make hydrogen a key player in their green energy transition. In this study, the contributions of Canadian academic institutions, research centers and other organizations to hydrogen-related research, development and innovation activities over the last fifty years are studied and evaluated comparatively. A comprehensive literature search is conducted to identify the number of hydrogen-related research articles, books, dissertations, patents and funded projects affiliated with Canadian institutes. The findings are presented graphically and discussed from various perspectives. The conducted literature search results show that Canadian institutes have contributed to hydrogen research with a total of 112,454 scholarly publications from 1971 to 2021. During period, the number of hydrogen-related academic articles and books has become 108,437 and 2995, respectively. In the subject area of energy, the relatively young Canadian institution, Ontario Tech University, has contributed the highest to hydrogen research in Canada by producing about 11% of academic articles and about 27% of books, book chapters, and editorials in the subject matter field of hydrogen research and development activities.     

Hydrogen storage in porous geological formations – onshore play opportunities in the midland valley (Scotland,UK)

Hydrogen usage and storage may contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by decarbonising heating and transport and by offering significant energy storage to balance variable renewable energy supply. Underground storage of hydrogen is established in underground salt caverns, but these have restricted geographical locations within the UK and cannot deliver the required capacity. Hydrogen storage in porous geological formations has significant potential to deliver both the capacity and local positioning. This study investigates the potential for storage of hydrogen in porous subsurface media in Scotland. We introduce for the first time the concept of the hydrogen storage play. A geological combination including reservoir, seal and trap that provides the optimum hydrogen storage reservoir conditions that will be potential targets for future pilot, and commercial, hydrogen storage projects. We investigate three conceptual hydrogen storage plays in the Midland Valley of Scotland, an area chosen primarily because it contains the most extensive onshore sedimentary deposits in Scotland, with the added benefit of being close to potential consumers in the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. The formations assessed are of Devonian and Carboniferous age. The Devonian storage play offers vast storage capacity but its validity is uncertain due to due to a lack of geological data. The two Carboniferous plays have less capacity but the abundant data produced by the hydrocarbon industry makes our suitability assessment of these plays relatively certain. We conclude that the Carboniferous age sedimentary deposits of the D'Arcy-Cousland Anticline and the Balgonie Anticline close to Edinburgh will make suitable hydrogen storage sites and are ideal for an early hydrogen storage research project.     

Industry perceptions and community perspectives on advancing a hydrogen economy in Australia

Investment in the hydrogen economy is increasing at unprecedented rates. To ensure a swift transition, understanding the diverse perspectives of and how to work collaboratively with all sectors of society is needed. In doing so, how industry stakeholders understand community perceptions and view their role in mediating perceived issues needs to be better understood.Therefore, this study aims to investigate how industry assumptions of community perspectives of hydrogen technologies compare and contrast with those in an Australian context. Using inductive thematic analysis, this exploratory project analysed 45 publicly-available submissions received in 2019 for the National Hydrogen Strategy from the industry perspective, and 62 public submissions received in 2019–2020 for the Victorian Green Hydrogen Discussion Paper from the community perspective.Results show that industry stakeholder assumptions about community concerns tended to reflect specific technical issues as opposed to those reported by the community: moral obligations to climate, environment, and future generations. Findings indicate that further work is needed to better align industry understandings and characterisations of the broader public.Several practical implications for the energy sector are noted. First, hydrogen is unlikely to be immune to community concerns faced by other energy projects; therefore, a robust plan for community inclusion that considers a range of complex, contextual factors is required. Second, there is an opportunity for the formation of a more collaborative approach, which integrates industry and community goals and values. Third, industry and government may benefit from viewing the community as an under-utilised, valuable partnership or resource rather than an object to be managed as part of a development process. We contend that a collaborative framework, including approaches such as co-design and shared identity formation may be critical to furthering the hydrogen agenda.     

Hydrogen embrittlement in different materials: A review

Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) is a widely known phenomenon in high strength materials. HE is responsible for subcritical crack growth in material, fracture initiation and catastrophic failure with subsequent loss in mechanical properties such as ductility, toughness and strength. This hydrogen is induced in the material during electrochemical reaction and high-pressure gaseous hydrogen environment. LIST, SSRT and TDS techniques are performed to know the effect in mechanical properties and amount of hydrogen available in the material. For microstructure examination SEM, FESEM and TEM are performed to know the effect of hydrogen in the internal crystal structure. Also, various mechanisms which are responsible for crack growth and final fracture are discussed. This paper deals with HE definition, mechanisms which causes HE, subcritical crack growth, the concentration of hydrogen measurement and prevention activities are discussed which act as a barrier for hydrogen diffusion.     

Hydrogen storage in saline aquifers: The role of cushion gas for injection and production

Hydrogen stored on a large scale in porous rocks helps alleviate the main drawbacks of intermittent renewable energy generation and will play a significant role as a fuel substitute to limit global warming. This study discusses the injection, storage and production of hydrogen in an open saline aquifer anticline using industry standard reservoir engineering software, and investigates the role of cushion gas, one of the main cost uncertainties of hydrogen storage in porous media.The results show that one well can inject and reproduce enough hydrogen in a saline aquifer anticline to cover 25% of the annual hydrogen energy required to decarbonise the domestic heating of East Anglia (UK). Cushion gas plays an important role and its injection in saline aquifers is dominated by brine displacement and accompanied by high pressures. The required ratio of cushion gas to working gas depends strongly on geological parameters including reservoir depth, the shape of the trap, and reservoir permeability, which are investigated in this study. Generally, deeper reservoirs with high permeability are favoured. The study shows that the volume of cushion gas directly determines the working gas injection and production performance. It is concluded that a thorough investigation into the cushion gas requirement, taking into account cushion gas costs as well as the cost-benefit of cushion gas in place, should be an integral part of a hydrogen storage development plan in saline aquifers.     

Hydrogen production from biological systems under different illumination conditions

Hydrogen is a natural by-product of several microbial driven biochemical reactions, mainly in anaerobic fermentation processes. In addition, certain microorganisms produce enzymes by which H₂ from water may be obtained if an outside energy source, like sunlight, is provided. Biophotolysis is a biological process which involves solar energy and algae clusters to convert water into hydrogen. Algae pigments absorb solar energy and enzymes in the cell act as catalysts to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. There are many research activities studying hydrogen production from biological systems cyanobacteria and green algae and some studies present a complete outline of the main available pathways to improve the photosynthetic H₂ production [1] and [2].Efficiency (energy produced from hydrogen divided by solar energy) of such processes can be estimated up to 10%. This value has to be increased for a large-scale hydrogen production. The effect of different artificial illumination conditions on H₂ production was studied for green algae cultures (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii). Results will be used to design a high-efficiency photobioreactor for a large-scale hydrogen production.