Hydrogen demand recovers to pre-covid levels
According to the International Energy Agency, the world’s demand for hydrogen increased by 5% in 2021, returning to pre-pandemic 2019 levels (IEA). The majority of the growth was attributed to conventional uses in industry and refining, although demand for new applications increased, according to the IEA’s Global Hydrogen Review 2022, which was released last month. Steel projects, trains driven by hydrogen fuel cells, and the use of hydrogen-based fuels in transportation are a few of these novel applications.
However, the demand was largely satisfied by hydrogen produced from unabated fossil fuels, which had a little positive environmental impact. According to the IEA, less than 1mt of the 94 million tonnes (mt) of hydrogen produced worldwide was considered to be “low-emission” hydrogen. Natural gas (62%), coal (19%), and naphtha reforming waste (18%) were the three main feedstocks used to produce hydrogen.
Shell closes all its hydrogen filling stations in UK
The decision to close the H2 facilities at Gatwick Airport, Cobham, and Beaconsfield, according to Shell, was made in collaboration with Motive, the company that operates them and is owned by UK electrolyzer manufacturer ITM Power. Motive provides green hydrogen to all of its pumps.
The European Fuel Cell Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, currently known as the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, and the UK’s Office of Low Emission Vehicles had jointly funded all three H2 pumps (now called the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles).
Due to the dearth of hydrogen-powered vehicles on UK roads, H2 filling stations — which each cost at least $2m to develop, according to the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership — are likely to run at a loss.
The H2 pumps were shut down, according to Shell, because “these were our first generation of prototype sites, and the technology on them had reached its end of life.”
“The objective for Shell in the UK is to examine whether there are chances to establish multimodal hubs for heavy-duty vehicles, comparable to a model we have built in California,” the statement continued.
British Gas owner supports test on use of hydrogen at
“peaking plant”
Centrica has invested in a joint venture that will test the use of hydrogen at a current “peaking plant” at its Brigg station in Lincolnshire.
The pilot, which will begin in the second half of next year, will look at how hydrogen may be used to generate electricity.
Peaking power plants typically only operate during periods of high or peak electricity demand. The Brigg 49MW gas-fired station is intended to meet demand during periods of high demand or when renewable energy generation is insufficient. It normally runs for less than three hours each day.
The £8 million initiative from the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC), which receives money from the UK and Scottish governments, includes the pilot as one of 20 projects that are partially supported.
Habeck criticized by environmentalists for relying on blue hydrogen from Persian Gulf
The first test shipment of blue ammonia has landed in Hamburg. Habeck, the minister of economics, anticipates that a thorough supply chain will be established. The environmental organization BUND is critical. Furthermore, there are concerns about the state of human rights in the Gulf nation.
Robert Habeck (Die Grünen), the economics minister, attended the arrival in Hamburg of the first test shipment of blue ammonia from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Blue ammonia, which has a hydrogen concentration of about 17%, is thought to be an efficient hydrogen transporter. In November, there will likely be another test delivery. During his March visit to the UAE, Habeck had already committed to the delivery. The goal is to establish a seamless supply chain from Germany to the United Arab Emirates. The delivery, according to the Federal Government, is the first step in creating a full hydrogen value chain that would eventually enable Germany to become energy independent from Russia.
The mayor of the Hanseatic city, Peter Tschentscher, declares Hamburg’s intention to take the lead in Europe for producing hydrogen. The objectives are lofty. Germany and the UAE have resolved to specifically push collaborative energy and industrial initiatives in addition to creating a blue hydrogen supply chain.
The Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation Germany has issued harsh condemnation (BUND). A “retrogressive deceptive bundle from fossil sources” is the blue hydrogen. The Hamburg Senate is depending on fossil-based hydrogen in the midst of the energy crisis. The method has a much greater negative impact on the environment than the direct combustion of natural gas or even coal. The total energy balance is uncertain because of how much energy is needed for production. In addition, methane, a far more dangerous greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, is produced during the creation of blue hydrogen.
From a human rights perspective, cooperation with the UAE is also in doubt. Amnesty International, a human rights group, affirms that the nation violates human rights in grave ways. These include unjustified detentions, brutal and inhumane treatment of prisoners, restrictions on the right to free speech, and invasions of privacy.
Infrastructure not yet ready for hydrogen, claims Dekra boss
The infrastructure in Germany is not yet prepared for the broad use of hydrogen, claims the head of the testing company Dekra. The chemical hydrogen is quite explosive. According to Stan Zurkiewicz, CEO of Dekra, “And it’s a chemical that really aggressively attacks the containers in which it is delivered.” Gas could escape and the materials could crack.
Pipelines for natural gas, in particular, would need to be modified in the future to accommodate the transportation of hydrogen. Given the chemical characteristics of hydrogen, the issue of whether the current infrastructure is secure enough must also be raised. I’d respond, “Not yet.” This issue would also affect automakers and other businesses that seek to employ hydrogen as an energy source.
Although there are some technical difficulties, hydrogen will be very important in the future. According to Zurkiewicz, hydrogen will probably be the dominant technology in the long-distance commercial vehicle sector. According to him, battery technologies are currently roughly ten years ahead of hydrogen technology as it develops for broad usage.
The testing organization recently tested a prototype of the hydrogen small series BMW iX5 Hydrogen in preparation for road approval. The testing agency is presently working with the automaker BMW. This was done on a test bench that was expressly designed with an explosive protection idea. However, in theory, Dekra added, vehicles running on hydrogen are just as secure as those running on diesel or gasoline. Leaks of hydrogen are uncommon.
Northern Gas Networks welcomes govt announcements on hydrogen development
Government announcements on the development of hydrogen are welcomed by Northern Gas Networks.
The Chief Executive of one of Britain’s gas distribution networks has indicated that recent government announcements for additional investigation into hydrogen’s role in realizing the UK’s net zero objectives are essential to understanding its difficulties and prospects.
The Government announced approximately £3 million in financing for nine projects in the last two weeks as part of its Industrial Hydrogen Accelerator (IHA) initiative, and it also announced a £20 million industrial competition to use hydrogen in new transportation projects in the Tees Valley.
LG Chem wins Petrochemical Olympiad grand prize “Hydrogen Process Optimization”
At the LG Twin Tower in Yeouido, LG Chem held the “2nd LG Chem-Korea Society of Chemical Engineers Petrochemical Olympiad” awards ceremony on the 21st, and the carbon double bond team of Pusan National University students Han Ji-woong, Kim Jung-hyun, and Jo So-yeon was informed on the 23rd that it had won the top prize.
The Daesang team examined the economic viability of various hydrogen production techniques, such as gray, blue, and green, which are gaining attention as potential sources of core energy for the future, and recommended the best method to simultaneously produce hydrogen at a price that is competitive and effectively reduce carbon emissions.
We studied and analyzed numerous hydrogen production techniques, and the jury provided a high appraisal to the extent that rational calculation design was taken into account.
“I am grateful to LG Chem for organizing a contest for undergraduate students in the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, and I have gained confidence in my petrochemical career,” said Han Ji-woong, who won the top award.
Through competition and exchange, the Petrochemical Olympiad encourages university students to deepen their understanding of chemical engineering and develop as inventive potential.
Any undergraduate chemical engineering student from the United States or abroad who is in their third year or higher is eligible to participate.
The Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region is beefing up hydrogen ecosystem
The project company HYmpulsion has chosen the company Air Flow to ensure the transport of molecules between production plants and stations as part of the Zero Emission Valley project, which was initially intended to be implemented in 2019 but has since been delayed and now calls for the deployment of 3 electrolyzers and 20 hydrogen refueling stations in the area.
