Hydrogen Storage, Distribution, and Transportation: Developments in Hydrogen Carriers

Hydrogen Carriers


By Clare Frederick, Jason A. Engel of K&L Gates

According to the joint EPO-IEA report summarizing patent trends in the hydrogen economy  (summarized here), technologies related to storage, distribution, and transportation of hydrogen are among the most critical challenges for large-scale deployment. Standardized infrastructure for hydrogen trade is essential to allow the market to function and flow.

While trends show that established technologies have generated high levels of patent-related activities, emerging technologies such as the use of hydrogen carriers are key to encouraging widespread hydrogen distribution systems. Patent filings in the fields of liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) and ammonia cracking, two example hydrogen carriers discussed below, have increased since 2011.

Conventional storage and transportation of hydrogen relies on liquid-compressed hydrogen, which is stored at either extremely high pressures or extremely low temperatures. LOHCs and ammonia cracking enable hydrogen to bond with a stabilized carrier, which allows for safer and more economical transportation. The two examples below illustrate the types of improvements that have been patented recently.

Ammonia Cracking

Ammonia cracking is the process of using ammonia as an energy carrier for transporting hydrogen. In this process, hydrogen is first produced through means such as electrolysis and then combined with nitrogen extracted from ambient air using an air separator to produce green ammonia, which can be transported using conventional means. Once the green ammonia arrives at its destination, the compound is separated into hydrogen and nitrogen using an ammonia-cracking process.

Topsoe A/S recently received US Patent No. 11,511,991 (‘991 Patent) issued 29 November 2022, entitled “Autothermal Ammonia Cracking Process.” The ‘991 Patent discloses a process for ammonia cracking that reduces or eliminates the need to remove residual nitrogen oxides from the cracked gas.  (NOx), a common byproduct of ammonia cracking, are gases that contribute to air pollution and present health hazards.

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EPA pours $128M into environmental justice projects

The EPA chose 186 projects led by community groups and local governments and counts several waste and recycling initiatives among its recipients.

Man wearing a suit speaking into a microphone while seated
EPA administrator Michael Regan has named environmental justice an EPA priority, echoing the Biden administration’s calls to fund more environmental justice projects. The EPA recently awarded $128 million in grant funding for such projects. Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images


By Megan Quinn, Senior Reporter, Waste Dive

  • The U.S. EPA has announced about $128 million in funding for 186 different environmental justice projects, including some addressing waste diversion, illegal dumping prevention, and community recycling efforts.
  • Community-based organizations received grants between $150,000 and $500,000 under the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving program. Local governments received up to $1 million as part of the Government-to-Government funding program.
  • Grants will fund projects such as recycling dropoff events in Nashville, Tennessee; anti-dumping initiatives in Memphis, Tennessee, and in New Mexico; an SB 1383-related school food waste diversion education program in California; public permitting outreach efforts in New Jersey and other initiatives, according to a project summary. 

Read the full story here

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Introducing: The NJ-NY, EPA Thriving Communities Tech Center

Do you want to learn how to access and pursue environmental justice funding opportunities, ranging from federal environmental health grants to state workforce development programs and private foundation grants? We can help!

Join WE ACT for Environmental Justice and our partners via Zoom on Monday, October 30 as we launch the New Jersey-New York Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center. The New Jersey-New York “TCTAC” is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy to provide training and other assistance to build capacity for navigating federal grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing grant funding.

Monday, Oct. 30, 2023
5:30-7:00 PM
Click Here to Register

Our TCTAC also seeks to build power in environmental justice communities and environmental justice organizations in New Jersey and New York, by building networks and partnerships throughout the region.

At the launch event, we’ll discuss:

  • The technical assistance resources the TCTAC can provide to your organization or community
  • Upcoming funding opportunities
  • Our planned environmental justice and federal grants training
  • Our vision for building power across the region

Steering Committee Members:

  • Peggy Shepard, Executive Director, WE ACT for Environmental Justice Alliance
  • Melissa Miles, Executive Director, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance
  • Kim Gaddy, Executive Director, South Ward Environmental Alliance Al Huang, Environmental Justice Director, New York University School of Law Institute for Policy Integrity
  • Michelle Roos, Executive Director, Environmental Protection Network 
  • Abbe Ramanan, Project Director, Clean Energy Group 
  • Sheila Foster, Visiting Professor, Columbia Climate School
  • Yogani Govender, Dean of Science and Technology, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico-Metropolitan Campus

Questions? Contact us at ejtctac@weact.org or visit weact.org/tctac to learn more.

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The role of ISRI specifications in promoting recycled materials trade

By Arnulfo Moreno, ISRI Communications Manager

Recycled material trade flows between the U.S. and Canada were valued at more than $8.4 billion in 2022. ISRI Specifications help facilitate trade in recycled materials by providing a common language for buyers and sellers of recycled commodities including ferrous (iron, steel) and nonferrous metals (aluminum, copper, nickel, magnesium, zinc, etc.), electronics, paper, plastics, glass, tire, and rubber. Widespread adoption of the specifications also plays a key role in increasing the use of high-quality recycled materials within the North American supply chains.

These specifications are derived from many sectors of the metals, paper stock, plastics, glass, and electronics industries and are constructed to represent the quality or composition of the materials bought and sold in the industry. The specifications are internationally accepted and are used throughout the world to trade the commodities.

ISRI is hosting a webinar to provide U.S. and Canadian industry participants, government officials, and other stakeholders with more information about ISRI’s new online resource, and encourage the use of the specifications as a trade promotion tool for recycled materials.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, at 1 p.m. The webinar is free for members and non-members. Registration required.

Register

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Wire theft ring, posing as rescuers, steal utility lines in Bucks County

By Dino Ciliberti, Patch Staff

BUCKS COUNTY, PA —Nine people have been charged with stealing Verizon wires from utility poles throughout Bucks County and selling them as scrap, costing the utility company more than $250,000 to replace, authorities said.

Between May and October, the organization, who referred to themselves as the “Get Money Squad,” committed wire thefts in Lower Makefield Township, Upper Makefield Township, Warminster Township, Bensalem Township, and Bristol Township, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said.

The evidence indicates some of those charged even posed as members of a search party looking for children swept away during the deadly July flash flooding in Upper Makefield, just so they could steal more wire.

The joint investigation found the group took advantage of the tragedy because of the size of the wire in that location and because they knew law enforcement would be overwhelmed with rescue efforts.

On Thursday, eight of the nine defendants were arrested for a variety of crimes that included corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property, theft of metal, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, criminal mischief, criminal use of a communication facility, and disruption of service.

Read the full story here

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Is the environment losing its political cachet in New Jersey?

Murphy administration’s aggressive clean-energy push a negative factor?

Aug. 15, 2016: A lift boat, center, that serves as a work platform, assembles a wind turbine off Block Island, R.I.


By Tom Johnson, NJ Spotlight

For many years, the environment enjoyed broad bipartisan support among the public and those elected to shape policies. Yet, amid a worsening climate crisis, that support appears to be wavering in New Jersey.

In this fall’s election, with all 120 of the state’s legislative seats on the ballot, there is mounting speculation whether the Murphy administration’s aggressive push to clean energy could be a significant factor in a handful of closely contested districts. And not in a positive way.

“It is the first time I can recall, in my memory, the environment has been shown to be a negative in legislative elections,’’ said Jeff Tittel, a longtime environmentalist and native of New Jersey.

Whether this trend is enough to end the Democrats’ long control of the Legislature remains to be seen, but as policies to implement the shift to green energy move closer to reality, they have triggered a surprising pushback not only from residents but also from politicians on both sides of the aisle.

The opposition centers on some of the key initiatives identified as the focus of the state’s clean-energy goals: offshore wind farms off the coast; phasing out the natural gas used to heat homes; and finally, a proposal to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars in New Jersey beginning in 2035.

“It is too much, too fast and no one has put a price tag on what it is all going to cost,’’ said Sen. Anthony Bucco (R-Morris), who added “many folks see Gov. Murphy’s Energy Master Plan as  extreme.’’

Top Democrats grow wary about unanswered questions on offshore wind

But clean-energy advocates dispute support for the environment is fading, insisting climate action remains strong despite a well-funded campaign by the fossil fuel industry.

“The environment has become more partisan,’’ acknowledged Doug O’Malley, director of Environment New Jersey. “Whether it is electric vehicles or offshore wind, there is always a push from the right to muck up the issues,’’ he said. “Bringing change is hard. This is not going to happen overnight.

Read the full story here

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