HIL Issue 18

Hydrogen Industry Leaders e-magazine November 2023

FROM PROSPECT TO REALITY:

BRAMBLE ENERGY UNVEIL $100/KW FUEL CELL STACK

IN THIS ISSUE:

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FROM PROSPECT TO REALITY: BRAMBLE ENERGY UNVEIL $100/KW FUEL CELL STACK

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DRIFT ENERGY UNVEILS SUSTAINABLE FUTURE OF MARITIME FUELLING

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HYDROGEN’S ROLE IN DELIVERING A MORE RESILIENT ELECTRICITY SYSTEM

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HOW IMPORTANT IS PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR HYDROGEN PROJECTS?

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PODCAST: HYDROGEN SAFETY AND THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

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SYNTHESIS OF CLEAN HYDROGEN GAS AND GRAPHENE FROM WASTE PLASTIC

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INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

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FOREWORD

REDUCING THE PRICE OF FUEL CELL STACKS WILL ADVANCE THE SECTOR AT A RECORD PACE As more research goes into reducing hydrogen costs, could the unveiling of Bramble’s $100/kW fuel cell stack get the sector moving? This issue breaks down the movements in legislation, policy announcements and how to encourage more women into the sector.

in Northern America will be developed, the Nordic regions getting a green hydrogen boost, the South African green hydrogen project that’s due to begin in 2024, and how the US has committed a further $7bn for hydrogen development.

Additionally, Hydrogen Industry Leaders brings you the general objectives of the latest insights into the renewables market, how the synthesis of clean hydrogen and graphene from waste plastic works, and the role of VR in education to improve safety in hydrogen.

How important is public support for hydrogen projects?

Through our international projects section, we explore the core innovations across the globe, including how a 4 GW electrolyser factory

Hydrogen Industry Leaders looks at current hydrogen projects, innovations and policies shaping the hydrogen economy that will undoubtedly lead the way for the future of low-carbon energy.

Floyd March f.march@peloton-events.co.uk

Multimedia Editor Floyd March

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Multimedia Journalist Chelsea Bailey

Multimedia Journalist Hannah Wintle

Graphic Designer Paul Rose

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DRIFT ENERGY UNVEILS SUSTAINABLE FUTURE OF MARITIME FUELLING

BY FLOYD MARCH

Since DRIFT Energy premiered a cutting-edge pathway to net zero superyacht by harnessing the energy available from the oceans, how could new ‘superyachts’ be the future for green fuel-generating vessels?

The MVY concept was launched at the Monaco Yacht Show, and was been immediately heralded as the ‘World’s most super yacht’. The concept illustrates DRIFT Energy’s plans to create a new class of ‘true green’ fuelgenerating vessels.

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Superyacht owners looking to spearhead the charge towards net zero now can collaborate with DRIFT to personally make the transition. MVY is a 58m megawatt class energy vessel capable of generating, storing and delivering energy by itself.

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MVY HARNESSES KINETIC ENERGY TO PRODUCE GREEN HYDROGEN It generates electricity using turbines that capture the kinetic energy of the sailing catamaran and stores this onboard as green hydrogen.

When its tanks are nearly full the vessel proceeds to a designated port or location to offload. In the Superyacht context, this can either be directed to the mothership or the bunker at the current port location.

A single vessel is capable of generating over 140 tonnes of green hydrogen a year - a volume that would abate over 1,500 tonnes of CO2e a year.

DRIFT TO SET NEW BENCHMARKS FOR THE MARITIME SECTOR With these yachts designed specifically to generate green hydrogen, Ben Medland, CEO of DRIFT Energy told Hydrogen Industry Leaders: “Our story is very much about unlocking this potential in going green, but we also recognise that the industry is quite a small segment when you consider the total marine traffic emissions.”

Addressing this, Ben added: “So, we have a keener eye on moving into abating the emissions of commercial vessels, whether that might be initially at workboat level, particularly around offshore wind installations. Ultimately, we are focused on pushing into much larger vessels that can help with refuelling vessels, container ships etc.”

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FUEL TO BE DELIVERED AT STANDARDISED PRICES One of the key contributing factors to achieving this goal is the ability for DRIFT to deliver the fuel at standardised prices and consistent volumes into places that typically existing infrastructure cannot reach.

On this, to accelerate MVY to reality, DRIFT also announced its partnership with Shadowcat, creators of the award-winning eponymous brand of catamaran yacht support and adventure vessels.

This collaboration combines the natural synergy of Shadowcat’s knowledge and history in delivering high-specification logistical support vessels in the Superyacht industry and DRIFT Energy’s technology, which provides the ultimate energy support vessel for the mothership.

The partnership will see Shadowcat working to drive opportunities in the leisure market, as well as bringing its decades of experience in efficient and timely build programmes.

These partnerships and unique benefits help ease the impacts renewables are beginning to have on the grid, with Ben explaining: “It’s quite well documented now that the grid is a bottleneck to making the leaps forward that we need to be making in the renewable energy transition. So by not being beholden to a grid, we can deploy our vessels into locations where that grid just can’t be upgraded or hasn’t been upgraded yet.”

Adaptability has been at the heart of the DRIFT renewable energy-creating yachts with Jennifer Smith Director of Business Development, Shadowcat adding: “Our experience and knowledge in delivering shadow vessels to the superyacht industry means we know how ready the market is for this technology.

“Owners are hunting for opportunities to go greener and we are proud to work with DRIFT to offer this unique solution.”

Speaking of further benefits to this approach to generate renewable energy, Ben explained: “We often hear that the grid is going to take decades to be upgraded. Our solution means that we can roll out without having to wait.”

This naturally adds a level of pace to the overall rollout of more renewable energy generation.

“We can deploy this renewable class at the speed at which we can build it. We don’t have to wait for land leasing, for offshore wind. We don’t have to wait for grid connections to provide energy into the system.”

This new class of vessel could revolutionise the world of sustainable yachting, by providing the missing link to green fuels. DRIFT’s technology accelerates the pace of the transition by effectively by-passing the requirement for fixed infrastructure and grid-based projects, while also avoiding the traditional constraints of port bunkering and insulating owners from inflationary pressures on fuel and carbon pricing.

Beyond this, the technology also provides a new pathway to grid-scale clean energy. One that has the potential to abate a gigatonne of CO₂ by 2050 and supports not just the superyacht industry but the fringes of the energy transition, for instance in small island nations.

“This collaboration with DRIFT means we can accelerate the availability of this almost perfect future fuel wherever it is needed.”

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HOW IMPORTANT IS PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR HYDROGEN PROJECTS?

BY HANNAH WINTLE

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As the UK gears up for the biggest energy transition it has experienced in decades, helping the public to understand and embrace the approaching changes is an important task. Hydrogen Industry Leaders spoke to Mark Danter, Technical and Client Delivery Director at N-Gen, to understand how the local community were brought on board with plans for a hydrogen power site in Bradford.

When the plans were unveiled one year ago for a hydrogen hub in Bradford, they were described as the first of their kind.

Located on an old gas and oil storage site, the facility will offer hydrogen refuelling facilities for buses as part of the council’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon by 2038.

The project is a collaboration between Northern Gas Networks, Hygen, and N-Gen and is hoped to be operational by 2025.

Mark, who is overseeing the project management and delivery, said: “Hygen approached us about repurposing the area and so the proposal is that we are working with Bradford Metropolitan Council and the West Yorkshire combined authority to provide hydrogen for buses in the Bradford region.”

MARK DANTER Technical & Client Delivery Director, N-Gen

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THE HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FACILITY WILL SUPPORT FUTURE GREEN BUS FLEETS Hydrogen buses have been deemed the answer to greener public transport in Bradford due to the demanding geography of the area.

Mark explained: “The reason that they’re looking at hydrogen as a solution and not electric, is that on the kind of medium distance bus routes, it’s quite hilly coming out of Bradford, and electric buses don’t actually provide the right solution.

“So, they’re looking at hydrogen as an easier solution because of the way that they can be refuelled. For heavy vehicles you’ve got to wait 20 to 25 minutes for refuelling. Obviously, it’s a lot longer for buses because of their larger batteries.

“A bus can be refuelled in about six or seven minutes with hydrogen. So literally back to base, and it’s these types of bus journeys that hydrogen will be used for.”

Having declared a climate emergency in 2019, Bradford Council are hopeful for the use of hydrogen as an ‘energy source of the future’, and have said they hope locally produced hydrogen will decarbonise some of the city’s operations for a generation.

BRADFORD RESIDENTS RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO THE PROPOSED SITE The project was born out of a necessity for more sustainable transport, and will introduce hydrogen to the region in a way that directly interacts with the public.

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Consultations with the public are part of the planning requirements set by Bradford Council, but Mark also emphasised the importance of bringing locals along on the journey to delivering this hydrogen power site.

Seeing investment in the area as well as the potential to create jobs was something the public responded positively to at the consultation meeting held in September.

Main concerns that were addressed were typically around noise levels and dust management, and Mark noted the shift in public attitude towards hydrogen as an alternative fuel, acknowledging that the response may have been different if these consultations had been held in previous years.

He said: “Even five years ago I think it would have been a different response to hydrogen.

“I’ve been working in hydrogen since 2017, and at that time there was a lot of naivety about hydrogen. There’s a lot out there at the moment on the news and on social media, which is good or bad, but at least it’s raising awareness.”

“I think, from their point of view, a bus is a bus.”

Mark Danter, N-Gen Mark also alluded to the possibility of a hydrogen powered taxi fleet which will make use of the excess hydrogen produced by the facility.

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ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC IS ESSENTIAL TO CHALLENGE NEGATIVE VIEWS ON HYDROGEN

The report concluded that: ‘Unpacking hydrogen acceptance requires a highly multidimensional approach to account for a wide

While this positive reception is a good sign for the wider uptake of hydrogen in public facing services, engagement and education is going to become increasingly important when it comes to expecting the public to welcome the gas into their homes.

range of attitudes (which can be conflicting!)’

Bringing the public into discussions about hydrogen in their local communities could prove useful in alleviating concern about the proposed uptake of the gas.

“When we’re looking at using it in houses, there’s a lot of myths out there about hydrogen,” Mark added.

In fact, the report suggested that ‘coupling green H2 production to community benefits may be the strongest pathway to securing social acceptance for hydrogen homes’.

“Some people think it’s a dangerous gas, but that’s the same for natural gas. You just need to treat it with respect. It’s just a case of putting everything in context for people and trying to relate it to everybody’s everyday life.”

Ultimately, any negative correlations the public may assign to hydrogen demonstrate a need for more comprehensive education about the energy source.

“Where hydrogen is concerned, it’s just a matter of making sure people have got the truth.”

Mark Danter, N-Gen According to a July 2023 survey conducted by Cranfield University, nearly half of the negative responses to hydrogen were around it being perceived as dangerous.

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In inviting the public to consultation meetings to engage in a transparent discourse about the Bradford hydrogen power site, the benefits of the project including greener public transport and the creation of jobs were promoted, and the consensus was very positive.

As more UK local authorities seek to introduce hydrogen as a way of decarbonising their operations, and one day, their housing stock, maintaining an open dialogue with their communities and providing information about the gas will prove essential in gaining an acceptance for its wider uptake in the coming years.

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SYNTHESIS OF CLEAN HYDROGEN GAS AND GRAPHENE FROM WASTE PLASTIC

BY FLOYD MARCH

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As the vast production of plastic continues to increase across the globe, finding new routes to recycle and make use of waste plastics is inadequately discussed in the quest for a healthier, greener and fairer planet.

Recent reports have highlighted the increased levels of plastic pollution in waterways, rivers and the ocean, which is only set to increase in the coming decades. Finding new uses for plastics is difficult considering the unique properties of plastic not being suitable for an array of products.

Researchers at Rice University have devised a new method to produce hydrogen gas and graphene, which has been considered a lowcarbon approach. While not producing what is considered ‘green’ hydrogen, the ability to produce levels of hydrogen gas, and make use of extremely wasteful plastic has been hailed as groundbreaking.

Within the report, the methodology of this approach explained that this new process involves putting plastic waste samples through rapid flash Joule heating for a short period of time. This raises the temperature to 3100 degrees Kelvin, and vaporises the hydrogen from the plastics and helps create graphene.

PLASTIC WASTE GENERATION, 2010 This measures total plastic waste generation prior to management and therefore does not represent the quantity of plastic at risk of polluting waterways, rivers and the ocean environment.

No data

0

1 million

2.5 million

5 million

10 million

25 million

Data source: Jambeck et al. (2015)

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COULD THIS BE THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO PRODUCE HYDROGEN? As the sector awaits to see the impacts of the States’ IRA and the UK’s HBF on the market, the cost of producing hydrogen still remains relatively high. Author’s of the report highlighted the cost-effectiveness of this process through the sale of graphene.

Authors of the report stated: “In this work, we converted waste plastics – including mixed waste plastics that don’t have to be sorted by type or washed – into high-yield hydrogen gas and high-value graphene.”

“If the produced graphene is sold at only 5% of current market value – a 95% off sale! – clean hydrogen could be produced for free.”

Graphene has multiple applications including energy storage and PV cells, which can aid the wider rollout of renewables across the sector, which from a hydrogen perspective, can indirectly increase the level of green hydrogen production.

PLASTIC WASTE GENERATION, 2010 This measures total plastic waste generation prior to management and therefore does not represent the quantity of plastic at risk of polluting waterways, rivers and the ocean environment.

The production of hydrogen in this process wasn’t always the primary objective as researchers explained in a previous statement: “When we first discovered flash Joule heating and applied it to upcycle waste plastic into graphene, we observed a lot of volatile gases being produced and shooting out of the reactor.

We wondered what they were, suspecting a mix of small hydrocarbons and hydrogen, but lacked the instrumentation to study their exact composition.”

Projects such as this become great case studies for other innovators to follow and helps prove the business case for funding for research such as this.

Rolling this out on a wider scale might generate further obstacles along the way, but it is essential to take notice of ways to both create materials for renewables, upcycle plastics, and produce new production streams for hydrogen.

With the research funding coming from multiple avenues, the United States Army Corps of Engineers was used to access the necessary equipment, while the United States Army Engineer Research and Development Center, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the National Science Foundation, and the Office of Naval Research supported the research in other ways.

China

59.08 million

US

Germany

Brazil

37.83 million

14.48 million

11.85 million

Nigeria

5.96 million

UK

4.93 million

Data source: Jambeck et al. (2015)

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RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES THE ABILITY TO RECOVER 68% OF ATOMIC HYDROGEN “We know that polyethylene, for example, is made of 86% carbon and 14% hydrogen, and we demonstrated that we are able to recover up to 68% of that atomic hydrogen as gas with a 94% purity. Developing the methods and expertise to characterise and quantify all the gases, including hydrogen, produced by this method was a difficult but rewarding process.”

RICE VALUES ALIGN WITH WIDER NET ZERO VALUES Through their website, they state: “Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community.

“Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors.

“These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.”

Responsibility is something fundamental to a mission-driven academic community. “We take responsibility for making Rice better, and also for our own happiness and success. We take responsibility for our actions and words, and understand how they may impact our friends and colleagues. We especially take responsibility for our mistakes. That way we can learn from them and even translate failure into success.”

As a leading research university with a distinctive commitment to undergraduate education, Rice University aspires to pathbreaking research and contribution to the betterment of our world.

It seeks to fulfill this mission by cultivating a diverse community of learning and discovery that produces leaders across the spectrum of human endeavor.

“Our success as a community depends first and foremost on our respect for each other, and how we reflect that respect in our everyday interactions.”

That is especially important as we learn from and build friendships with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. The Rice community cares about each member.”

This mindset is something that is essential for meeting net zero, whether it be through community outreach, community acceptance and improving the environment for other communities, it is at the heart of all things net zero.

“Excellence for Rice, means that we are never satisfied with a good result, because we can always find ways to do even better” is a core part of Rice University’s mantra and this project is a perfect example of this.

Integrity is one of the strongest threads in Rice’s cultural fabric. In the classroom, office, lab, and field of play this value is embodied in the notion of Rice’s honor and our Honor Code. We accept nothing less than complete academic and research integrity.

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FROM PROSPECT TO REALITY:

BRAMBLE ENERGY UNVEIL $100/KW FUEL CELL STACK

BY FLOYD MARCH

Bramble Energy, a leading innovator in fuel cell technology, has published a pivotal whitepaper identifying a potential path to creating the world’s lowest cost fuel cell – an innovation which could revolutionise the hydrogen economy.

The company’s whitepaper highlights with manufacturing volume increases, achieving economies of scale in terms of purchasing power and optimisation of process flows it has the potential to achieve a PCB cost of $60/kW at 1.5 Wcm-2 power rating should production be in the hundreds of megawatts.

The whitepaper reveals Bramble Energy’s solution to creating a $100 per kilowatt stack which is achievable today. This stack has been identified as being up to ten times cheaper than current traditional fuel cell costs.

Further to this, the whitepaper set out plans on how these costs could reach as low as $60, with scalability at the heart of this.

Dropping below industry price targets within an optimal timeframe will eradicate the high costs of fuel cell technology which remain the major barrier to wide hydrogen adoption, particularly in sectors such as transportation.

With current fuel cell prices reaching unsustainable figures, $100/kW could be the incentivisation the sector has been waiting for.

The paper presents Bramble Energy’s ground breaking patented printed circuit board (PCB) fuel cell technology to bring industry towards this goal through innovative design, materials selection, and manufacturing processes.

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THE LATEST EVOLUTION IN STRUCTURE ENABLES THIS SIGNIFICANT COST REDUCTION Currently in early phase testing and in-work through its UK supply chain, short stack testing of this technology will be conducted in Q4 2023 after further core module optimisation; with full stack testing expected in Q2 2024.

The whitepaper explained: “To truly understand its cost down activity, Bramble has recently undergone an extensive analysis to determine its cost base at increasing production scales.

Using an existing PCB supply chain, Bramble analysed through to quotation PCBFC™ volume capacity potential in the MW and GW per annum to determine the true cost potential of the technology.”

“What makes our cost analysis even more meaningful is that the quoted volumes are not for a single product. It is based on panel throughput within a factory, i.e. it can provide fuel cell modules and stacks of variable sizes and form factors for multiple product applications.” Furthermore, the quoted prices include PCB factory margins. For entities with

significant buying power such as Bramble’s mobility OEM and Tier 1 manufacturer customers, these margins will only continue to improve, by controlling their own PCB supply chains for the manufacture of Bramble’s PCB-X™ platform technology.

By recognising where the cost contributors are in the processing and design of the PCBFC™, Bramble has continued to innovate and develop a new stack architecture with a clear path to an additional reduction in cost of c.40% from the existing PCBFC™ technology.

The latest evolution in structure that has enabled this further significant cost reduction is currently in early phase testing and validation through our UK supply chain. Short stack testing of this technology will be conducted in Q4 2023 after further core module optimisation; with full stack testing expected in Q2 2024.

With further manufacturing volume increases, achieving economies of scale in terms of purchasing power and optimisation of process flows moves Bramble’s technology towards a PCB cost at only c.100’s MW of cumulative production of $60/kW at 1.5 Wcm-2 power rating.

“The first analysis of volume production yields a PCB cost (all elements of the repeating unit, not including the MEA), for a volume of 1000 panels per month, equating to c.100 MW per year of production of $106/kW. For context, this quoted volume represents only 0.15% volume of the DoE target (or 0.04% of Tesla’s 2023 volume).”

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For others in the sector figuring out the costs, of building factories, staff factories, etc, at different parts of the scalability process is difficult and is mainly guesswork.

INNOVATION OVERCOMES BARRIERS TO HYDROGEN FUEL CELL ADOPTION Unlike traditional fuel cell technologies, Bramble’s PCB-based approach allows for highvolume production within existing facilities.

“The output of a UK prototyping PCB facility is in the region of 250 panels per day. Larger facilities will typically handle 25,000 panels per day. High-volume facilities also work with larger panel sizes, which are more cost-effective and allow further freedom of design.”

PCB factories worldwide adhere to manufacturing standards such as ISO9001, ensuring consistent quality and production capacity.

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As previously mentioned, scalability is at the heart of the future of Bramble Energy and is the core of reducing costs even further.

Exploring the two main steps to enact this plan, Tom Mason, Co-Founder of Bramble Energy explained: “The first one is pure scale, so it is about how much is being ordered and where it is being ordered to, there are huge amounts of economies of scale that come from this.”

“The same thing is true of the PCBs; you’re purchasing power increases and your economies of scale increase as well. It’s more of a quotable curve from a PCB perspective. The thing that really gets us down to 60 is the lower CAPEX which the whitepaper discussed.”

“The thing that enables Bramble Energy to get to 60 is through the exercise which has been really useful, we’ve been able to identify every single element of cost from every single process that our materials go through to produce a stack.”

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This is like for like scale, so $100/kW is what we can currently do at 100 MW yearly production.

Tom added: “But if we transition to a new generation of tech, which we currently have working in R&D at Bramble HQ, we think we can take 40 per cent of that cost out and that’s by still using standard materials and manufacturing routes but different construction to how we are doing.”

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are widely used in various applications from mobile phones to televisions and laptops, with a global manufacturing base worth over $70 billion annually. Bramble Energy leverages this extensive PCB manufacturing network, utilising standard production methods and materials to deliver fuel cells of various shapes and sizes for diverse applications.

The core substrate of Bramble’s PCB fuel cell is a standard PCB laminate, which serves as

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a bipolar plate, providing structural integrity and fulfilling all typical and complex fuel cell functional roles including gasketing, current collection, sealing and more. These standardised materials are widely used across the PCB industry, and this has resulted in significant economies of scale, accessible even at the smallest production and prototype values.

Bramble Energy’s digitally tooled fuel cell design enables the production of fuel cells in various sizes and power outputs, empowering customers to control their own supply chain.

Through joint development agreements (JDAs), Bramble collaborates with customers to develop customised solutions, and customers can then manufacture the products using PCB factories within their existing supply chain.

Overall, the company’s breakthroughs in costeffective fuel cell technology have the potential to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen across industries, contributing to a sustainable and green future.

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HYDROGEN’S ROLE IN DELIVERING A MORE RESILIENT ELECTRICITY SYSTEM

BY CHELSEA BAILEY

Improving the UK’s current infrastructure to boost economic growth and meet our net zero targets is both achievable and affordable if the right policy steps are taken now, according to a recent report by the National Infrastructure Commission.

In the last five years since the first National Infrastructure Assessment, the UK Government has worked to increase the share of electricity generated by renewables, set up the UK Infrastructure Bank, devolve transport funding to major city regions, and provide industry with the direction to rapidly build gigabit capable broadband networks.

However, the ‘The Second National Infrastructure Assessment’ report has argued

The new report explores how there is a great need for significant public and private investment in infrastructure if the UK is to rebalance its economic geography, meet climate obligations, improve energy resilience, and enhance the natural environment.

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MODELS NEED TO BE IN PLACE TO AMPLIFY EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES The National Infrastructure Commission has calculated that if the UK Government commits to a sharp increase in public sector investment in infrastructure to around £30 billion per year, it will need to be sustained until 2040.

This sits at the top of the funding envelope set by HM Treasury for the Commission’s recommendations of up to 1.3% GDP a year.

that there is more to be done to address significant deficiencies in the UK’s economic infrastructure and ensure it can meet challenges ahead.

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Meanwhile, private sector investment will need to increase from around £30-40 billion over the last decade to £40-50 billion in the 2030s and 2040s.

Attracting this investment to the UK in the face of global competition will require a new approach, says the Commission. It recommends that a clear plan needs to be set out and stuck too, to lend certainty to investors and help build up supply chains.

In addition to this, it recommends clear guidance is needed from the government on priorities, with investment ahead of need and business models to support emerging technologies needed.

To see renewable projects become a reality, the planning system for major projects needs to be sped up, with regularly updated National Policy Statements from government, strategic spatial planning, more effective sharing of environmental data and clearer community benefits made a priority.

18% OF FOSSIL FUEL DEMAND IS CURRENTLY USED IN ELECTRICITY GENERATION To tackle climate change and ensure energy security, the report states that the UK needs to move away from its reliance on fossil fuels.

Currently, around 80% of the energy demand is met by fossil fuels, primarily from fossil fuel based electricity generation, natural gas boilers for heating homes and businesses, petrol and diesel cars, and fossil fuels powering industry.

To move away from fossil fuels, the report highlights that by 2035, the UK needs a reliable electricity system running mostly on renewable power: “Government should accelerate the deployment of offshore wind, onshore wind and solar power.”

However, the report continues to state that these technologies need to be complemented by more flexible technologies that can generate if the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing: “It’s critical that government establishes effective business models that incentivise investment in large scale hydrogen and gas with carbon capture and storage power stations that can provide electricity even during extended calm or cloudy periods.”

The scale and speed of infrastructure deployment requires transformational change to planning, regulation and governance of both the transmission and distribution network.

Currently, 18% of fossil fuel demand is used in electricity generation and it is crucial that this must be reduced rapidly to support decarbonisation across the economy and deliver a more resilient, less price volatile and cheaper electricity system.

By 2035, the electricity demand is set to increase by around 50% as surface transport and heating are electrified and industry is increasingly powered by electricity, or hydrogen produced using electricity.

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AT LEAST 8 TWH OF HYDROGEN CAPACITY WILL BE NEEDED BY 2035 The report has recommended that the UK Government supports hydrogen to ensure there is enough fuel to generate the volume of electricity needed. To do this, an increase in current timescales and volumes will be needed.

A business model to support gas generation with carbon capture and storage has already been developed and the same will need to happen for hydrogen fired generation.

At least 8 TWh of hydrogen storage capacity will be needed by 2035, this will provide enough storage to manage winters that are colder and less windy than average, providing additional resilience when there is lower renewable generation output or higher energy demand.

The National Infrastructure Commission outlines that over the next coming years this resilience will be key: “Considering the possibility of several winters that are colder and less windy than average over multiple years could significantly increase the storage capacity that might be needed.”

In the UK, there is plenty of theoretical storage capacity in the form of salt caverns and depleted oil and gas reserves. However, there is less than one TWh of hydrogen storage in the UK today.

Action must happen now to see hydrogen’s potential become a reality, states the report: “The lead times for developing hydrogen storage can be up to ten years so action is needed now to meet the level the system needs.”

It has recommended that the government should target a total of 60 GW of short duration flexibility by 2035 and should introduce policy in 2024 to enable this, ensuring that all viable technologies have a route to market.

In addition, it explores the idea that by 2024, the government should have in place a business model to support hydrogen fired generation and ensure that by 2030 multiple large scale power stations are deployed for both gas generation with carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen fired generation.

“Government should support multiple large scale hydrogen and gas with carbon capture and storage power stations to deploy by 2030, with a view to rapidly increasing deployment from then onwards.”

National Infrastructure Commission

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INDUSTRY NEEDS CLEAR GUIDANCE AND CLARITY FROM THE GOVERNMENT Decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors such as the industrial sector requires this transition from fossil fuels to a mix of electricity, hydrogen and fossil fuels abated with carbon capture and storage.

The report outlines that the government has set stretching industrial decarbonisation targets and a comprehensive strategy is required to meet those targets and ensure that the UK protects its industrial activity as buyers increasingly demand low carbon products: “Industry needs clarity from government on which decarbonisation routes will be open to them and certainty on where supporting infrastructure will be available and when.”

Core networks of infrastructure to transmit and store hydrogen and carbon are essential by 2035. They will support industrial decarbonisation and provide the fuel needed to generate low-carbon electricity.

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This carbon capture and storage system should have capacity to store at least 50MtCO₂e annually by 2035 and the core sites should cover Grangemouth and North East Scotland, Teesside, Humberside, Merseyside, the Peak District and Southampton.

Similarly, the core hydrogen transmission network should connect Grangemouth and North East Scotland, Teesside, Humberside, Merseyside and South Wales.

Building hydrogen and carbon capture and storage networks will be crucial to enabling the switch away from fossil fuels to low carbon alternatives. However, industry will not make the transition without policies to encourage them to do so.

Government has some policies in place to support innovation and drive the energy transition but the report argues that a comprehensive strategy is needed.

This strategy will need to include a range of policies, and carbon pricing, regulation and incentives acting together to support industry make the transition to low-carbon fuel sources and achieve the UK’s net zero’s target.

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PODCAST EPISODE 11

HYDROGEN SAFETY AND THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION In this episode, Hydrogen Industry Leaders speaks to Riverside College and RIOT about the role of technology in education and how VR can improve hydrogen safety.

Q

If you could give us a bit of wider context and an introduction to your VR education in a box?

David: We’re trying to use this technology to push forward the amount of renewable energy production to address the massive requirements for things like wind energy training, hydrogen training and many others that aren’t currently met by education approaches and the VR in a box solution has a broad spectrum, multi accessible virtual reality.

To do this, it must be easy for people to get the equipment that they need or get access to the virtual reality platforms that they need, where they aren’t going to be highly technical or have some kind of IT background or whatever. You just need to open your computer, put on a headset and you can be training with people from all over the world immediately.

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Q

I wondered if you could come in here and just give us a brief overview of how you see technology playing in the future of education?

Craig: It’s a really exciting adventure because when I started work at Riverside College a couple of years ago, maybe five years ago now, I started teaching welding and they were teaching the traditional way, and I always have my thoughts on the term traditional anyway, but we have in the college some virtual reality welding machines.

I started using that with my students just now and then I dipped my toe in and I noticed a massive increase in the speed of learning. And I thought, Wow, this is going to work both ways.

The students are going to learn quicker and more substantially but also, to be honest with you, it’s going to make my teaching easier and more productive.

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So, yes, what essentially has happened is we’ve introduced the students into our VR room where we use our Lincoln Electric Beyond machines. And what I noticed was the students were more engaged.

On your question that insinuated what role in the future VR is going to play, what I’m happy to see is it is coming to education. It’s unstoppable. The reason for that is seeing students engaged, and increased speed of learning which will then give the tutor time to elaborate on the learning, and maybe teach in other areas if that helps.

Q

What benefits are there for VR in training hydrogen safety?

David: In the real world, you could be on the edge of an oil platform, you could be hanging off a wind turbine, you could be working in explosive environments. You need to get this stuff right the first time. Right now, usually what happens is you’re trained in theory in a classroom, which doesn’t work for everybody.

For a start, it’s not memorable and it’s not indicative of the experience. Then, once you get through that training, you get taken into the physical environment. We are working with this stuff where one slip-up could mean death or injury for you and many people around you, right?

This is not a good way to do it. So there are two benefits of using virtual and augmented reality for this one, it’s a very, very real feeling. You know, it takes you into that. Not only are you getting to do the practical task as you would in the real world, but that sense of pressure or that sense of fear and danger as they are now, that’s good because partially it keeps you from doing the wrong thing, but partially it teaches you to be familiar with doing the right thing under pressure.

Then when you do get into the physical environment, not only can you remember what to do much better, but you can you can cope with stress.

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Craig: Let me also give you an example. I have a colleague of mine who’s never used VR before.

I wouldn’t say sceptical, but you know, he never experienced VR. He didn’t know essentially what happens in that environment. But he’d heard me talking about how advantageous it is.

I got him into our VR room and I gave him the tracking on this app, which is called Lockout.

It’s essentially making sure that a machine is locked out when it’s faulty so that nobody else can use it. He did the subsequent steps that you need to take and he enjoyed it.

But the kicker was that on the following Monday, he came over to my desk and he said, Craig, if you were to ask me now what steps I needed to take to lockout a machine and I don’t think I could have remembered it as well through traditional methods.

“So as a form of assessment, I believe that you could put the students in the VR environment.”

But at the end of the day, as good a teacher as you are, and there are wonderful ones at Riverside College, all you have essentially is a PowerPoint and videos to try to explain as best you can, but you are restricted when getting students to learn about working at heights.

We’re not going to put them in a place of danger. So as a form of assessment, I believe that you could put the students in the VR environment, put them at heights, and as David alluded to that they’ll be a little bit scared, as they should be.

They’ll take the appropriate steps. Then they step out of the VR environments and have a better understanding of the conditions.

LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST HERE 

25

INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS HYDROGEN PROJECTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

In this month’s round-up of international projects, hydrogen industry leaders delves into the latest updates from North America, Finland, South Africa, and the USA.

4 GW ELECTROLYSER FACTORY HEADING TO NORTH AMERICA Starting in North America, Hystar has announced that a 4 GW electrolyser factory will be developed as part of its expansion plans.

The PEM electrolyser technology specialists are also planning to deliver a fully automated 4 GW electrolyser factory in Høvik, Norway, with construction beginning early next year and set for completion in 2025.

Their North American venture has yet to establish a location, but after confirming this in 2024, they plan to deliver the facility by 2027.

Currently, Hystar is engaging in discussion with key stakeholders across the continent, and will soon initiate its hiring process for the North American headquarters.

The company anticipate that its American operations may exceed its European plans within the decade, and could invest in further GW factories by 2030.

A 4 GW electrolyser factory will be developed as part of its expansion plans.

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Fredrik Mowill, CEO of Hystar, said: “As we continue to scale up our operations, we are now looking at opportunities beyond Europe – the North American market has created a highly favourable environment for companies like ours to thrive in.

“Both the US and Canada have attractive incentives on offer, demonstrating a clear commitment to providing our industry with much-needed certainty and financial support.”

ACCELERATING GREEN HYDROGEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE NORDIC REGION Moving on, A joint venture (JV) which will fund the development of electrolyser capacity throughout the Nordics has been established between Everfuel and Hy24.

The JV, which was first announced in February this year, has just completed the transaction which will enable the financing of the developments to commence.

The pair have planned to invest €200 million in equity in green hydrogen infrastructure in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, which will enable the JV to fund, build, own, and operate up to 1 GW of green hydrogen projects.

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Everfuel, a Denmark-based green hydrogen company, own 51% of the JV, while Hy24managed Clean Hydrogen Infrastructure Fund, which is the largest in the world, holds 49%.

SOUTH AFRICA TO PRODUCE GREEN HYDROGEN AFTER SUCCESSFUL PILOT Thirdly, It has been revealed that the consistent production of green hydrogen will commence in South Africa in early 2024 following the success of a pilot project earlier this year.

THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES $7BN FOR HYDROGEN HUBS Finally, the Biden Administration has chosen seven proposals to split $7 billion in federal funding which will accelerate the development of a national network of hydrogen hubs.

Funded by the Department of Energy (DOE), the hubs include both producers and customers and are working to help amplify hydrogen adoption by building up storage tanks, pipelines, and other infrastructure.

South African synfuels giant Sasol have established a wheeling agreement which will see its Sasolburg supplied with renewable energy from the 69 MW Msenge Emoyeni wind farm in the Eastern Cape.

Together, the hubs will catalyse more than $40 billion in private investment and create tens of thousands of jobs. This is bringing the total public and private investment in hydrogen hubs to nearly $50 billion.

According to the company, the concept of green hydrogen production was proven through their pilot phase, which used a 3 MW solar photovoltaic facility in its factory in Sasolburg earlier this year.

These seven hydrogen hubs will be built across the nation and are aiming to decarbonise transport and industrial manufacturing, reducing 25 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually.

The pilot, which took place in June, was used to repurpose an operational electrolyser, with the green hydrogen produced to be used in mobility applications.

Fleetwood Grobler, CEO of Sasol, said: “There is a demand for green hydrogen to decarbonise the mining industry and in other mobility applications.”

Once operational, the (69 MW) Msenge wind farm together with the Sasolburg solar farm will provide sufficient renewable power to commercialise green hydrogen in South Africa.

This amount equates to removing approximately 5.5 million gasoline-powered vehicles from the road.

This amount equates to removing approximately 5.5 million gasoline-powered vehicles from the road, or just under 2 per cent of the estimated 286 million operational cars in the United States.

“This is a huge step forward in the energy transition, not just for Sasol but also for South Africa.”

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Building the Hydrogen Economy

GL A SGOW 202 3 Radisson BLU, Glasgow 28 November 2023 Continuing our annual Scottish Conference, join key decisionmakers and thought leaders throughout the sector as we look to grow the hydrogen economy and enhance the energy transition through production, storage, distribution, and end-use.

• What role will transport play in hydrogen storage, distribution, and end-use?

• How is Scotland uniquely positioned to explore onshore and offshore renewable options?

• How to unlock further investment opportunities for Scotland • Explore how oil and gas companies can transition to green solutions

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H yd ro g e n 2 Industry Leaders

100

Breakfast Hub Hull

01 Dec 2023 7:30 AM - 11:00 AM Holiday Inn Hull Marina Our HIL 100 Breakfast Hub brings us to Hull to discuss current and forthcoming projects across the East of England and Humberside.

Join us for this informal networking breakfast to engage with key people driving the hydrogen revolution in the region.

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