Renewable Hydrogen: Simultaneous Storage of Biorenewable Energy and Carbon Dioxide

a7940451-df2c-46dd-b288-71dc240f7eca

Closed

EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC

£930,665

Nov. 1, 2017

July 31, 2019

Increasing amounts of low-cost and relatively pure carbon dioxide is available as a feedstock of nearly zero (or even negative) cost for conversion to fuels. On the other hand, the development of alternative sources for greener electricity generation (wind, hydro and photovoltaic) has a potential of making electrochemistry an inherently environmentally friendly, as electrons can replace more polluting conventional reducing agents. The aim of this proposal is to develop efficient electrocatalytic fuel production from carbon dioxide (residual emissions) and hydrogen (energy vector produced by intermittent renewable resources). Such fuel production can reduce the dependence on petrochemical resources through utilization of non-fossil fuel carbon as a building block.

It is envisaged to use novel electrolytic systems capable to improve electrochemical reaction kinetics, assuring very high concentration of reagents in vicinity of electrodes, sufficient electrolytic strength and enhanced transport properties.

In the last stage of this project, generated experimental data will be used for feasibility study to evaluate scalability and to estimate of the operational and investment costs.

Potential Impact:
Development of technology to convert hydrogen and carbon dioxide into methane is of importance for three sectors:

i) energy storage,
ii) valorisation of carbon dioxide emissions, and,
iii) renewable fuel production.

Electricity generated from renewable sources (wind, solar, etc.) during high-production periods can be used to produce hydrogen, which is stored and converted back to electrical energy or heat. Hydrogen is notorious for leaking and forming explosive mixture. Moreover, it needs to be stored cryogenically or under very high pressure, requiring expensive infrastructure. This proposal may provide an economically and environmentally advantageous storage vector of hydrogen from water, as methane can be used in the existing natural gas infrastructure. Transforming CO2 emissions into methane could provide an essentially carbon-neutral fuel cycle and would lower costs associated with CO2 transport to Carbon Capture and Storage sites. Finely, produced methane can be fed into the existing natural gas grid or stored and gas-fired power plants when needed.

These impacts will be reflected in three key domains:

Knowledge: through creation of new fundamental understanding and technology, leading to long term economic, social and environmental benefits, associated with improved technologies to use residual carbon dioxide emissions and energy storage vector to produce fuel.

People: through training of one PDRA and one PhD student (to be funded by the host institution) in the field of in Green Chemistry and Sustainable Engineering. Also, adapting more environmentally friendly approaches could lead to improved perception of Chemistry and the Chemical industry.

Economy: through knowledge exchange, generating additional profits and reducing disposal costs together with improving the resource efficiency.