Blue Hydrogen Economy - A New Look at an Old Idea

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Ehlig-Economides ◽  
Dimitrios G. Hatzignatiou
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Hydrogen Generation ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Generation Process ◽  
Hydrogen Economy ◽  
Core Skills ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
The Cost ◽  
And Storage

Abstract Previous efforts to promote hydrogen as an energy carrier described a Utopian world in which renewable resources provided all energy for heating, electricity, transportation, and industrial needs. The elegance of this vision overlooked the cost and the footprint represented by the renewable energy resources required to generate so much electricity, and the additional cost required to employ electrolysis to generate hydrogen for energy storage not possible for electricity. Today an abundance of natural gas offers an option for hydrogen generation from methane that can include capturing and storing CO2 produced from the generation process. This results in blue hydrogen, effectively as ecologically attractive as the green hydrogen from electrolysis, and considerably less expensive. This paper evaluates a New Hydrogen Economy employing blue hydrogen as a bridge to net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Of particular interest is the observation that depleted natural gas reservoirs offer pore space sufficient to store about 1.5 times the CO2 coming from hydrogen generation from the produced natural gas. The implication of this observation is that blue hydrogen generation need not rely on saline aquifer storage or on CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery. We find that blue hydrogen cost is comparable to the cost of current crude oil-based transportation fuels. Further, electricity generated using blue hydrogen is less expensive than decarbonized electricity generated from natural gas with post combustion CO2 capture and storage. The infrastructure required for this energy transition can leverage existing natural gas transport and storage and existing petroleum industry skills. Energy companies committed to net zero emissions need not rely only on renewable energy sources or nuclear power. Further, switching to blue hydrogen reduces or eliminates combustion related pollution including nitrogen and sulfur oxides. Finally, the Blue Hydrogen Economy makes efficient and cost effective use of petroleum engineering core skills, as well as the core skills championed by the petroleum industry.

Characterization of economic and ecological advantages and challenges in development of conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon, non-hydrocarbon and renewable energy sources for resource-based economy in Kazakhstan

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandr Ivakhnenko ◽  
Beibarys Bakytzhan
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Generation Process ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Unconventional Oil ◽  
The Cost

<p>In global socioeconomic development facing climate change challenges to minimize the output of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and moving to a more low-carbon economy (LCE) the major driving force for success in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the cost of energy generation. One of the main factors for energy source selection in the power supply and energy type generation process is the price parameters often influenced at different degree by government policies incentives, technological and demographic challenges in different countries. We research the energy sources situation and possible development trends for developing country Kazakhstan with resource-based economy. In general, the economic aspects affect the quality and quantity of energy generated from different sources with incentives for environmental concern. Traditional energy sources in Kazakhstan, such as coal, oil and natural gas remain low-cost in production due to high reserve base, which leads to steady growth in this area. In general, the cost for generating 1 kWh of energy from the cheapest carbon source of energy sub-bituminous coal is about 0.0024 $, for natural gas 0.0057 $, conventional oil 0.0152 $ (conventional diesel is 0.0664 $) and for expensive unconventional oil 0.0361 $, whereas renewable hydrocarbons could potentially become more competitive with unconventional oil production (methanol 0.0540 $, biodiesel 0.0837 $, bioethanol 0.1933 $ for generating 1 kWh). Furthermore, we consider the main non-traditional and renewable energy sources of energy from the sun, wind, water, and biofuels, hydrogen, methane, gasoline, uranium, and others. There is a difference between the breakeven prices of conventional gas and biomethane (0.0057 $ and 0.047 - 0.15 $ respectively averaging 0.0675 $ per 1 kWh for biomethane) which is often related to the difference in their production methods. The main advantage of biomethane is environmentally friendly production. We also propose an assessment of fuel by environmental characteristics, where one of the hazardous sources Uranium is forth cheap 0.0069 $ per kWh, but the environmental damage caused by its waste is the greatest. At the same time hydropower is seven times more expensive than uranium, but it does not cause direct health damage issues, however influencing significantly ecosystem balance. Hydrogen fuel is the most expensive among others. Overall in Kazakhstan energy-producing from the sun, wind and biogas is more expensive comparing with global trends from 0.4 to 5.5 cents per 1 kWh, but remains cheaper for hydropower. In addition, based on the research findings we analyzed the potential for sustainable non-renewable and renewable energy development in the future for the case of the resource-based economy in Kazakhstan. </p>

Opportunities and Challenges in Converting Existing Natural Gas Infrastructure for Hydrogen Operation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Adam
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Hydrogen Economy ◽  
Storage Network ◽  
The World ◽  
Drive Trains ◽  
Regulatory Bodies ◽  
And Storage

Abstract Hydrogen holds enormous potential in helping the world achieve its decarbonization goals and is set to play a key role in the Energy Transition. However, two central building blocks are needed to make the hydrogen economy a reality: 1) a sufficient source of emissions-free (i.e., blue or green) hydrogen production and 2) a needs-based transportation and storage network that can reliably and cost-effectively supply hydrogen to end-users. Given the high costs associated with developing new transportation infrastructure, many governments, pipeline operators, and regulatory bodies have begun exploring if it is both possible and economical to convert existing natural gas (i.e., methane) infrastructure for hydrogen operation. This paper outlines opportunities and technical challenges associated with such an endeavor – with a particular focus on adaptation requirements for rotating equipment/compressor drive trains and metallurgical and integrity considerations for pipelines.

A review of transition-metal boride/phosphide-based materials for catalytic hydrogen generation from hydrolysis of boron-hydrides

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 760-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongming Sun ◽  
Jing Meng ◽  
Lifang Jiao ◽  
Fangyi Cheng ◽  
Jun Chen
Keyword(s):  
Transition Metal ◽  
Hydrogen Generation ◽  
Metal Boride ◽  
Hydrogen Economy ◽  
Boron Hydrides ◽  
Catalytic Hydrogen ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Hydrolysis Of ◽  
Essential Prerequisite

Efficient hydrogen generation and storage is an essential prerequisite of a future hydrogen economy.

scholarly journals So Long, Pump Monkey

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (08) ◽  
pp. 44-49
Author(s):  
Paul Sharke
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Fuel Economy ◽  
Hydrogen Economy ◽  
Short Trip ◽  
Electric Car ◽  
Big Picture ◽  
Alternative Fuel Vehicle ◽  
Burning Coal ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Hov Lanes

This article reviews the use of the electric car around town, and save gas and short-trip abuse to gasoline-powered mainframe. With gasoline so cheap, making the case for CNG vehicles and home filling is difficult based on economics alone. A person would have to log quite a few natural gas miles before he would have recovered the cost of the home fueling station. Engineers seeing the big picture on the hydrogen economy know that hydrogen has to be made, generally either by electrolyzing water or reforming hydrocarbons. Most of the time, that will mean burning coal or natural gas to produce the electricity needed for electrolyzing water—or reforming natural gas. Natural gas with home refilling makes better sense for daily commuting. Use of an alternative fuel vehicle rewards the choice with a waiver for a single-occupant vehicle to ride in the HOV lanes. Plug-in hybrids can double fuel economy in city and highway cycles operating solely in the gasoline-sustaining mode. Trips made on batteries alone are, of course, pure EV allies. Plug-in hybrids remain experimental.

Reducing cost of CCUS associated with natural gas production by improving monitoring technologies

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Mohammad Bagheri ◽  
Scott Ryan ◽  
David Byers ◽  
Matthias Raab
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Cost Model ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Monitoring Cost ◽  
Natural Gas Production ◽  
Monitoring Technologies ◽  
The Cost ◽  
And Storage

This paper examines how we can reduce the cost of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS). The CO2CRC research and demonstration projects during the last 15 years and the upcoming Otway Stage 3 Project aim to reduce the cost of CCUS. The CO2CRC Otway Stage 3 Project will develop subsurface monitoring technologies which can significantly reduce the cost of the surveillance. The CCUS associated with natural gas processing carries the lowest cost compared to other industries because production of concentrated CO2 streams is already part of the gas production process. Transport and storage remain the highest cost components of CCUS for natural gas production. Ranges of storage and transportation costs based on different publicly available data are ~US$2–40/tCO2 and ~US$2–10/tCO2 respectively. Further, the US Department of Energy cost model identifies 40–60% of storage cost as relating to recurring monitoring. This is highly dependent on project specifications, regulatory requirements and geographical considerations. The application of Otway Stage 3 subsurface technologies show preliminary long-term monitoring cost savings estimates for a large Australian project of up to 75% compared to conventional surface seismic-based methodologies. Depending on total injection mass, this would equate to an estimated cost saving of up to AU$12/tonne of CO2 injected for such a project. Reduced monitoring costs could be applied to all CCUS projects but would be of most interest to gas projects because storage is likely to be the biggest contributor to overall CCUS cost.

Porous BN for hydrogen generation and storage

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (18) ◽  
pp. 9632-9637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Chuan-Jia Tong ◽  
Yongsheng Zhang ◽  
Yan-Ning Zhang ◽  
Li-Min Liu
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Hydrogen Generation ◽  
Energy Resource ◽  
Renewable Energy Resource ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Storage Ability

Hydrogen is a highly appealing renewable energy resource, while hydrogen generation and storage for practical applications remain a great challenge at present. The proposed porous p-BN has both good hydrogen generation and storage ability which can be dramatically enhanced by C-dopant and Li-decoration.

scholarly journals Renewable energy sources and storage batteries for electrification of Russian decentralized power supply systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 2061 (1) ◽  
pp. 012016
Author(s):  
D Karamov ◽  
I Volkova ◽  
Suslov ◽  
I Dolmatov
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Diesel Fuel ◽  
Power Supply ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Storage Batteries ◽  
The Cost ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Decentralized Power Supply

Abstract The use of renewable energy sources (RES) and storage batteries (SB) in decentralized power systems is a cost-effective way to supply power to consumers. In this case, storage batteries are one of the most important system components. The significance of storage batteries is conditioned by a stabilizing effect obtained at generation from RES that are defined by stochastic oscillating functions. However, it is worth noting that storage batteries also improve the cost-effectiveness of such systems by reducing consumption of diesel fuel. This is particularly noticeable at night when load is the least and the use of diesel generators is inefficient. One of the most important points is the determination of potential internal processes of aging and breakdowns that occur in storage batteries during operation. The use of a tested model for categorization of storage batteries according to the operating conditions makes it possible to take account of these factors at the stage of a system design. The paper presents a detailed analysis of decentralized power supply system Verkhnyaya Amga. The focus is made on the cost-effectiveness of a combined use of RES with storage batteries, annual saving of diesel fuel, operating parameters. The research reveals hidden problems that represent various uncertainties that affect greatly the economic and operation parameters of the system.

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