Paper Beer Bottles, 3D Printed Boats, Hydrogen-Powered Rescues; the New Mirai, Plastics from Potato, Hallowe’en Biobased Coffins, The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of October 18th

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week there’s Hallowe’en around the corner and we’ll point to the very latest in biobased DIY coffins, but leading this week is the unexpected ways to make the ordinary stuff we know — like, the paper beer bottle, a 3d printed boat, and pallets made from coconut husks. And, some more exotic inventions, too — a new catalyst for fuel cells, and a cryogenic hydrogen technology that aims to minimize one of the largest logistical issues in delivering hydrogen at scale— efficient storage and transfer. Not so mention a hydrogen-powered rescue boat so cool it might have kept Baywatch on television for a few more seasons. READ MORE

#6 Stanford Researchers develop long lasting catalyst for commercial devices

In California, DOE and Stanford’s researchers have shown for the first time that a catalyst significantly cheaper than platinum can split water and generate hydrogen gas for several hours in a commercial device. The researchers replaced the platinum catalyst on the hydrogen-generating side with a cobalt phosphide alternative. Much of the previous work looking to develop alternatives to precious metal catalysts have been shown to work n only in laboratory settings, but this study is the first to demonstrate a high-performance alternative in a commercial electrolyzer. The study could ease the pressures caused by the highly volatile precious metal market, which currently is a major hurdle in the expansion of fuel-cell technology.

#8 Partnership shows promise addressing the largest logistical issues in bringing hydrogen to scale: storage and transfer

In New York, Plug Power and Washington State University have entered a partnership to develop cryogenic hydrogen cooling technology in a quest to minimize one of the largest logistical issues in delivering hydrogen at scale— efficient storage and transfer. The technology the partnership seeks to develop is a method that—by optimizing a catalytic reaction with hydrogen in a “supercritical” state— will reduce the cost and efficiency of small, distributed liquid hydrogen systems. The three-phase project is currently in its first stage, where the teams are working to advance the fundamental understanding of the technology at cryogenic temperatures. CEO of Plug Power believes that “In the near future, demand from the fast-growing FCV market will outpace the current hydrogen fuel supply because of issues related to transportation, infrastructure, and storage.”

#9 Italian gas transport group to inject a 10% hydrogen admixture into gas pipelines

In Italy, Reuters reports that Europe’s biggest gas transport group— Snam— is planning to inject a 10% green hydrogen mixture into its natural gas pipeline network. The project is counting on the backing of Rome as the newly elected government rolls out its new climate package. Snam is one of several gas infrastructure players in Europe looking to build up the amount of green hydrogen in their systems, with their Chief Executive stating that “it is precisely the regions in the south of Italy, rich in renewable energy, that could help affirm hydrogen as a new clean energy vector.”