Proyecto de investigación
Refinerías como Incubadoras de Tecnologías de Hidrógeno Verde
Responsable: Pedro García Haro / Bernabé Alonso Fariñas
Tipo de Proyecto/Ayuda: Plan Estatal 2017-2020 Retos - Proyectos I+D+i
Referencia: PID2020-114725RA-I00
Fecha de Inicio: 01-09-2021
Fecha de Finalización: 28-02-2025
Empresa/Organismo financiador/es:
- Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
Equipo:
- Equipo de Investigación:
- Equipo de Trabajo:
- Konstantinos Anastasakis
- Bernhard Drosg
- Karla Belén Guerra Huilca
- Miguel Alba García (alta: 01/02/2023)
- Ana Pequenín Martínez (alta: 09/01/2023)
- Silvia María Puerta Moreno
- Laura Romero Piñeiro (alta: 09/02/2023)
Contratados:
- Investigadores:
- Silvia María Puerta Moreno
- Laura Romero Piñeiro
Resumen del proyecto:
Hydrogen has long been considered a promising solution for the future energy system, but unfortunately, little progress has been achieved for the moment (being transportation and other small-scale uses the most successful examples). Nonetheless, there is a long and successful experience in the use of hydrogen in the energy/chemical industry, such as refineries, where large-scale hydrogen storage is commercial, although not very common. In GH2T, we will use one of the clearest paradigms of fossil activities (refineries) with a high contribution to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) to serve as a lever for renewable (green) hydrogen technologies (technology incubator). Refineries can be considered as hydrogen clusters (production, storage, and use), as defined by the Spanish Hydrogen Route. Integration of green hydrogen production in refineries is conceived in this project as a synergetic and cost-affordable approach for green hydrogen technologies implantation, shortening the needed time to achieve a green hydrogen generation and supply network. To avoid possible lock-in effects, this project also considers the integration of bio-oil processing technologies, which come interesting in terms of decarbonization, when combined with green hydrogen. The results of this project will contribute to the development of the hydrogen economy by avoiding the creation of costing large-scale infrastructure and will attract investors from the energy industry (e.g., refineries). To reach this general objective, a set of specific objectives are defined: identification of opportunities, challenges, and synergies for integrated renewable hydrogen production in Refineries considering their expected evolution in terms of decarbonization; conceptual design of the integration of the GH2T in two Case Studies (examples of refineries) considering large-scale storage and enhanced hydrogen networks; critical evaluation (along the project) of the sustainability of the conceptual designs of the GH2T integration scenarios; contribution to policy making in the framework of the hydrogen economy and its integration into existing industrial activities; creation of a realistic exploitation roadmap for the results of the project (follow-up); and maximizing the contribution to the Sustainable Development in terms of economic, social and environmental sustainability. To achieve these specific objectives, the work plan of the project includes the use of specific software for energy systems analysis, process integration and life cycle modelling, geographical information management and cost estimation, as well as advanced sustainability assessment methodologies. GH2T will have a positive impact in the development of the hydrogen economy mainly by providing a large-scale storage option at a reduced cost, and facilitating the infrastructure for hydrogen production, and use. The exploitation potential in GH2T not only covers technological development but also contributions to regulation are foreseen. A highly specific exploitation from this project is the need for the contribution to new standards in multi-use underground hydrogen storage and incorporation of renewable hydrogen in the refining sector. In particular, to contribute to the new version of the Spanish Hydrogen Route (expected for 2023) and the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance through the Roundtable on clean hydrogen in industrial applications.
