Technology Transfer in Energy Sector

HYDROGEN AND ITS ROLE

IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION

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 PRESENTATION INDEX

• INTRODUCTION
• HYDROGEN AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
• THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
– The value of the integrated hydrogen chain
– The color code of hydrogen
– Production processes
– Transport and Storage
– Storage and logistics
• SECTORS OF HYDROGEN USES
– Hydrogen for mobility
– Hydrogen for energy uses
– Hydrogen for industrial uses
• HYDROGEN VALLEY
• CONCLUSIONS

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 INTRODUCTION

• The "energy transition" represents the transition from an energy

production model based on the use of fossil fuels to a model based on
renewable energy sources or zero CO2 emissions.
• The transition process will lead us towards a sustainable economic
model and is motivated by:
✓ Need to reduce environmental impact and CO2 emissions (from fossil
sources).
✓ Finite global quantity of fossil resources.

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 INTRODUCTION

4
 INTRODUCTION
• The European Union has defined a path to transform Europe into the
first continent with zero climate impact
✓ «carbon neutrality» by 2050
• The sectors involved are:
✓ construction, transport, industry, electrification and heating

Le The phases of the EU Carbon Neutrality process

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 INTRODUCTION
• Hydrogen offers a great contribution and multiple HYDROGEN ADVANTAGE

advantages to meet energy needs and achieve the

2050 objectives.
• It is added to renewables can decarbonize the so-called "hard to
abate" sectors
✓ contributes to decarbonising the "hard-to-abate
sectors" (chemical and steel industries, heavy
transport).
it can be produced from renewable
✓ It integrates into existing transport networks. sources, with significantly decreasing
costs of both solar and wind power and
electrolysers

renewable electrolysis
electricity green
hydrogen the existing network is already around
70% hydrogen ready

methanation
Rete
synthetic
del
methane
Biogenical gas
CO2
promotes "sector coupling", i.e. the
integration between the electricity and
gas sectors which allows for greater
flexibility and therefore lower costs for
biogas the energy system as a whole
production biomethane

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 INTRODUCTION

• The advantages of hydrogen as a widespread, low-carbon energy carrier

are increasingly attracting the attention and interest of governments.
2019 launch of a national
2018 producer of a third roadmap for the
2016 publication of an of tons of hydrogen development of the
2019 - hydrogen implementation plan for globally hydrogen supply chain
Pathways, 12 new paths the refueling system for
to enhance the end use of hydrogen mobility
hydrogen

2018 launch of the 2020 launch of a national

California Hydrogen hydrogen strategy
Business Council to
strengthen the industrial
value chain 2020 construction of the
largest green hydrogen 2017 first country to
plant in the world adopt a structured
strategy to promote the
hydrogen economy

2018 launch of a national

hydrogen strategy

2020 creation of an ad
2020 launch of a 7 billion hoc fund dedicated to the
euro "hydrogen plan". industrial production and
economy of hydrogen

National strategies and related starting year Source: The European House
Ambrosetti elaboration on various sources, 2020

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 HYDROGEN AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
• Hydrogen
✓ It consists of a simple two-atom molecule (H2).
✓ It is colorless, odorless (at atmospheric pressure and room temperature) and
non-toxic.
✓ It is flammable (with a blue flame similar to methane in an oxygen-rich
atmosphere).
✓ It does not produce particulate CO2 or sulfur emissions.
✓ It has less density than air.
✓ It has high energy density per unit mass and a low volumetric energy density
compared to hydrocarbons

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 HYDROGEN AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS

Comparison table of the characteristics of hydrogen and methane gas

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 HYDROGEN AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS

Safety and Health

• The production and use of hydrogen poses primary health and safety
issues comparable to those of other energy carriers.

• More specifically, hydrogen requires special equipment and procedures.

• It can spread in some materials (iron, steel).

• It can leak more easily through seals and connectors (compared to

natural gas).

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 HYDROGEN AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
Safety and Health
Corrosion Effect
• Some metallic materials (in contact with hydrogen) may be subject to
embrittlement and/or stress corrosion.
• Embrittlement is the phenomenon due to which normally ductile
metallic materials fail through fracture processes in a brittle manner
✓ Caused by the diffusion of atomic hydrogen within the crystalline
structure of the metal.
• The factors relevant to this phenomenon are:
✓ temperature, pressure and hydrogen contaminants.
✓ type of metallic material and its structure (discontinuity, porosity, ...).
✓ distribution of stress on the material.

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 HYDROGEN AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
Safety and Health
Corrosion Effect

• Hydrogen corrosion (acid corrosion) occurs when metal comes into

contact with water and there is a lack of oxygen.
✓ The final product of oxidation-reduction is pure hydrogen which oxidizes the
metal.
✓ The metal goes into solution in the form of ions, causing uniform degradation
of the metal.
✓ The generated hydrogen diffuses into the steel, occupying the metal lattice of
the material.
• This leads to chemical fatigue of the materials which can cause sudden
breakages from the inside out (even at low loads).

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 HYDROGEN AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
Safety and Health
Corrosion Effect
Material for Hydrogen

Metals for low temperatures and cryogenic applications

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 HYDROGEN AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS

Safety and Health

Physiological Effects and Environmental Protection in the presence of
hydrogen

• Hydrogen is not toxic/harmful – but if inhaled in high concentrations it can

cause asphyxiation.

• Freshly evaporated liquid or gaseous hydrogen can cause cold burns.

• Hydrogen does not cause damage to the environment and if released into
the atmosphere it does not damage the ozone layer.

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 HYDROGEN AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
Safety and Health
Liquid hydrogen and evaporation

• Liquid hydrogen can be dangerous due to its low temperature (-253 °C

at 1 bar) causing:

✓ Cold burns.

✓ Embrittlement of materials (e.g. rubber, plastic, carbon steels).

✓ Condensation of air, enrichment of oxygen (nitrogen re-evaporates before

oxygen).

✓ Freezing of humidity, blocking of equipment or devices (e.g. safety valves).

✓ Freezing of air, possible creation of explosive atmospheres.

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 HYDROGEN AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
Safety and Health
Fire Risk
• Hydrogen can form potentially explosive mixtures with air, oxygen and
other oxidizing gases.

• A loss of hydrogen:
✓ can easily trigger
✓ it produces an invisible flame, very narrow and
directional, concentrating energy on a small surface

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
The value of the integrated hydrogen chain

• Hydrogen can find applications as an energy carrier in various sectors:

✓ Industry
✓ Transport and Residential
✓ Energy production and storage
• The integrated supply chain is made up of:
✓ PRODUCTION
✓ TRANSPORT and DISTRIBUTION
PRODUCTION TRANSPORTATION
✓ STORAGE and LOGISTICS
SECTORS OF USE
AND STORAGE
allows a greater volume distributes energy
of renewable energy to between sectors and decarbonizes the
be integrated into the regions transport sector
system through the
production of green decarbonizes industrial
hydrogen sectors
decarbonizes the heating
decarbonizes natural gas It can be used as an of buildings
through blue hydrogen energy storage medium
it is used as a renewable
raw material

DIFFUSION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY DECARBONIZATION OF END USES

La The hydrogen value chain and its impact for the decarbonisation of
the different phases
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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
The value of the integrated hydrogen chain

NATURAL GAS TRANSPORT

INDUSTRIAL STORAGE MARKET
INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK
PRODUCTION

ODORIZATION IMPORT
EXPORT
IMPORT - EXPORT

RENEWABLE ENERGY FITTINGS FOR

ENERGIES MANAGEMENT METHANE DEPOSIT HIGH AND LOW
REFORMING PRESSURE PIPES

COOKING
PRESSURE HEATING ENERGY
REDUCTION DOMESTIC USE
SHOTS-TERM
STORAGE SYSTEM APPLIANCES

ELECTROLYSIS
CARS
wind power TRAINS
BUS
TIR

TRANSPORT

photovoltaic

Hydrogen supply chain

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN

The value of the integrated hydrogen chain

• Currently, the development of a hydrogen economy must deal with:

✓ technological gap
✓ high costs
✓ lack of infrastructure, of a mature legislative, regulatory and authorization
framework
✓ lack of investments dedicated to research, innovation and development

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN

The color code of hydrogen

• Based on the various production methods and the related CO2
emissions, hydrogen is classified according to a "color code"

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
Production processes

• Hydrogen is produced using several processes:

✓ Thermochemical processes
▪ heat and chemical reactions to obtain hydrogen from water or organic
materials
✓ Electrolytic processes
▪ Splitting water into its hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O) components by
applying an electrical voltage to the electrolyzer
✓ Biological processes
▪ through microorganisms (bacteria, algae) and related metabolic
processes

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
Production processes

Thermochemical Processes for the Production of Hydrogen - Steam

Reforming of Methane Gas (SMR)

• Methane Steam Reforming is a process already developed and

marketed and with which the majority of the world's hydrogen is
produced
✓ It involves the reaction of methane and steam in the presence of catalysts.
✓ Requires an operating temperature of approximately 800°C and a pressure of
2.5 MPa.
• The process in summary:
1. In the first phase methane is decomposed into hydrogen and carbon
monoxide.
2. In the second phase (shift reaction), carbon monoxide and water are
transformed into carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
Production processes

Thermochemical Processes for the Production of Hydrogen - Steam

Reforming of Methane Gas (SMR)

Simplified flow diagram of a plant for the production of hydrogen from methane reforming

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
Production processes
Thermochemical Processes for the Production of Hydrogen -
Steam Reforming of Methane Gas (SMR)

• Hydrogen produced via SRM can only

be considered low carbon if:

✓ uses gas with low emissions during the

production phases

✓ CO2 is captured and stored underground

Production process of
24 hydrogen from gas with CCUS
 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
Production processes
Water Electrolysis
• Water electrolysis is the best-known method for producing hydrogen.
• An electrolyser contains:
✓ a cathode, an anode, a membrane

• They are also included

✓ pumps, valves, storage tanks, a power supply, a
separator and other components.
• Electricity passes into the anode and cathode
through the proton exchange membrane
(PEM), causing water to split into its hydrogen
and oxygen components.
• Hydrogen molecules are captured and
collected.
• The hydrogen obtained does not require
purification processes.
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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
Production processes
Biological Processes for the Production of Hydrogen
Biomass
• Hydrogen can be obtained by exploiting the products derived from the
treatment of biomass
✓ Biomass gasification
✓ Biological reactions (fermentation)

Biomass fermentation process

Basic process of biomass gasification

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN

I Processi di Produzione
Purification of Hydrogen

• The hydrogen obtained from the various processes can be purified:

✓ BEFORE the production process

▪ when using natural oils, coal, natural gas or biomass, using separators for
dust removal.

✓ DURING the manufacturing process

▪ steam-reforming or pyrolysis.

✓ AFTER the production process

▪ by PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption): raw hydrogen passes through a
carbon filter under pressure.

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN

Transport and Storage

• Transportation and storage are complex infrastructure aspects of the
hydrogen value chain.
• The efficiency of the chain depends on the availability, capacity and
functionality of transport and storage systems.

Transmission, distribution and storage elements of hydrogen value chains

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN

Transport and Storage

• Hydrogen transport pipelines will be the most cost-effective long-term

choice:

✓ For distances < 1 500 km, pipeline transport is the most economical option.

✓ For distances > 1 500 km, the use of so-called «carriers» (e.g. ammonia) is the
most convenient choice.

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
Transport and Storage
Injection of Hydrogen Into Natural Gas Pipeline
(Blending)
• Hydrogen is mixed with methane and a blend is produced which can
also be used in homes for heating or cooking.

• Blending hydrogen into existing pipeline networks would provide

support for hydrogen supply
✓ low investment cost
✓ limited development of new dedicated infrastructure

• In this way, hydrogen distribution can be made widespread and gas

pipes in the city can be used.

• However, an adaptation and harmonization of the rules that regulate

the hydrogen concentration limits within existing pipelines is necessary.

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN

Transport and Storage

Injection of Hydrogen Into Natural Gas Pipeline
(Blending)

• In a first phase, short lengths of pipelines can be used to connect green

hydrogen production facilities to nearby end users.

• Subsequently, (once a significant reduction in gas demand has been

achieved), distribution can be extended to a greater number of users,
including domestic ones..

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
Transport and Storage
H2 Transport in Gas Pipelines - Distribution Networks

• Technical/practical evaluations are underway for the construction of

hydrogen pipelines, both in the context of industrial complexes and in the
case of hydrogen production from renewables near consumption centers,
at a distributed level.

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
Transport and Storage of Hydrogen

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
Transport and Storage
H2 Transport by Road
• Compressed hydrogen is transported in tankers using high-pressure
cylinders.
• Several steel cylinders can contain several kg of hydrogen compressed to
a pressure of 20 MPa.
• Tankers can transport hydrogen in liquid form
✓ More convenient from the point of view of energy capacity
✓ Less convenient in relation to maintenance costs and the refrigeration
system

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
Transport and Storage
Storage hydrogen

• Depending on the phase and quantity of hydrogen to be stored:

✓ Storage in the gaseous phase in tanks or underground
✓ Storage in liquid phase in tanks
✓ Storage in «carriers»
other gaseous phase liquid hydrogen hydrogen
storage of geological units storage systems carrier

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 LA CATENA INTEGRATA DELL’IDROGENO
Transport and Storage
Hydrogen Storage in Gaseous Phase

• The storage of hydrogen gas in tanks is the most widespread technology

• The containers are made of different

materials
✓ Depending on the quantity and pressure
(300-700 bar).

• Modular tanks storage up more than 10 Ton

hydrogen are possible

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
Transport and Storage
Storage in the Gaseous Phase Underground

• Subsurface hydrogen storage benefits from experiences of storing CO2

and natural gas in geological formations
✓ porous rock formations (depleted deposits and aquifers)
✓ artificial cavities in powerful salt formations (salt domes)

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
Transport and Storage
Storage in the Gaseous Phase Underground

• Hydrogen storage underground is achieved:

✓ at pressures lower than those adopted by other types of storage
✓ evaluating the geomechanical characteristics of the geological
structure/formation

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 THE INTEGRATED HYDROGEN CHAIN
Transport and Storage
Storage Via Carriers
• The hydrogen is made to interact with a substance (carrier) capable of
bonding with it, in order to form a more or less strong reversible
interaction.
✓ Storage at low pressures and temperatures

• Different substances (liquid or solid) can act as carriers:

✓ Ammonia and LOHC (Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier) are much easier to
transport than hydrogen

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 SECTORS OF HYDROGEN USES

• Hydrogen finds application in various sectors:

✓ mobility of goods and people
✓ raw material in industries
✓ fuel in high temperature processes
✓ production of energy and heat (pure or mixed with natural gas)
Hydrogen Penetration Scenarios to 2050

1. Renewable electricity decarbonizes a

large portion of consumption
(electrification)
2. It is not possible to replace fossil fuels
with electricity
3. the hydrogen carrier is first used in
sectors with a high cost of reducing
emissions, such as goods transport
and industries (steel, glass,
chemistry...)
4. Growth of renewables → quantity of
hydrogen produced increases →
injection into the grid → use of H2
quota in other sectors, including civil

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 SECTORS OF HYDROGEN USES

Hydrogen for Mobility

• The mobility sector is of particular interest in the field of hydrogen

technologies
✓ for the potential impact on decarbonisation strategies of urban environments
✓ due to the proximity to the commercial maturity of many of the technologies
currently available

• The construction of a hydrogen refueling infrastructure is essential to

make its large-scale deployment possible.

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 SECTORS OF HYDROGEN USES
Hydrogen for Mobility

Mobility on Rubber
• Hydrogen for light and heavy transport, FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle)
vehicles
• It provides a transport service comparable to current vehicles in terms of
refueling times and autonomy.
• Automakers have integrated Fuel Cell technology into their strategic plans
▪ For example, Iveco and Air Liquide have signed a memorandum of
understanding to accelerate the development of heavy hydrogen mobility
in Europe.
• It constitutes an alternative to replace diesel vehicles for long distances.

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 SECTORS OF HYDROGEN USES
Hydrogen for Mobility
Mobility on Rubber
• Hydrogen cars are powered by an electric motor
• Hydrogen vehicles produce their own electricity
✓ The acronym FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) distinguishes them from
battery-powered electric cars BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle)
• Hydrogen cars have an efficient power plant of their own on board: the
fuel cell in which hydrogen and oxygen generate electricity.
• Depending on needs, this energy is channeled into the electric motor
and/or the battery.
electric motor

hydrogen tank fuel filler neck

cell and combustion

electricity flows
battery pack hydrogen flow
traction

Diagram and components of a hydrogen car (BMW)

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 SECTORS OF HYDROGEN USES
Hydrogen for Mobility
Mobility on Rubber

• Fuel cells are devices that directly convert the chemical energy of a fuel
into electrical energy without going through combustion (without
emissions)

• Reverse electrolysis takes place in the fuel cell, during which hydrogen
reacts with oxygen.

• The hydrogen comes from one or more tanks on the car, while the oxygen
comes from the surrounding air.

• This reaction generates only electricity, heat and water, which escapes
from the exhaust terminal in the form of water vapour.
 SECTORS OF HYDROGEN USES
Hydrogen for mobility

Mobility by Rail

• In the rail transport sector

✓ Fuel cell trains are a reality in service in some European countries.

• Hydrogen trains are considered a competitive solution for routes

currently not electrified and with low service frequency.

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 SECTORS OF HYDROGEN USES
Hydrogen for Mobility
Mobility at Sea
• In the maritime sector
✓ Fuel cells show potential in the field of electricity production for both
propulsion and APU (Auxiliary Power Units) purposes
• The possibility of success in naval mobility is linked to
✓ availability of a widespread supply network
✓ reliability and cost of the systems compared with traditional electrical
storage solutions

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 SECTORS OF HYDROGEN USES
Hydrogen for Energy Uses

• Hydrogen offers advantageous applications for energy purposes.

• Hydrogen can be stored long-term and used to balance seasonal

variations in energy demand.

• Fuel cells and gas turbines are used for power applications.

The integration of intermittent renewable energies within the

electricity grid rSOC: reversible solid oxide cell

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 SECTORS OF HYDROGEN USES
Hydrogen for Energy Uses

• Fuel cells (on-grid generators) have the possibility of connection to the

electricity grid with the possibility of feeding electricity into the grid
(integration with non-programmable renewables).

• They can also be used as back up generators as an alternative to diesel

generators.

Schematic representation of a fuel cell system for grid balancing

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 SECTORS OF HYDROGEN USES

Hydrogen for Energy Uses

• In the context of hydrogen turbines, they can be used for electricity

generation in simple cycle or combined cycle configurations.

• They are a flexible technology that adapts to play the role of back-up
for non-programmable renewable sources.

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 SECTORS OF HYDROGEN USES

Hydrogen for Industrial Uses

• The applications of hydrogen in the industrial sector are varied

✓ use of hydrogen for process heat

▪ for high temperatures - glassworks, steelworks, etc.

✓ use as a reducing chemical reagent

▪ for the synthesis of important chemical intermediates (polymers, and
refineries).
▪ production of raw materials (ammonia, methanol, etc.).

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 SECTORS OF HYDROGEN USES
Hydrogen for Industrial Uses

• Green hydrogen will be used to decarbonize:

✓ Refinery processes.

✓ Industrial processes of steel, glass and construction production.

✓ Production processes of chemical products such as ammonia, methanol,

synthetic fuels (gas, liquids).

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 SECTORS OF HYDROGEN USES
Hydrogen for Industrial Uses

Hydrogen for energy supply to the industrial, commercial and residential

sectors

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 HYDROGEN VALLEY

• A hydrogen valley is a geographical area, city, region, island or industrial

hub where different hydrogen applications are combined together in an
integrated hydrogen-based system.

• A hydrogen valley covers the entire hydrogen value chain: production,

storage, distribution and end use.

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 HYDROGEN VALLEY

• The hydrogen valley tends to

✓ Facilitate information sharing between hydrogen valleys around the world.
✓ Inform project developers, policy makers and industry representatives.
✓ Promote the development of the hydrogen economy and the energy
transition.

The Northern Netherlands region aims to become a

"hydrogen valley", a geographical area that hosts an Hydrogen Valley
entire hydrogen value chain, from production to
distribution, storage and local end-use.

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 Technology Transfer in Oil & Gas Industry

Address : Via Nicolò Giorgi 31 – 00143 Rome (Italy)

Phone : +39 06 5034841 or +39 06 51955382

Fax : +39 06 5037006

Email : serintel@serintel.it

Websites: www.serintel.it – www.oil-gasportal.com – www.hydrogen-portal.com

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