Benefits of the multi-modality formulation in hydrogen supply chain modelling

Hydrogen is recognized as a key element of future low-carbon energy systems. For proper integration, an adequate delivery infrastructure will be required, to be deployed in parallel to the electric grid and the gas network. This work adopts an optimization model to support the design of a future hydrogen delivery infrastructure, considering production, storage, and transport up to demand points. The model includes two production technologies, i.e., steam reforming with carbon capture and PV-fed electrolysis systems, and three transport modalities, i.e., pipelines, compressed hydrogen trucks, and liquid hydrogen trucks. This study compares a multi-modality formulation, in which the different transport technologies are simultaneously employed and their selection is optimized, with a mono-modality formulation, in which a single transport technology is considered. The assessment looks at the regional case study of Lombardy in Italy, considering a long-term scenario in which an extensive hydrogen supply chain is developed to supply hydrogen for clean mobility. Results show that the multi-modality infrastructure provides significant cost benefits, yielding an average cost of hydrogen that is up to 11% lower than a mono-modality configuration.

CO2-capture research and Clean Energy Technologies Research Institute (CETRI) of University of Regina, Canada: history, current status and future development

Summary Clean Energy Technologies Research Institute (CETRI) was formerly known as the International Test Centre for CO2 Capture in the early 2000s. The original focus of the centre was to help lower the carbon intensity of the current energy sources to low-carbon ones in Canada. Currently, CETRI’s mandates have expanded and now include most of the low-carbon and near-carbon-free clean-energy research activities. Areas of research focus include carbon (CO2) capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), near-zero-emission hydrogen (H2) technologies, and waste-to-renewable fuels and chemicals. CETRI also brings together one of the most dynamic teams of researchers, industry leaders, innovators and educators in the clean and low-carbon energy fields.

Primary Energy System Chain Security Under the Energy Transition

This paper examines the energy transition consequences on the oil and gas energy system chain as it propagates from net importing through the transit to the net exporting countries (or regions). The fundamental energy system security concerns of importing, transit, and exporting regions are analyzed under the low carbon energy transition dynamics. The analysis is evidence-based on diversification of energy sources, energy supply and demand evolution, and energy demand management development. The analysis results imply that the energy system is going through technological and logistical reallocation of primary energy. The manifestation of such reallocation includes an increase in electrification, the rise of energy carrier options, and clean technologies. Under healthy and normal global economic growth, the reallocation mentioned above would have a mild effect on curbing the oil and gas primary energy demands growth. A case study concerning electric vehicles, which is part of the energy transition aspect, is presented to assess its impact on the energy system, precisely on the fossil fuel demand. Results show that electric vehicles are indirectly fueled, mainly from fossil-fired power stations through electric grids. Moreover, oil byproducts use in the electric vehicle industry confirms the reallocation of the energy system components' roles. The paper's contribution to the literature is the portrayal of the energy system security state under the low carbon energy transition. The significance of this representation is to shed light on the concerns of the net exporting, transit, and net importing regions under such evolution. Subsequently, it facilitates the development of measures toward mitigating world tensions and conflicts, enhancing the global socio-economic wellbeing, and preventing corruption.

The mobility of fluids through rocks

Over the last decade, there has been an irreversible shift from hydrocarbon exploration towards carbon storage, low-carbon energy generation and hydrogen exploration. Whilst basin modelling techniques may be used to predict the migration of hydrocarbons through sedimentary basins on geological timescales, there remains little understanding of how fluids behave at the basin scale on present-day timescales. Maximum vertical fluid velocity, vmax, may be calculated as the product of mobility and buoyancy. We present am algorithm to determine the basin-scale mobilities of CO2 and methane with depth for sandstone and carbonate. CO2 and methane mobility and buoyancy increase by an order of magnitude at gas phase transitions and are significantly greater in sandstone than in carbonate. Critical properties of CO2 cause fluid mobility and buoyancy to be sensitive to changes in surface temperature. vmax for CO2 and methane are on scales of m/year. Our results indicate an optimal depth for CO2 storage of below 0.59 km and 1.24 km when surface temperature > 20oC and 0oC, respectively. vmax for hydrogen is approximately 2-10 times greater than other hydrocarbon fluids and this will have important consequences for the future use of basin modelling software for determining hydrogen migration for exploration and storage.