Effects of Hydrogen Storage on the Technoeconomic Analysis of Hydrogen Supply Chains

R&D Focus Areas:
Techno-economic evaluation, Liquid hydrogen

Lead Organisation:
The University of Western Australia

Funding:
Future Energy Exports CRC (PhD Project)

Status:
Active

Start date:
2023

Completion date:
2026

Project summary description:
This project covers two aspects (technoeconomic modelling and experimental work) of hydrogen supply chains with a focus on hydrogen storage and transport options and requirements.  With respect to the technoeconomic modelling, the first case study executed is a detailed comparison of onshore and offshore production of green steel using liquid hydrogen as the storage/transport vector. This will also consider various intermediate products (e.g. HBI) and compare the levelized cost of steel (LCOS) as well as the CO₂ emissions associated with the various options.

Another case study to be executed will consider the amount (and costing) of underground hydrogen storage required to ensure constant power supply in the SWIS (WA) and in Western Victoria in 2050 as renewable energy dominates the energy supply in the future.  This will also consider reliable hydrogen supply for long haul trucking. It will provide a time resolved estimate of the pressure evolution over a typical year for the stored hydrogen and hence enable sizing of the required surface facilities.

Finally, an experimental component ultimately aimed at improving the economics of hydrogen liquefaction (for storage) will be executed as part of the thesis.  This will attempt to use 2D Raman imaging to image the conversion between para- and ortho-hydrogen around individual catalyst pellets. In this manner, an attempt will be made to better understand the mechanism whereby this conversion occurs; does it require adsorption of the hydrogen and does it work through space in terms of distorting the immediate magnetic field.

Further information:
https://www.fenex.org.au/connect/

 

September 2024