*** Please Note: If you do not meet the funding eligibility criteria, we will need to collect the full course fee. ***

Start Date: 19 February 2024
Time: 14:00 - 17:00
Venue: Online (MS Teams)

Course Overview

This course provides a comprehensive overview of green hydrogen development, focusing on its state of play in the energy sector, the technical aspects of green hydrogen systems, its economic implications, and the relevant policy and regulations. 

Module 1 examines the share of non-electricity energy, hydrogen production methods, and future scenarios for hydrogen's role in energy systems. Module 2 delves into the components of a green hydrogen system, including electrolysis, input and power controls, and hydrogen compression and transport. Module 3 explores the economics of green hydrogen, including electricity sources, capacity factors, and levelised costs. Finally, Module 4 discusses international and national policies, regulations, and environmental considerations surrounding green hydrogen. Overall, the course aims to provide a holistic understanding of the emerging field of green hydrogen.

Course Objectives

• Familiarise students with the concept and importance of green hydrogen in the energy sector.
• Provide an overview of the different methods of green hydrogen production and their potential applications in energy systems. 
• Equip learners with knowledge of the technical aspects of green hydrogen systems, including electrolysis and power controls.
• Enable students to understand the economic factors influencing the viability and scalability of green hydrogen projects.
• Analyse the policy and regulatory landscape, both on the international and national levels, to identify opportunities and challenges for green hydrogen development. 
• Foster an awareness of environmental concerns and sustainability principles associated with green hydrogen projects.
• Empower learners with a holistic understanding of green hydrogen to participate in the ongoing energy transition and contribute to sustainable energy solutions.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the current state of green hydrogen development in the energy sector.
• Understand the current and future use cases for green hydrogen in the energy system.
• Explore various methods of hydrogen production and their role in future energy systems.
• Gain insights into the technical components of a green hydrogen system, such as electrolysis, hydrogen compression and hydrogen storage.
• Analyse the economic implications of green hydrogen, including electricity sources and cost factors. 
• Examine international and national policies and regulations related to green hydrogen. 
• Consider environmental considerations and sustainability aspects of green hydrogen.

Who should attend

• Energy Sector Professionals: Professionals working in the energy industry, including renewable energy, power generation, and utilities, who want to explore the potential of green hydrogen as an alternative energy carrier and its role in the energy transition. 
  
• Technical Experts: Engineers, scientists, and researchers involved in renewable energy technologies, particularly those interested in the technical aspects of green hydrogen production, storage, and utilisation. 
  
• Economists and Financial Analysts: Individuals interested in understanding the economic implications of green hydrogen, including its levelised costs, pricing, and potential impact on the energy market.
  
• Policy Makers and Regulators: Government officials, policymakers, and regulators involved in shaping energy policies and regulations, with a focus on promoting sustainable and low-carbon energy solutions like green hydrogen.
  
• Environmentalists and Climate Change Professionals: Individuals concerned with environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation, as green hydrogen has the potential to play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions.
  
• Students and Academics: Individuals studying energy, environmental science, economics, or related fields who want to expand their knowledge of green hydrogen technology and its implications.

Course Content
Module 1: What is Green Hydrogen and What Can it do?

1.1. State of play in Energy

Topics will include the share of non-electricity energy, trends in electrification, energy density and storage, and difficult-to-decarbonise sectors.

1.2. Hydrogen

Electrolysis and green hydrogen, integration with the electricity grid, hydrogen from fossil fuels (pros/cons, methane, CCS feasibility, cost, resource), hydrogen-based fuels and other products (HVO, ammonia, compressed H2).

1.3. Future Scenarios and Hydrogen’s Role

Effect of increased electrification (limits), share of non-electrical energy (comparison with today), increased storage/flexibility requirements, the dual role of green hydrogen (difficult-to-decarbonise sectors and storage).

1.4. Use cases for Green Hydrogen

Comparing internal combustion, fuel cells, and battery efficiency. Short term: HVO, existing demand. Medium term: where will it be cost-competitive, transport, aviation, shipping, HGVs. Long term: green chemicals, fertiliser, metals, cement.

Module 2: What is in a Green Hydrogen System?

2.1. Electrolysis

Principal of electrolysis, efficiency, types of electrolysers, relative advantages, novel improvements, oxygen production.

2.2. Inputs and Power Controls

Water input (volume, desalination, issues of contamination), input electricity (variable supply, improvements, load following), temperature controls, and other safety issues.

2.3. Hydrogen Compression and Transport

Power consumption, safety concerns, grid injection (limits, gas differences, grid rules, prospects), existing or available infrastructure.

Module 3: Economics of Green Hydrogen.

3.1. Electricity Source

How the electricity source dictates sustainability, using grid electricity, timing, price signals, EU rules, process efficiency and cost, issues of relying on surplus renewables, priority dispatch and effect on price curves, behind-the-grid electrolysis.

3.2. Capacity Factor

Expensive equipment, need to amortise debt, surplus alone leads to costly hydrogen, diminishing returns (grid energy), multiple energy sources (graph of wind and solar profiles).

3.3. Levelised Costs

Calculating the levelised cost of hydrogen, project NPV, sensitivity analysis, externalities.

Module #4: Policy and Regulation

4.1. International

Hydrogen strategies - commonalities, differences, resources, geopolitics.

Promotion and recognised role, examining heavy promoters Japan, Germany, Chile, and more.

4.2. National

Existing Irish policy regarding hydrogen, Gas Networks Ireland, and other key stakeholders, EU rules and potential hydrogen customers.

4.3. Regulations

Existing regulations, regulations under revision or which need updating and likely outcomes, environmental regulations and planning concerns.

Course Schedule 

About the trainer 

Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions are the only indigenous Irish offshore wind consultancy that has been involved in all aspects of offshore wind development, from project inception through to the commissioning.

Dr Shane McDonagh graduated from University College Cork with a PhD in the techno-economic analysis of green hydrogen production and has published extensively on the topic. His research focused on topics including the technical ability of electrolysis to balance the grid, the replacement of natural gas with hydrogen, the economic analysis of hydrogen production costs, the pairing of hydrogen with offshore wind, and the use of hydrogen as a heavy transport fuel. He has also studied and published on Power-to-Methane, hydrogen biofuel upgrading, distributed hydrogen generation and consumption, electricity market analysis, and transport policy.

Eoghan Summers is an industrial doctorate student from the University of Edinburgh, based with GDG. His research focus is in the techno-economic analysis of green hydrogen production.