hydrogen transport, presenting a critical barrier to the widespread adoption of a hydrogen economy. This study aims to systematically evaluate the fatigue crack growth behavior of API X60 pipeline steel under hydrogen-natural gas blending conditions, assessing its suitability for long-term service in hydrogen environments.

Experiments are conducted in gas mixtures with hydrogen content by volume ranging from 0% to 100%, at a constant pressure of 6.9 MPa and a temperature of 25°C. A fixed loading frequency of 8.8 Hz and load ratios (R) ranging from 0.01 to 0.3 are applied to simulate operational fatigue loading. The test matrix is designed to capture fatigue crack growth behavior under varying stress intensity factor range (ΔK), from near-threshold to moderate levels consistent with real-world pipeline pressure fluctuations.

The results demonstrate a correlation between hydrogen concentration and elevated fatigue crack growth rates. Notably, at 100% hydrogen, X60 exhibits crack propagation rates up to two orders of magnitude higher than those in 0% hydrogen (natural gas) conditions. The onset of rapid crack growth becomes pronounced at ΔK values above approximately 15 MPa·√m. Reduced crack growth thresholds and increased data scatter at high hydrogen levels were observed at low ΔKs, indicating enhanced environmental sensitivity and a potential for localized embrittlement. The findings highlight the critical role of hydrogen concentration and operating conditions in governing the fatigue performance of pipeline steel.

its energy mix, targeting 20-25% of total demand by 2050. To meet this, the EU seeks cost-effective, low-carbon hydrogen imports, making the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) a strategic supplier due to its abundant renewable resources and proximity.

This paper analyzes MENA’s competitiveness in green hydrogen exports to Europe, including production cost advantages, transportation strategies, and policy frameworks. Current estimates suggest that MENA’s Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) is $4.0/kg in Saudi Arabia (NEOM project) and $4.1/kg in Egypt. In contrast, European regions such as Germany continue to grapple with higher LCOH costs, primarily due to the elevated expenses associated with offshore wind power and electrolyzer infrastructure. Moreover, MENA’s geographic proximity to Europe provides a cost-effective transport advantage, with projected pipeline delivery costs ranging from $2.5–$3/kg.

Additionally, MENA is rapidly developing the necessary infrastructure, landscape, and policy incentives to support large-scale hydrogen exports. With $8.2 billion allocated to Saudi Arabia’s NEOM project and $23 billion in UAE’s renewable energy initiatives, the region is laying the foundation for a scalable hydrogen economy. However, challenges such as water constraints, infrastructure readiness, and supply chain risks must be addressed to fully realize MENA’s potential as a hydrogen hub.

By providing a comprehensive assessment of MENA’s position in the global hydrogen supply chain, this paper presents a strategic roadmap for scaling up hydrogen production, ensuring competitiveness, and supporting Europe’s decarbonization objectives.

ability to be used directly or cracked into hydrogen through in-situ pyrolysis or catalysis. NH₃/CH₄ and cracked NH₃/H₂ blends exhibit favorable combustion properties for energy production and transportation applications. These fuel blends behave differently than hydrocarbons in turbulent environments due to localized pyrolysis and preferential consumption. Enabling analysis-driven design of future NH₃ combustors requires improved fundamental understanding of the behavior of turbulent ammonia flames, particularly with regard to localized extinction often observed in practical systems. In this presentation, we will discuss the use of large-eddy simulations (LES) to predict NH₃ combustion of a well-documented turbulent jet flame. To this end, a so-called flamelet-based combustion modeling approach is employed to predict flame structure, heat release, and key combustion characteristics to good accuracy for stable operating conditions. To address limitations in predicting the flame's extinction limit, a recently developed adaptive combustion framework is evaluated. This framework employs a Pareto-optimal combustion model assignment that dynamically balances computational cost and solution accuracy subject to user-specified quantities of interest. The results of low-order flamelet formulation and fully adaptive combustion framework are compared to experimental measurements of species mass fractions and temperature. We conclude by discussing recent work by employing these modeling tools in larger-scale simulations of a MW-scale NH₃ powered process heater to investigate combustion stabilization and emissions.

hydrogen adsorption on coronene-derived activated carbon using LAMMPS (Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator). A bottom-up modeling strategy was implemented using the Atomic Simulation Environment (ASE) Python library to construct a porous carbon framework from stack of randomly rotated and translated coronene molecules within a 50 ų simulation box. These structures were exported to LAMMPS format and stabilized through multistage NVT and NPT simulations, using the AIREBO potential to capture both intra- and intermolecular interactions.

The system underwent initial energy minimization, thermal ramp-up from 0.1 K to 300 K, and isothermal-isobaric equilibration at 1 atm. Hydrogen adsorption was analyzed using post-simulation Python scripts that classified atoms based on potential energy thresholds, with a cutoff of −0.02 eV used to identify adsorbed hydrogen species.The optimized structure demonstrated a gravimetric hydrogen uptake of 3.2 wt% at 298 K and 20 bar, highlighting the adsorption potential of coronene-based fragments.

The results showed that hydrogen atoms primarily accumulate in the curved regions of the carbon structure, emphasizing the role of the carbon fragment arrangement and the spacing between layers in enhancing adsorption. This work provides a reproducible computational workflow by combining ASE-driven molecular modeling, LAMMPS-based dynamics, and data-driven adsorption analysis. The results offer valuable insights for the rational design of next-generation hydrogen storage materials and directly support emerging hydrogen technologies.

hydrogen. However, dehydrogenation remains constrained by heat transfer limitations and reaction equilibrium, challenging scalability and conversion efficiency. To address these challenges, we propose a novel continuous-flow reactor for LOHC dehydrogenation, integrating a hollow periodic open cellular structure (POCS) coated with a catalytic layer inside a standard 1-inch stainless steel reactor tube. A high-selectivity tubular hydrogen membrane at the POCS core enables in situ hydrogen extraction at elevated pressure. The POCS, fabricated via 3D metal printing in stainless steel and CuCr1Zr, was engineered to enhance heat and mass transfer while minimizing pressure drop. Furthermore, we optimized the POCS geometry and material selection to mitigate heat transfer constraints and shift the reaction equilibrium towards higher hydrogen yields. Additionally, a comprehensive 2D computational model was developed to capture the coupled dynamics of heat and mass transfer, reaction kinetics, and membrane-assisted hydrogen separation. Through its detailed simulation of coupled transport phenomena, the model serves as a tool to fine-tune reactor geometry, enhancing heat and mass transfer efficiency and driving higher conversion rates in the dehydrogenation reaction. By selectively extracting hydrogen through the membrane at elevated pressure, the hydrogen recovery and overall dehydrogenation efficiency of the system are improved. This study represents a significant step toward high-performance, membrane-integrated LOHC reactors, demonstrating the potential of additive manufacturing enhanced reactor architectures for scalable hydrogen energy applications.

investment have already been announced. Yet the storage of hydrogen still remains the next frontier to enable the penetration of hydrogen across society, a deep decarbonization beyond production zones.

Storing hydrogen in a metal form has been studied for more than four decades and has resulted in a number of alloys that potentially could be safely used for various industrial applications. For example, metal hydrides have already demonstrated their potential applications in bulk storage, heat pumps and compression of hydrogen. However, most metal hydrides have never been transferred successfully because of the lack of methods to effectively produce the alloys at scale and cost. Most alloys contain reactive metals which are difficult to process.

This paper will present recent developments related to metal hydride production and analysis at SolidHydrogen. Our work has been focused on bringing the production capability of metal hydrides from the laboratory scale of approximately 0.25 kilogram per minute to the prototype scale at about 1 kilogram per minute, with a particular focus on controlling the microstructure and hydrogen properties of the produced alloy. We will present details along with the quality of the alloys produced and the potential of the system to enable higher production rates at the 3 to 5 kg/min production scale. The latter will ultimately be needed for cost effective production of these materials.

mixed-integer optimization model, focusing on the economic and environmental costs of transportation in the hydrogen supply chain (HSC), the characteristics of various hydrogen transportation methods, and the future demand trends for hydrogen as a fuel for new energy vehicles. The model was applied to optimize the allocation of transportation modes and routes for hydrogen delivery from multiple production plants to hydrogen refueling stations in Texas over the next 25 years (2025–2050). This work addresses a critical gap in Texas' energy landscape and provides valuable insights into planning for a more efficient and sustainable hydrogen transportation network.

evaluating material susceptibility to hydrogen-induced degradation. This study presents the Hydrogen Embrittlement Assessment Tool (HEAT), a hybrid framework that integrates fracture mechanics principles with machine learning techniques to predict crack growth and lifetime in steel pipelines exposed to hydrogen-containing natural gas. The tool enables users to select a steel grade and specify operating pressures to estimate the remaining life based on predicted crack growth rates as a function of time, fracture toughness, and ductility under the specified environment.

Parametric studies were conducted for X52, X60, and X70 steels under hydrogen concentrations ranging from 0% to 100%, and pressure ranging from 2 to 10 MPa. The results reveal distinct degradation patterns across steel grades. The lifetimes of X52 and X60 decreased with increasing hydrogen concentration, but plateaued above 60%, despite a decrease in fracture toughness and ductility. The X70 exhibited a sharper lifetime drop between 0% and 10%, gradually declining and leveling off above 60%. These trends indicate that hydrogen-induced embrittlement is not always linearly correlated with H2 concentration, but is also influenced by various factors, including environmental conditions, material properties, and loading conditions.

HEAT offers a data-driven solution for evaluating hydrogen compatibility across steel grades. It supports risk-informed decision-making for pipeline retrofits and long-term material performance assessments, contributing to a safer and more robust hydrogen transport network. This study emphasizes the significance of predictive modeling in mitigating hydrogen embrittlement risks in pipeline steels.

challenges, such as flame instabilities leading to NH₃ emissions and incomplete combustion producing harmful nitrogen oxides (NO_x). Accurate detailed kinetic models are critical to designing optimal burners and engines. Despite numerous detailed kinetic models published in recent years, significant discrepancies remain between model predictions and experimental data, particularly for NO_X species.

In this work, we identified key reactions with significant rate-coefficient uncertainties from recent NH₃/H₂ combustion mechanisms and selected rate parameters for them based on the most rigorous available theoretical and experimental studies. In addition, we performed rate-coefficient calculations for several reaction systems and calculated new thermochemical parameters for 137 H_xN_yO_z species.

We then utilized these updated rate parameters to generate a new detailed kinetic model for ammonia combustion using the Reaction Mechanism Generator (RMG) software. The resulting model was evaluated against experimental data and five recently published representative models, with a focus on laminar-burning velocities and species profiles measured in flow-reactor experiments. While the model does not reproduce all experimental data, it shows improved robustness due to inclusion of more species and reactions. Importantly, to avoid overfitting—which could degrade model performance under conditions not covered by the data (e.g., industry-relevant conditions)—no parameters were tuned to reproduce the experimental laminar-burning velocities and flow-reactor species profiles.

such growth is the advancement of hydrogen storage technologies. While full composite overwrapped pressure vessels are emerging, Type I, Type II, and Type III pressure vessels remain the primary options for hydrogen transportation and storage. A critical challenge in these vessels is hydrogen embrittlement, where hydrogen diffuses into metallic components, concentrates at defects, degrades mechanical properties, and eventually leads to fatigue crack growth under cyclic pressurization. This study investigates the hydrogen embrittlement at the continuum scale, addressing two main challenges: 1) the variability of fatigue crack growth rate in different hydrogen environments, typically demanding significant testing efforts, and 2) the capture of complex, non-self-familiar crack shapes, which are not addressed by classical Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM). We propose a framework that integrates comprehensive Sandia H-Mat database, hosted in Granta MI, with finite element-based simulation in ANSYS Mechanical, leveraging SMART fracture technology to accurately capture the hydrogen induced fatigue crack growth. The seamless connectivity between Granta MI and Ansys Workbench enables a robust and efficient workflow for failure prediction. The proposed framework considerably reduces efforts on extensive testing and enhances predictive capabilities for designing durable hydrogen storage systems. The work can be extended to assess hydrogen embrittlement-induced failure in a wide range of structural components across various industries.

zero carbon emissions and superior energy efficiency compared to conventional fossil fuels. As countries incorporate hydrogen into their energy infrastructure to support decarbonization goals, the safety and reliability of hydrogen storage, transport, and distribution have become key concerns. Despite its advantages, hydrogen presents significant safety challenges due to its wide flammability range (4–75%), extremely low ignition energy (0.018 mJ), and undetectable nature (colourless and odourless), making leak detection particularly difficult.

This study tackles these difficulties by developing chemochromic hydrogen sensors that can visually detect hydrogen leaks without needing external power sources or intricate instrumentation, offering a straightforward and dependable safety solution for hydrogen systems.

The innovation lies in embedding the sensing mechanism directly into composite materials commonly employed in hydrogen storage and distribution systems due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and structural integrity. The sensing elements comprise titanium, zinc, and magnesium oxides, activated by a palladium oxide (PdO) catalyst. Upon exposure to hydrogen, these particles induce a rapid and visible colour change. A systematic study was conducted to optimize particle size, catalyst concentration, and water content, to evaluate sensor response time and the extent of colour change under varying hydrogen concentrations using image processing techniques. This integrated approach presents a significant advancement in the development of intelligent, self-indicating composite materials and contributes to the creation of safer and more reliable hydrogen infrastructure.

genetically engineered Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7002 in a dual-phase photobioreactor to convert sour crude oil into hydrogen while maintaining a closed-loop system that efficiently utilizes all byproducts.

The engineered bacteria are modified with alkane monooxygenases, cytochrome P450 enzymes, and fatty acid synthases to metabolize hydrocarbons while sulfite oxidases and thiosulfate reductases detoxify sulfur contaminants. The closed-loop photobioreactor optimizes gas-liquid interactions to maximize hydrogen recovery while ensuring that essential byproducts such as biofuels and oxygen are captured and repurposed for industrial use rather than being wasted. All carbon dioxide generated in the system is redirected into biological conversion pathways, ensuring no emissions are released into the environment.

To validate system performance, MATLAB and Python-based simulations are employed for metabolic flux analysis, gene circuit modeling, and reactor optimization. MATLAB SimBiology simulates metabolic pathways, while COBRApy in Python facilitates genetic modifications and synthetic biology integration. Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations refine reactor scalability, mass transfer rates, and hydrogen separation mechanisms, ensuring a seamless and efficient process.

This research advances industrial hydrogen production by integrating biotechnology with AI-driven system modeling. By eliminating emissions and ensuring productive use of all byproducts, this system provides a scalable, environmentally responsible solution for low-carbon hydrogen generation. Its ability to harness biofuels and oxygen within a self-sustaining cycle enhances overall energy efficiency, making it a transformative approach for global decarbonization and sustainable fuel development.

blue hydrogen—a low-carbon alternative produced from natural gas with carbon capture. The Gulf Coast, responsible for over half of U.S. hydrogen output, offers abundant natural gas resources, extensive infrastructure, and significant carbon storage capacity, making it an ideal hub for low-carbon chemical production. Blue ammonia, used in fertilizers and as a low-carbon fuel, and blue methanol, a versatile chemical and fuel, are assessed across key parameters.

The methodology includes plant concept assumptions, levelized cost analysis, and market comparison to quantify economic performance and evaluate trade-offs. Industry data on capital and operating expenditures will be utilized to develop levelized cost functions for both ammonia and methanol production. The analysis focuses on comparing key attributes of the two production facilities, including power efficiency, water and utility consumption, process complexity, plot space requirements, health, safety, and environmental (HSE) considerations, and overall economic viability. By providing a detailed comparative assessment of these factors, the study aims to deliver valuable insights into the feasibility and trade-offs of blue ammonia and blue methanol production.

As global demand for sustainable energy solutions grows, understanding the pros and cons between end-use applications of hydrogen is crucial for helping to shape the future of low-carbon chemical production and advancing the energy transition and achieving climate goals.

costs, maintenance requirements, and key sensitivity factors influencing production costs. By analyzing data from existing and planned hydrogen plants, we calculate the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) for various production methods, including blue and green hydrogen technologies.

Our research also assesses the impact of the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives, particularly the 45V and 45Q tax credits, on hydrogen production economics. Through detailed sensitivity analyses, we evaluate how variations in feedstock pricing, electrolyzer efficiency, natural gas prices, and electricity costs affect the LCOH. Additionally, we explore the potential consequences of reductions in IRA incentives on the competitiveness of hydrogen production in Texas.

By integrating these factors, our study offers valuable insights into the commercial viability of clean hydrogen and its role in supporting decarbonization objectives. The findings contribute to understanding hydrogen’s potential in the state’s energy transition and inform policymakers, investors, and industry stakeholders on cost dynamics and economic feasibility.

physical compressed gas or liquid H₂ storage for power, transportation, or industrial applications. Levelized cost of storage (LCOS) for LOHCs varies widely depending not only on the target use case but also due to the unique thermodynamic properties and reaction kinetics of each material. 1,4-butanediol (BDO, H₂-rich) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL, H₂-lean) are one such LOHC pair which has a lower enthalpy of dehydrogenation compared to conventional cyclic hydrocarbon LOHCs and can utilize non PGM Cu-based catalysts. In this study, baseline system costs are established for BDO/GBL in a 10 MW stationary backup power application. Vapor versus liquid phase hydrogenation and dehydrogenation are modeled and costs are evaluated under a range of operating conditions, with liquid phase hydrogenation coupled with liquid phase dehydrogenation leading to the lowest LCOS in the absence of byproduct formation. In this bounding case, LCOS is comparable to that of the more well established MCH/TOL carrier pair as well as compressed gas H₂ storage benchmarks. However, escalating storage costs associated with byproduct formation illustrate the need for continued catalyst development to ensure BDO/GBL carrier viability.

volumetric and gravimetric energy density, battery electric trucks (BET) are not the best choice for heavy-duty vehicles. Even though some manufacturers (Toyota & BMW) committing to HFCT; there is slow adoption mainly due to the cost, which is 45% more than BETs and 300% more than diesel trucks. Without interventions, adoption for 49t HFCT by 2050 is impossible. This work is the first to explore how market-based mechanisms can accelerate the diffusion of 49t HFCT by creating a demand pull. Using an Agent-based Model, this work simulates truck fleet managers’ purchase decisions on three types of trucks, namely diesel trucks, BET, and HFCT, with 14 categories of market-based policy interventions and 56 scenarios from 2020 to 2050 using real data. The results indicate several policy implications: 1) Without interventions, HFCTs are not cost competitive until 2040 and have only a 10% penetration rate by 2050. 2) Increasing subsidies in each category and increasing diesel taxes has a decreasing marginal effect. 3) Hydrogen subsidies are the most effective category when keeping the government net expenditure similar. 4) Having subsidies benefiting various stakeholders can better accelerate the HFCT diffusion than an individual intervention with the same government net expenditure. 5) Hydrogen subsidies can more effectively enhance the competitiveness of HFCTs with longer annual mileage travel.

decarbonization and technological innovation, due to its high mass energy density, acceptable volume energy density when compressed and/or liquefied, and convenient
carbon-free combustion.
The design of cryogenic hydrogen liquefaction systems, particularly a reverse
Brayton cycle in which I have firsthand experience designing and innovating in the process design. Discussion of cost savings due to a centralized compressor, refrigerant material selection, efficiency gains from
designing the brazed aluminum plate-fin heat exchangers (BAHX), sensitivity analysis of BAHX approach temperatures, explanation of ortho-para hydrogen conversion and its implications for boiloff and explosion
risk in liquid hydrogen transport, and thermodynamic modeling considerations of the cryogenic hydrogen regime.
ZEG’s H1 plant: Sorption-enhanced steam reforming (SER) as a blue hydrogen production technology utilizing a circulating fluidized bed for process intensification and
emissions reduction, and discussion of safety and solids-handling challenges related to fluidized bed systems and nickel tetracarbonyl formation.