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The quest for sustainable energy solutions has thrust green hydrogen into the spotlight as a promising alternative fuel. Within the intricacies of green hydrogen production, the balance of plant (BoP) components play a critical role, extending beyond the core electrolysis process. These components, encompassing everything from power connections and water treatment to cooling systems and hydrogen storage, are essential for operational efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability. Understanding the BoP is vital for anyone looking to optimize the performance and cost-effectiveness of green hydrogen facilities, highlighting the necessity of a comprehensive approach to plant design and operation.

Valmet, the global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services, has long enjoyed strong patronage from the pulp, paper and energy industries, amongst others. And, thanks to proven expertise with industrial gases such as hydrogen, oxygen and chlorine, Valmet’s Flow Control business line is a ‘go-to’ valve source for the renewable energy sector. Ville Kähkönen and Andreas Pischke kindly discussed the valve needs of this emerging industry.

Although the implementation of global renewable electricity generation capacity is increasing exponentially, with the goal of tripling it by 2030 as established by COP28, the world’s renewable hydrogen production capacity is lagging behind. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has recently lowered its five-year forecast for renewable power capacity dedicated to renewable hydrogen production (2023–2028) to 45 GW. It goes without saying that the hydrogen sector will require a substantial amount of critical raw materials (CRMs), for instance, for fuel cells, electrolysers, hydrogen separation, hydrogen storage, and hydrogen transport.

In practice, rectifiers and electrolyzers are connected by thick copper or aluminum busbars that facilitate current transport. However, there is currently a lack of a strong connection between the electrical engineers designing the power supply system and the electrochemical engineers responsible for designing the electrolyzer. This should change.

It is well known that the water for electrolysis must be of very high quality. However, treating the feedwater to the required quality is only half the story. The water quality must also be maintained while the water circulates inside the electrolyzer. This article explores what happens with the water inside the electrolyzer and the implications for water treatment.

Mitigating climate change is a pressing challenge in the modern world, and hydrogen stands out as a fuel with the potential to decarbonize several high carbon-emitting sectors, such as transportation and heavy industries, including ammonia synthesis, steel manufacturing, cement production etc. Additionally, it can be used in decarbonizing electric power production by generating electricity using hydrogen-capable combustion turbines. Due to its versatile applications in the energy transition, the production, storage, and distribution of affordable and low-carbon hydrogen have become focal points of many research and industrial endeavors.

Founded in Bergamo in 1927, SIAD has been a major player in Europe’s industrial gas sector for nearly a century. Besides producing and distributing industrial gases, the Italian-based company specialises in engineering gas processing equipment. Leveraging over 70 years of its expertise in the design and manufacture of hydrogen compressors, SIAD’s latest engineering breakthrough is a high-pressure compressor featuring oil-free technology and delivering industry-leading performance and reliability. To learn more about this innovation and the company’s core strengths, we spoke with Sandeep Gadkary, Director of Compressors and Global Service Divisions at SIAD Macchine Impianti, the engineering arm of the SIAD Group.

In a world grappling with the growing urgency of combating climate change, transitioning to renewable and sustainable energy sources has become a paramount concern. Many energy experts advocate for the benefits of direct electrification whenever and wherever possible. While the efficiency benefits of direct electrification are evident, challenges remain. For example, industrial processes, energy storage, and heavy-duty transportation cannot be easily electrified using only renewable energy and batteries. As we progress towards a clean energy economy, the introduction of a green molecule to complement green electrons becomes essential. Green hydrogen presents a significant potential for ‘indirect electrification,’ using a versatile molecule primarily produced from renewable electricity to enhance our clean energy usage.

Ammonia is a vital building block for the modern economy, serving as the foundation for the production of nitrogen fertilizers, which are essential for feeding the growing world population, and it also has various other industrial applications. Recently, as carbon emission reduction strategies and legislation are being adopted around the world, ammonia is receiving even more attention. Due to its high energy density, ammonia has the potential to play an important role as an energy carrier and storage solution in the clean energy transition. In the future, global demand for ammonia is expected to increase significantly, but with an emphasis on emissions reduction and distributed production.