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Challenges in Sustainable Hydrogen Production. David Wails Low Carbon Research Group Johnson Matthey Technology Centre. Environmental Technologies. Fine Chemicals and Catalysts. Precious Metal Products.
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Challenges in Sustainable Hydrogen Production David Wails Low Carbon Research Group Johnson Matthey Technology Centre
Environmental Technologies Fine Chemicals and Catalysts Precious Metal Products Johnson MattheySpeciality chemicals company focused on its core skills in catalysis, precious metals, fine chemicals and process technology
Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells Process Technologies Low Carbon Technologies Fuel Processing Components Syngas (hydrogen) catalysts Fuel Cell catalysts Membrane Electrode Assemblies Davy Process Technology Research Materials Hydrogen generation, storage & separation Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
JM - World Leading Expertise in SyngasCatalysts, Purification, Process Technology Hydrocarbon Chemicals Fuels Power • JM Supplies 40% of world’s hydrogen production catalysts
Hydrogen Generation Pathways Waste Biofuels Coal Gasification Solar thermal Photochemistry Photobiology Hydrogen Production Technology Nuclear Electrolysis Reforming Conventional SMR Distributed Fuel Processors On site H2 Generators
Hydrogen – Here and NowA catalyst supplier’s perspective • Current hydrogen generation route (SMR) is on a large scale • Most hydrogen utilised on site (ammonia,methanol production, HDS, GTL) • Hydrocarbon sources are well understood • A multitude of novel, compact fuel processors are being developed for fuel cell applications • Advanced engineering and system designs require suitable catalysts to demonstrate the concepts • Suitable catalysts are often not scaleable or commercially available • Renewable hydrocarbon sources present additional challenges • There is no ‘one-size fits all’ catalyst solution
Litres H2/day Tonnes H2/day Portable/military Auxiliary/back-up power Residential stationary Industrial stationary Forecourt reforming On-site hydrogen Stranded gas GTL Conventional syngas Large scale GTL Fuel Processing Catalyst Requirements Distributed Small scale Industrial plant
PEMFC SOFC + MCFC Selective Oxidation Combustion and Reforming Water Gas Shift PAFC Syngas Clean-Up Requirements
Routes to Low Carbon H2 • Efficient hydrocarbon processing • including biofuels, waste, biomass, biogas, emerging hydrocarbon sources (e.g. glycerol) • integration with carbon capture and storage • Indirect renewables • storage of renewable electricity through electrolysis • Direct renewables • photocatalysis, biogenicH2, high temp solar
Syngas from Biomass • Gasification of a variety of feedstocks • Waste plastics, urban waste, lignocellulosics, oils/fats, starch/sugar • Existing catalysts and adsorbents • Acid gas “polishing” with sulphur and chloride guards • Sweet and sour shift catalysts • Additional syngas conditioning requirements • Tar removal • Dependent on gasifier design and operation
Solar Hydrogen Coated ZnFerrite materials for water-splitting redox cycle Coated PGM catalysts for solar enhanced steam reforming
Hydrogen Research Needs • Step-change production processes • New processes >> new catalysts for current processes • Low Carbon H2 • Efficient hydrocarbon processing (including biogas sources, integration with CCS) • Indirect renewables (eg – storage of renewable electricity) • Direct renewables (eg – photocatalysis, biohydrogen, high temp solar) • Distributed reforming: efficient, compact, robust, ‘waste’ feedstocks • Integration of biochemical and thermochemical processes
Hydrogen Research Needs • Purification • Reformate: effective desulphurisation, non-pyrophoric CO-removal, hydrocarbon clean-up • H2: distributed separation and compression • Storage • Where is the next big idea in solid state H2 storage ? • Optimising for the end application: packaging, heat integration • Large scale storage options: organic carriers, hydrocarbons, slurries ?
Conclusions • Hydrogen generation via traditional routes is well established technology • Syngas usually produced and used on site • Use of sustainable feedstocks with current plant flowsheets will have additional processing and purification requirements • Emerging hydrogen opportunities/markets have different requirements • Pure hydrogen rather than syngas • Requires additional purification • Centralised / distributed reforming • Storage and transportation issues • Sustainable / low carbon opportunities • CCS • Renewable feedstocks