Hydrogen – a resource for the future

CH2ESS (Centre for Hydrogen Energy Systems Sweden) is a research initiative at Luleå University of Technology focusing on hydrogen use in industrial processes and energy systems. On August 27-28, researchers and industry met at Vetenskapens hus in Luleå to discuss the future of hydrogen.

Hydrogen is one of the most energy-rich substances per kilogram known to science. Converting hydrogen to electricity produces plain water and heat as by-products. So there are huge gains to be made, both ecologically and economically, if an efficient system for the fossil-free production and storage of hydrogen can be achieved.

But with hydrogen comes a host of challenges. Hydrogen molecules are extremely small and reactive. This means they are difficult to store because they simply escape into the voids between the larger molecules that make up the container, or react with the container's molecules to destroy it, known as hydrogen embrittlement in the case of metal. In liquid form, hydrogen is less reactive and prone to escape. But it needs to be cooled to a temperature just above zero to change from a gas to a liquid.

- CH2ESS stimulates the entrepreneur and innovator in me. It is a difficult-to-handle energy carrier with a fantastic potential," says Mikael Börjesson, chairman of CH2ESS for the past year.

Supporting the work

Mikael Börjesson was previously director of the Centre for Distance-Spanning Technology, CDT, at Luleå University of Technology. Despite major differences between the research subjects, he thinks his role is relatively similar in both organisations.

- My task is to support the work to achieve exchanges in what is called the triple helix, that is, research, business and society.

During the day, a number of senior and junior researchers presented their projects.

Maxwell Meju, professor of applied geophysics, talked about the natural occurrence of hydrogen in the ground. Extracting natural hydrogen is much less energy-intensive than creating it artificially, but it is difficult to find. According to Maxwell Meju, a combination of measurement methods is needed to achieve success.

Cheap catalysts

Water is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. By adding energy, the hydrogen atoms can be released. The process can be accelerated by using catalysts. These catalysts are often made of rare earth metals, which are very expensive. Alberto Vomiero, professor of experimental physics, presented his research project aimed at developing catalysts from materials that are abundant, cheap and chemically stable.

Doctoral students associated with CH2ESS gave two-minute presentations on their projects, which included rock storage of hydrogen, using the oxygen produced as a by-product of hydrogen production to combat algal blooms, and how to minimize the need for heating and cooling in fossil-free steel production to reduce costs.

Ammonia as a hydrogen transporter

Janna Attari is a doctoral student in materials engineering at the end of her thesis project. She explained how ammonia can be used to transport hydrogen. The chemical name for ammonia is NH3, which means that three hydrogen atoms are bonded to one nitrogen atom. The chemical name for hydrogen is H2, so an ammonia molecule contains one more hydrogen atom than a hydrogen molecule and therefore has a higher energy value. It is also much easier to transport hydrogen in the form of ammonia than in the form of hydrogen because ammonia is less prone to escape. It also does not require as high pressure or low temperatures to liquefy. However, ammonia is toxic. Janna Attari's doctoral project is looking at ways to mitigate its toxicity during storage.

- The annual Hydrogen Research Days are, of course, the highlight of the year for me as head of CH2ESS. It is fantastic to hear the researchers talk about how far they have come in their research and about the exciting results, and in parallel to have discussions about further development needs in an open forum where companies, the public sector and visitors from universities in several other countries also participate. Welcome to participate next year if you want to join us – reserve the last Wednesday and Thursday in August!, says Cecilia Wallmark.

• Read more about C2HESS