Hydrogen is emerging as a promising solution for decarbonization, with great potential across different sectors. As part of its commitment to assessing the environmental and climate impacts of a future hydrogen economy, the HYDRA project is organising a webinar that brings together leading experts to explore the topic of future hydrogen emissions along the value chain.

Following an overview of the HYDRA project, the webinar will delve into the hydrogen role in the energy transition and give insights into current policies supporting H2 development.

The webinar will then focus on the hydrogen supply chain, the estimation of H2 leakage emissions, and their effects on the biosphere.

HYDRA webinar will also host 3 different EU projects to give exampales of real-world H2 applications (LIFE OCEAN and AdvancedH2Valley) and present methodologies for quantifying hydrogen emissions (NhyRA project).

• 15.00 – 15.05 > HYDRA project presentation

Rossella Urgnani – Warrant Hub – Tinexta Group

• 15.05 – 15.15 > The role of hydrogen in the energy transition

Paolo Marocco – Politecnico di Torino

• 15.15 – 15.25 > Hydrogen in policies: an overview

Rossella Urgnani – On behalf of Cartif

• 15.25 – 15.50 > Hydrogen supply chain, leakage emissions and effect of hydrogen-related emissions on the biosphere

Davide Trapani & Marta Gandiglio – Politecnico di Torino

• 15.50 – 16.10 > Hydrogen end uses: examples from the LIFE OCEAN and AdvancedH2Valley projects

Markus Wagner – Siemens Energy

Olivier Job – Lhyfe

• 16.10 – 16.20 > H2 leakage inventory: the NHYRA project

Vittoria Troisi – Snam

• 16.20 – 16.30 Q&A

Speakers

Rossella Urgnani – Warrant Hub

BSc and Master in Physics (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Brescia campus) PhD in Civil, Environmental, and Mechanical Engineering (University of Trento) Research fellowship in atmospheric physics (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Brescia campus) Since December 2022 in Warrant Hub European Funding Development: creation, drafting and presentation of project proposals in the Horizon Europe, LIFE and EIC programmes Involved in 6 EU projects as Exploitation Manager and HYDRA project technical coordinator.

Abstract – HYDRA project presentation

The HYDRA project, funded by the European Commission under Horizon Europe (GA n° 101137758), runs from November 2023 to October 2027. Its primary goal is to evaluate the impacts of a large-scale hydrogen economy by analyzing policies, market trends, and the adoption of hydrogen technologies. Using the WILIAM integrated assessment model, HYDRA simulates energy, land use, and emissions scenarios while employing atmospheric and climate models to study changes in atmospheric composition and climate scenarios. The project also aims to develop tools for detecting and mitigating hydrogen leaks, ensuring safety across the hydrogen value chain. Ultimately, HYDRA seeks to provide policymakers with insights into the benefits and risks of a hydrogen-based economy, offering guidelines for sustainable development and climate mitigation strategies. During an introductory webinar, the project’s general objectives and work plan will be presented by its technical coordinator.

Vittoria Troisi – Snam

Vittoria Troisi is a chemical engineer working as R&D and Innovation Expert in Snam Decarbonization Projects Unit, where she deals with management of research projects involving H2 transportation and storage. Holding a PhD in Energy and Nuclear Science and Technology from Politecnico di Milano, she has conducted experimental and mathematical modelling research activities in the field of decarbonization technologies. In particular, she has focused on the improvement of the operative efficiency of the aftertreatment section by investigating two strategies: onboard hydrogen production via bioethanol autothermal reforming and low temperature methane oxidation for the abatement of exhaust gases from biomethane fueled engines. The research program has been carried out in collaboration with Laboratory of Catalysis and Catalytic Processes (LCCP), a research group at the Department of Energy of Politecnico di Milano, including a visiting period at Institute for Chemical Technology and Polymer Chemistry (ITCP) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Karlsruhe.

Abstract – H2 emissions quantification: the NHyRA project

Several studies and analysis show that by 2050 hydrogen will become one of the pillar of the future energy system representing up to 20% of the future energy demand, and with this it is expected that also the anthropogenic H2 emissions, which have an indirect impact on the greenhouse effect, will increase. Furthermore, to date there are wide uncertainties regarding both the total amount of hydrogen that will be released from the H2 value chain, as well as the climate effect of the hydrogen released in the atmosphere. The general aim of the project NHyRA is to perform an assessment of potential H2 emissions along the entire H2 value chain. In particular, the ambition related to the project is in the achievement of the following objectives:

• to cover the critical knowledge gaps regarding technologies, methodologies and protocols for detecting and quantifying the H2 emissions;

• the development of H2 emissions scenarios that will allow us to identify the most critical elements of the H2 value chain in terms of emissions;

• to propose mitigation strategies, guidelines and recommendations to the standardization bodies in order to support the definition of a dedicated normative framework.

Markus Wagner – Siemens Energy

Project Manager, Physicist and Test Engineer for PEM Fuel Cells. Markus holds a Diploma in Physics with minors in electrical engineering and physics of condensed matter. He wrote his diploma thesis about electrochemical characterization of PEM fuel cells at Siemens in Erlangen and was co-founder of a start-up which invented an innovative drying technology. Coming back to Siemens, now Siemens Energy, he continued working at the fuel fell department focusing on R&D. Since August 2022 he is the project manager of the Life Ocean project.

Abstract – Hydrogen end uses: example from the LIFE OCEAN project

The maritime sector represents about 13.5% of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at EU level (Source: EEA,2020). To foster the decarbonization of fuels in the maritime sector, the IMO fixed a target of 100% cut of GHG emissions up to 2050. The path towards decarbonization of fuels in the maritime sector will also lead to the reduction and/or abatement of pollutants like CO, NOX, SOX, PM, BC, HC that are emitted by fossil fuels combustion (mainly HFO, GDO and LPG, that feed engines for propulsion and generators used as auxiliary power units). The EC already cofounded projects aiming at the decarbonization of large ships and commercial cargos that contribute most to GHG emissions (representing a share of about 70%). The down-scaling application on superyachts (40m+) can be of interest, considering their average operational profile that see them spending most of the time (about 82%) anchored or berthed, conditions that do not require the operation of the main engines for propulsion. The installation of a methanol-based fuel cell system represents an interesting solution as auxiliary power unit of yachts and superyachts, to cover the hotel load but also to sustain slow speed cruising and maneuvering operations in ports (the latter if combined with hybrid propulsion). Aim of the LIFE OCEAN project is to substitute the traditional diesel generators used to cover the hotel loads of a Sanlorenzo superyacht with a up to 100 kWe fuel cell system. Along with air pollution mitigation, on board noise will be abated while underwater noise will be reduced thanks to the elimination vibrating diesel generators. The solution adopted constitutes a carbon neutral technology for the maritime sector, adopting green methanol whose large capacity production is growing at both EU and extra-EU level.