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There has been a growing recognition in recent years that Electrofuels (e-fuels), also known as renewable and sustainable fuels, which are produced from hydrogen and carbon dioxide as the primary feedstocks, have great potential to reduce carbon footprint and address climate change. In the present study, contrary to most previous studies in which the sources of feedstock's preparation were considered as block boxes, two stand-alone processes are taken into account and incorporated into the e-fuels production system. H 2 is obtained by a high-temperature electrolysis system having an overall efficiency nearly twice that of a low-temperature electrolysis system. CO 2 is captured from a power plant flue gas stream with a purity of 99.81%. Investigating heat integration potential in such an integrated plant is an up-to-date and interesting topic and has not yet been well explored. Therefore, a heat integration within the three individual processes is implemented to reduce energy consumption. The design of the process-to-process heat transfer section is carried out using pinch design rules. By integrating individual units, approximately 42% of the required cold utility, traditionally supplied by chilled water and refrigerants, is allocated to generate high and medium-pressure steams. Having used the high-temperature steam electrolysis for H 2 production, a process that requires less external electricity compared to low-temperature water electrolysis, a power-to-liquid efficiency of 70% is achieved. Furthermore, the results reveal a carbon conversion ratio of 98.6%, indicating the effective converting the carbon from the feedstock into liquid hydrocarbons. [Display omitted] • Heat integration between e-fuels unit and its feedstocks supplier units is done. • Shell-and-tube and plate-fin exchangers are used to design heat exchanger network. • Required cold utilities in the processes decreases by 42% by steam generation. • Power-to-liquid efficiency is improved by 70% through the integration. • Effective converting carbon from the feedstock into liquid hydrocarbons by 98.62%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) is one of the few options that can make a significant contribution to climate change mitigation on a large scale, particularly when combined with a nuclear power plant (NPP). However, the relatively high cost of the produced hydrogen from HTSE technology decreases the applicability of that. Implementing a proper integration of HTSE into the nuclear power plant (NPP) with the minimum possible power loss factor (PLF) can reduce the cost of energy consumption. The major aim of this study is to develop some effective schemes for the integration of HTSE into NPP based on the minimization of PLF, which consequently can minimize the energy cost of HTSE. It is found that the minimum power loss factors for small, medium, and large-scale nuclear-HTSE plants are 38, 36 and 35%, respectively. Accordingly, the cost of the produced hydrogen varies from 4.10 to 4.168 $/kg for large to small-scale plants. In addition, it is found that the total efficiency of the cogeneration plant increases by 5% for large-scale HTSE plants. [Display omitted] • Nuclear hydrogen production can be made economic by power loss factor minimization. • Three different scenarios for nuclear-hydrogen cogeneration were defined. • A detailed simulation of nuclear-hydrogen cogeneration plant was carried out. • The best steam extraction points with minimum power loss factors were found. • Heat consumption cost in high temperature steam electrolysis was minimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting green hydrogen has emerged as a pivotal discourse in the contemporary energy landscape, driven by pressing environmental concerns and the quest for sustainable energy solutions. This paper delves into the multifaceted domain of C -Suite issues about green hydrogen, encompassing both technological advancements and policy considerations. The question of whether green hydrogen is poised to become the focal point of the upcoming energy race is explored through an extensive analysis of its potential as a clean and versatile energy carrier. The transition from conventional fossil fuels to green hydrogen is considered a fundamental shift in energy paradigms, with far-reaching implications for global energy markets. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art green hydrogen technologies, including fuel cells, photocatalysts, photo electrocatalysts, and hydrogen panels. In tandem with technological advancements, the role of policy and strategy in fostering the development of green hydrogen energy assumes paramount significance. The paper elucidates the critical interplay between government policies, market dynamics, and corporate strategies in shaping the green hydrogen landscape. It delves into policy mechanisms such as subsidies, carbon pricing, and renewable energy mandates, shedding light on their potential to incentivize the production and adoption of green hydrogen. This paper offers a nuanced exploration of C -Suite issues surrounding green hydrogen, painting a comprehensive picture of the technological and policy considerations that underpin its emergence as a transformative energy source. As the global community grapples with the imperatives of climate change mitigation and the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions, understanding these issues becomes imperative for executives, policymakers, and stakeholders alike. [Display omitted] • The latest advancements in photo electrocatalysts and fuel cell technologies are reviewed. • The storage and transportation within the realm of green hydrogen energy were discussed. • Policy and strategy for fostering the development of green energy are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supporters of hydrogen energy urge scaling up technology and reducing costs for competitiveness. This paper explores how hydrogen energy technologies (HET) are perceived by Australia's general population and considers the way members of the public imagine their role in the implementation of hydrogen energy now and into the future. The study combines a nationally representative survey (n = 403) and semi-structured interviews (n = 30). Results show age and gender relationships with self-reported hydrogen knowledge. Half of the participants obtained hydrogen information from televised media. Strong support was observed for renewable hydrogen, while coal (26%) and natural gas (41%) versions had less backing. Participants sought more safety-related information (41% expressed concern). Most felt uncertain about influencing hydrogen decisions and did not necessarily recognise they had agency beyond their front fence. Exploring the link between political identity and agency in energy decision-making is needed, with energy democracy a potentially productive direction. • Hydrogen's strongest appeal to Australians is its benefit for climate change mitigation. • Although widely accepted, there is limited knowledge about hydrogen in terms of how it is produced or used. • The more people know about hydrogen, the more willing they are to participate in the decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pressure on reducing greenhouse gas emissions has increased since the focus on climate change mitigation has grown. As the human development index is directly related to per capita energy consumption, sustainable energy production with reduced carbon footprint is the essential pathway for cleaner environment. Over numerous existing biological processes, hydrogen production via photo fermentation and photolysis of water is considered a more sustainable and economical method of hydrogen production. While both biological modes suffer from certain limitations, such as low yields and low production rates, practical implementation is still a long way off due to these limitations. The unique properties of nanomaterials (NMs) can help increase the efficiency of the biomass to biohydrogen process in significant ways. Applications of organic and inorganic nanoparticles in photocatalytic and photo fermentative hydrogen production is discussed in this paper. This review reports a wide range of applications of nanomaterials including the details of photo fermentative microorganisms and their mechanism of action. The maximum photo fermentative bio-H 2 production was reported in the presence of SiC–Fe 3 O 4 (3.02 mol H 2 /mol acetate), Ni (41 mol H 2 /mol sugar), graphite-C 3 N 4 (64.2 mol H 2 /mol sugar) whereas photocatalytic bio-H 2 yield was highest when Pd–Ni/CdS (54 mmol/g.h), Ni-MO/g-C 3 N 4 (1785 mmol/g.h) and CuO/TiO 2 (20.3 mmol/g.h) nanoparticles were employed. To design photocatalytic systems for practical and scalable use, the future research should be focused on deeper theoretical knowledge of mechanisms of light harvesting, ± charge separation and transport, surface biochemical reactions, semiconductor–liquid interactions, and reactor dynamics. [Display omitted] • Recent developments for improving water photolysis and photo-fermentation are reviewed. • Applications of organic and inorganic nanoparticles in hydrogen production are discussed. • The working principle and mechanism of hydrogen production are discussed. • The influence of key operating factors are presented. • Scope for future research was presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the microbial risks associated with Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS), a critical component in the transition towards renewable energy systems, by employing an innovative multi-reactor system (Bio-xplorer) to simulate UHS conditions in two Italian reservoirs. The microbiological risk assessment (MRA) of Reservoir A and B was evaluated by subjecting them to gas mixtures of 10 % H 2 and 90 % CH 4 , and 99 % H 2 and 1 % CO 2 , respectively. In Reservoir A, the stability of pressure and temperature, the negligible optical density, and lack of microbial metabolites suggested a low risk of microbial activation. Molecular analyses confirmed the absence of sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and limited growth of hydrogenotrophic methanogens (HM). Similarly, in Reservoir B, the absence of SRB and limited occurrence of HM indicated a low microbiological risk. Overall, the present work supports the safe and efficient implementation of UHS , a promising mitigation technique for climate change, using an innovative tool for MRA. [Display omitted] • Microbial risk assessment for UHS in Italy. • Innovative HP & HT bioreactors system (Bio-xplorer) for UHS lab tests. • Novel approach for UHS Microbial risk assessment in two Italian NG reservoirs. • Reactor-based assessment of SRB, HM, AB activity by mimicking reservoirs environment. • No sensible hydrogen consumption registered for both the reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuel cell vehicles using green hydrogen as fuel can contribute to the mitigation of climate change. The increasing utilization of those vehicles creates the need for cost efficient hydrogen refueling stations. This study investigates how to build the most cost efficient refueling stations to fuel small fleet sizes of 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 fuel cell busses. A detailed physical model of a hydrogen refueling station was built to determine the necessary hydrogen storage size as well as energy demand for compression and precooling of hydrogen. These results are used to determine the refueling costs for different station configurations that vary the number of storage banks, their volume and compressor capacity. It was found that increasing the number of storage banks will decrease the necessary total station storage volume as well as energy demand for compression and precooling. However, the benefit of adding storage banks decreases with each additional bank. Hence the cost for piping and instrumentation to add banks starts to outweigh the benefits when too many banks are used. Investigating the influence of the compressor mass flow found that when fueling fleets of 2 or 4 busses the lowest cost can be reached by using a compressor with the minimal mass flow necessary to refill all storage banks within 24 h. For fleets of 8, 16 and 32 busses, using the compressor with the maximum investigated mass flow of 54 kg/h leads to the lowest costs. • Designing the most cost efficient refueling stations to fuel small bus fleets. • New approach to minimize hydrogen fueling costs using a thermodynamic refueling model. • It is cost efficient to use a minimum of 4 cascade storage banks when fueling busses. • A high mass flow compressor is cost efficient for fleet sizes above 4 busses. • Energy demand for compression makes up a significant share of refueling costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The development of hydrogen energy as a sustainable energy resource is essential for mitigating climate change. The primary challenge to the commercialization of hydrogen energy, relative to that of petrochemical fuels, is cost. Therefore, an innovative business model that converts the costs of procuring biomass into revenue via the production of hydrogen was developed. Profitable hydrogen production can typically be realized by lowering costs through continuous technological development and increasing scale. Feedstock procurement costs, however, limit the cost/benefit reduction flexibility. This study employs biowaste material as feedstock for biological fermentative hydrogen production. This model extends the hydrogen production value chain to include the income from biomass hydrogen production as well as the revenue from processing biowaste and reduced fuel source costs. This study investigates the costs involved in the commercialization of the hydrogen fermentation process, develops an innovative business model, and presents a case study to describe this model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of this study is to examine how the options for producing electricity, fuels, and heat in a carbon-constrained world affect the cost-effectiveness of a range of fuels and propulsion technologies in the transportation sector. GET 7.0, a global energy system model with five end-use sectors, is used for the analysis. We find that an energy system dominated either by solar or by nuclear tends to make biofuels in plug-in hybrids cost-effective. If coal with carbon capture and storage (CCS) dominates the energy system, hydrogen cars, rather than plug-in hybrids tend to become cost-effective. Performing a Monte Carlo simulation, we then show that the general features of our results hold for a wide range of assumptions for the costs of vehicle propulsion technologies (e.g., batteries and fuel cells). However, sufficiently large changes in say the battery costs may overturn the impact of changes in the energy supply system, so that plug-in hybrid vehicles become cost-effective even if coal with CCS dominate the energy supply. We conclude that analyses of future energy carriers and propulsion technologies need to consider developments in the energy supply system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]