Addressing Environmental Challenges: The Role of Hydrogen Technologies in a Sustainable Future

Abstract

Energy and environmental issues are of great importance in the present era. The transition to renewable energy sources necessitates technological, political, and behavioral transformations. Hydrogen is a promising solution, and many countries are investing in the hydrogen economy. Global demand for hydrogen is expected to reach 120 million tonnes by 2024. The incorporation of hydrogen for efficient energy transport and storage and its integration into the transport sector are crucial measures. However, to fully develop a hydrogen-based economy, the sustainability and safety of hydrogen in all its applications must be ensured. This work describes and compares different technologies for hydrogen production, storage, and utilization (especially in fuel cell applications), with focus on the research activities under study at SaRAH group of the University of Naples Federico II. More precisely, the focus is on the production of hydrogen from bio-alcohols and its storage in formate solutions produced from renewable sources such as biomass or carbon dioxide. In addition, the use of materials inspired by nature, including biowaste, as feedstock to produce porous electrodes for fuel cell applications is presented. We hope that this review can be useful to stimulate more focused and fruitful research in this area and that it can open new avenues for the development of sustainable hydrogen technologies.

Hydrogen Safety Challenges: A Comprehensive Review on Production, Storage, Transport, Utilization, and CFD-Based Consequence and Risk Assessment

“…In solid-state storage, hydrogen is physically or chemically stored in solid materials such as carbon nanotubes or metal hydrides, while the use of liquid organic carriers consists of a chemical cycle of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation steps. In both the liquid and solid chemical storage systems, heat is required for the dehydrogenation step, and the typical reaction conditions for the exothermic hydrogenation are a high pressure (1 to 5 MPa) and temperatures from 373 to 523 K [28]. The aforementioned systems are considered to be safe and practical because hydrogen can be stored and transported as a liquid or solid, eliminating the safety and storage problems associated with gaseous hydrogen.…”

A Review of the Role of Hydrogen in the Heat Decarbonization of Future Energy Systems: Insights and Perspectives

“…It highlights hydrogen's potential to decarbonize challenging sectors and add flexibility to the energy system through storage. However, the report demonstrates significant challenges for hydrogen deployment, such as high costs, infrastructure gaps, and safety concerns [87]. The report particularly recognizes hydrogen's importance in enhancing resilience, especially for remote communities reliant on smaller grids and diesel generators, suggesting hydrogen as a sustainable alternative.…”

Global Vision of the Reaction and Deactivation Routes in the Ethanol Steam Reforming on a Catalyst Derived from a Ni–Al Spinel

“…The development of the H 2 economy is based on four cornerstones (production, storage, transportation, and use). 1 Nowadays, more than 90% of the H 2 production (estimated to be 120 million tons by 2024) 2 is carried out by the catalytic steam reforming (SR) of fossil feedstock (methane, natural gas, naphtha, propane), with high emissions of greenhouse gases (110 g CO 2 e per MJ of H 2 from methane). 3 To avoid the impact of these emissions on the climate change, the development of H 2 production technologies from biomass feedstock is experiencing a growing interest in the transition scenario toward the H 2 production through water electrolysis.…”