National Research University “MPEI” develops alkaline water electrolyzer
Researchers from the National Research University “MPEI” have developed a prototype of their own alkaline water electrolyzer that will enable us to stop using foreign parts.
Alkaline water electrolysis can produce hydrogen with the highest purity and the least amount of dangerous greenhouse emissions.
A chemical reaction called electrolysis uses electricity to break down complicated chemicals into simpler or more complex ones. This process works with a wide variety of chemicals, although at the moment, electrolyzers are most frequently used to split water to create hydrogen.
The scientific staff of the National Research University “MPEI” presented a one-of-a-kind experimental setup for evaluating alkaline electrolysis hydrogen production technology. The unit can fully satisfy requests for its use without using any foreign components and has no equivalents in Russia.
The electrolyzer’s maximum working output pressure of 150 atmospheres, which is much higher than the working pressures of previous prototypes, which are at the level of 30–40 atmospheres, is one of its distinguishing features. A unique design of the electrolysis module created by NRU MPEI ensures this.
The project was carried out as a component of the federal program “Priority 2030″‘s strategic project “Hydrogen Energy”; it was one of the national project “Science and Universities'” measures of state funding for higher education. The assignment is being worked on by experts from the Institute of Energy Efficiency and Hydrogen Technologies of the NRU MPEI’s Department of Chemistry and Electrochemical Energy (CEE).
Hydrom extends deadline for green hydrogen bids
The deadline for submitting bids for two land blocks designated for significant investments in green energy has been extended by Hydrom, a government-owned business in charge of managing the execution of Oman’s green-hydrogen plan.
These land parcels are situated in Duqm, Al Wusta Governorate, and have a total area of about 320 square kilometers. Phase A, Round 1 of Hydrom’s multiyear auction program is where they are being sold.
Final proposals must be submitted by March 15, 2023, as opposed to the preceding round’s deadline of February 15, 2023.
The Phase A Round 1 bid submission date for Hydrom’s Oman Green Hydrogen Auction process has been extended by one month. Bidders are need to submit their bids by March 15, 2023, according to the business.
A Request for Qualifications form was sent to more than 50 businesses, confirming their desire to take part in the auction process.
By April 2023, the Round 1 blocks will be distributed. This essentially makes it possible for Oman to start working on its first-ever large-scale commercial green hydrogen project.
The selected consortiums will be required to create comprehensive, value-chain-spanning green hydrogen projects. This covers solar and wind power plants (upstream), electrolysis-produced green hydrogen (midstream), and green energy products made of hydrogen, ammonia, or derivatives for home or international use.
Four more Thamrait land blocks will be put up for sale after the results of the first round of bidding are announced (Dhofar Governorate).
Before 2023 is over, these blocks will be made available. The objective is to start producing 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually on a nationwide scale in 2030. $30 billion in investments will be needed to achieve this desired output, principally to install 20 GWs of renewable capacity and 10 GWs of electrolyzer capacity by 2030.
Agfa invests €50 million in new green hydrogen factory in Mortsel
Agfa will spend 50 million euros building a new green hydrogen facility in Mortsel.
On the site where film rolls were formerly manufactured, that factory will serve as a sort of memorial. This location in Mortsel has received so much investment for the first time in more than 30 years.
By 2025, the factory must be operational and at least 100 new employment must be created.
Delft students unveil new hydrogen city car
The latest hydrogen-powered city car was unveiled by Eco-Runner Team Delft students. The Eco-Runner XII will attempt to achieve the world record for hydrogen-powered driving without refueling.
The Eco-Runner turns hydrogen into electricity. This procedure merely wastes water. The latest Eco-Runner can hold five hydrogen tanks instead of four. By increasing tank pressure, students stored more hydrogen. So the car can go longer without fueling.
The main drawback is the car’s hydrogen isn’t green. Dutch green energy is scarce, and self-production is inefficient for Eco-Runner Team Delft’s demands. Eline Schwietert of Eco-Runner Team Delft remarked, “One of our goals is to address this problem.”
The Eco-Runner XIII will be revealed in full on May 2. It will try the world record on a test track in June. Eco-Runner Team Delft must travel over 2,055 kilometers unless another hydrogen car breaks the world record.
Statkraft and INEOS Inovyn enter long-term green power agreements
Two new long-term power contracts have been signed by chemical manufacturer INEOS Inovyn at Rafnes in Bamble and Statkraft, the largest producer of renewable energy in Europe.
The agreements will guarantee the bulk of the energy required for the ongoing manufacturing operations as well as the additional energy needed for the electrification and hydrogen generation projects that are planned as part of INEOS Inovyn Norway’s efforts to decarbonize its Norwegian assets.
The greatest agreed-upon power contract has a 100 MW capacity, or 876 GWh of verified renewable energy per year. The current electricity deal, which expires in May 2023, is replaced by the new long-term arrangement.
The second long-term power arrangement adds 263 GWh annually beginning in 2026 and covers up to 30 MW. To further reduce the asset at Rafnes’ carbon emissions, INEOS Inovyn has a comprehensive growth plan that includes process electrification and hydrogen production.
H2scan introduces HyView display for transformer and battery room hydrogen safety
HyView, an industrialized display from H2scan, complements Gen 5 sensor solutions for a variety of applications.
HyView consolidates hydrogen sensor data on a protected display. It’s NEMA and explosion-proof. HyView enhances the long-lasting, low-maintenance GRIDSCAN 5000 transformer reliability sensor and HY-ALERTA 5021 battery room safety sensor. HyView is powerful for industrial process and safety hydrogen sensing.
HyView and H2scan’s next-generation sensing technology display hydrogen and oil temperature data in transformer applications and hydrogen concentration levels in area monitoring applications. The product’s alarm output lets clients simply connect alarms into SCADA, DCIM, NOC, and other digital output monitoring systems. HyView displays and alarms up to four GRIDSCAN 5000 or HY-ALERTA 5021 sensors for real-time monitoring.
HyView’s dual-line display is easily scaled for 4-20 mA analog output values. HyView’s wide viewing angle and through-glass controls simplify use. These buttons program and control the HyView from the front panel, reducing the need to remove the cover in hazardous places.
HyView with H2scan’s HY-ALERTA 5021 hydrogen area monitor make battery room operations safer. HY-ALERTA meets all code requirements, including continuous hydrogen monitoring below 25% LFL, communications to trigger exhaust fans, and Modbus communication for annunciation.
Hydrogen-only sensors like the GRIDCAN 5000 and HY-ALERTA 5021 eliminate false positives. Sensors last 10-15 years, reducing replacement expenses. Auto-calibration reduces sensor maintenance expenses.
Hydrogen-only detection helps users identify transformer faults that promote gassing. After taking a manual dissolved gas analysis (DGA) sample, users can detect transformer faults and make data-driven operational decisions, preventing transformer failure emergencies.
Turkey and Bulgaria open for hydrogen cooperation
Vice President Iliana Iotova met with her Turkish counterpart Fuat Oktay while in Ankara. They concurred that the summit between Presidents Rumen Radev and Recep Erdogan held at the conclusion of 2022 had given bilateral ties between Bulgaria and Turkey a fresh start.
Iotova and Oktay referred to the agreement between Bulgargaz and Botaş as the most immediate and direct outcome of the negotiations between the presidents because it grants Bulgaria access to the gas transmission infrastructure of the Turkish national energy company. It was made clear that Turkey, which is developing hydrogen technology, was open to working with Bulgaria in this area.
Countries urge EU to include hydrogen from nuclear electricity in renewable hydrogen targets
The European Commission has been urged by nine EU members to include low-carbon hydrogen derived from nuclear electricity in the EU’s renewable hydrogen targets.
In a letter to the European Commission, France, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary, and Czechia made the request. Their request is supported by the EU treaties’ definitions of “technological neutrality” and “member states’ autonomy and competence to determine of their energy mixes.”
During a bilateral summit in Paris in mid-January, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed these ideas.
Even a “common plan” for the creation of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen was announced by the two presidents. The EU’s renewable energy directive (RED), which is currently through its third revision, should take into account this “change in mindset,” according to the letter from the nine member states’ energy and industry ministers.
