H2Tech - Q2 2022 - 41

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
Accelerating the H2
through digitalization
The energy transition, coupled with a
global drive for sustainability in the energy
and chemical industries, is already impacting
the economy and all players across
the energy value chain. These geopolitical
forces will create winners and losers across
these industries over the next 10 yr.
Renewable energy, such as wind and
solar power generation, are of unequal potential
geographically. Many parts of Asia
are challenged by limited access to locations
that can generate substantial solar or
wind power (FIG. 1). In addition, liquid fuels
are difficult to substitute in several applications
such as air and ocean transport.
The electrification of vehicles and
other applications will create a large future
demand for metals processing, which has
an uncertain lifecycle carbon impact. Enter
H2
. H2 offers the opportunity to fill a
significant fraction of the world's energy
needs and can be generated carbon-free.
However, H2
also presents several challenges,
especially with respect to storage,
transport, cost of electrolysis generation,
sources and availability of renewable electricity
for electrolysis, cost and the efficiency
of carbon capture (in the case of blue
H2
) and safety. The race is on to reduce the
cost penalty of utilizing H2
with other energy sources.
Despite these challenges, the H2
in comparison
economy
is witnessing strong momentum reflected
in announced capital projects that
aim to deliver H2
generation and storage
at scale. In fact, several regions are investigating
the feasibility of a H2
economy as a
significant zero-carbon alternative.
Digital technology will be an essential
component in delivering the H2
economy,
accelerating and de-risking innovation,
de-risking adoption and enabling faster
and better scaleup and optimization of the
H2
value chain. It will be fundamental in
overcoming many value chain obstacles,
FIG. 1. Global wind and solar energy potential. Source: Peter Ziehan and Enterprise Products Partners.
economy
R. BECK, Aspen Technology, Bedford, Massachusetts
maximizing commercialization, design
and supply chains, and boosting production
and economics.
Which digital technologies will be most
important? Developing H2
as an energy
source involves the complete value chain
from production to end-use and encompasses
the entire commercialization lifecycle,
from innovation to reliable operation
at scale. Innovations in asset optimization
software span design, operations, supply
chain and maintenance, and are uniquely
suited to address these challenges.
These solutions incorporate modeling
and carbon capture processes, risk
of H2
and availability assessment across the value
chain, incorporating stochastic modeling
and asset health monitoring (FIG. 2).
FIG. 2. The digital technology solutions addressing the H2
value chain.
H2Tech | Q2 2022 41

H2Tech - Q2 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of H2Tech - Q2 2022