Module Description
This module introduces hydrogen production through two major pathways: fossil-based production and water electrolysis. It begins by explaining the role of hydrogen in chemical industries and refineries, including its use in fuel production, ammonia synthesis, and other industrial processes. The module then examines hydrogen production from natural gas, coal, and petrol-based hydrocarbons, covering steam methane reforming, partial oxidation, coal gasification, syngas cleaning, water-gas shift reactions, hydrogen purification, petrol pyrolysis, and the environmental challenges linked to fossil-based routes.
The module also introduces hydrogen production from water electrolysis, explaining how electrochemical cells split water into hydrogen and oxygen. It covers low-temperature electrolysis, alkaline electrolyzers, PEM electrolyzers, solid oxide electrolyzer cells, electrolyzer stacks, Balance of Plant requirements, efficiency, temperature effects, and the potential integration of electrolysis with renewable electricity.
The purpose of this module is to build foundational understanding of hydrogen production technologies and their relevance to sustainable energy transitions. Learners will be able to compare fossil-resource and water-electrolysis pathways, understand the technical steps involved in hydrogen generation and separation, and assess key considerations such as efficiency, cost, safety, carbon emissions, and long-term sustainability in Mediterranean and global energy contexts.
The module also introduces hydrogen production from water electrolysis, explaining how electrochemical cells split water into hydrogen and oxygen. It covers low-temperature electrolysis, alkaline electrolyzers, PEM electrolyzers, solid oxide electrolyzer cells, electrolyzer stacks, Balance of Plant requirements, efficiency, temperature effects, and the potential integration of electrolysis with renewable electricity.
The purpose of this module is to build foundational understanding of hydrogen production technologies and their relevance to sustainable energy transitions. Learners will be able to compare fossil-resource and water-electrolysis pathways, understand the technical steps involved in hydrogen generation and separation, and assess key considerations such as efficiency, cost, safety, carbon emissions, and long-term sustainability in Mediterranean and global energy contexts.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:
- Describe the role of hydrogen in chemical industries and refineries, including its use in fuel refining, ammonia production, and other industrial processes.
- Explain the key physical and safety-related properties of hydrogen and how they affect storage, handling, liquefaction, transport, and industrial use.
- Analyze hydrogen production from natural gas, including steam methane reforming, partial oxidation, water-gas shift reactions, and pressure swing adsorption for high-purity hydrogen separation.
- Describe hydrogen production from coal through coal gasification, syngas formation, gas cleaning, water-gas shift conversion, and final hydrogen purification.
- Explain how petrol and petrol-based hydrocarbons can be used as hydrogen sources through pyrolysis, reforming, syngas purification, and hydrogen separation.
- Evaluate the main environmental and sustainability challenges of fossil-based hydrogen production, including carbon emissions, energy consumption, feedstock dependence, and the need for carbon capture or cleaner alternatives.
- Explain how water electrolysis produces hydrogen by using electrochemical cells to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
- Compare major electrolyzer technologies, including alkaline electrolyzers, PEM electrolyzers, and solid oxide electrolyzer cells, based on their operating principles, temperature ranges, ion transport, and performance considerations.
- Describe the role of electrolyzer stacks and Balance of Plant systems in supporting hydrogen production, including heat management, gas handling, power conditioning, and operational efficiency.
