Title:
Hydrogen for Mobile Applications from Residual Biomass: A Preliminary Analysis and Simulation of a Hydrogen Refuelling Station for Public Transportation
Author(s):
Puglia, M., Kaya, A.F., Morselli, N., Santunione, G., Allesina, G., Pedrazzi, S.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
Currently, more than 98% of hydrogen production relies on fossil resources, through either natural gas steam reforming (SMR), which accounts for 76% of global production, or coal gasification (22%). Switching to renewable feedstocks, instead of natural gas, is crucial to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and represents a substantial step toward carbon-neutral energy systems. Hydrogen production from biomass not only increases production capacity but also enhances economic feasibility, source flexibility, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen can be utilized for both stationary and mobile applications. In this paper, a model for hydrogen production and utilization in public transportation is presented and discussed. Hydrogen is produced from two streams of residual biomass: the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and woody biomass, both processed at a local municipal facility. The first stream is converted into biogas through anaerobic digestion (AD), while the second is converted into syngas via steam gasification. Biogas and syngas are upgraded and converted into hydrogen and carbon dioxide using steam reforming (SR) and water-gas shift (WGS) reactors. Hydrogen is then purified through a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system and compressed into storage tanks at a hydrogen refueling station. The hydrogen consumption rates for the urban bus fleet were calculated, with daily demands for individual lines ranging from 32.87 kg to 47.01 kg and a total daily demand of 148.1 kg for the entire fleet. Subsequently, essential components of the refueling station, such as low and high-pressure storage and compression systems, were sized according to these calculated demands under various operational scenarios. Finally, this study demonstrates that the potential daily hydrogen production from the processed OFMSW (910.5 kg) and woody biomass (1,826.8 kg) significantly exceeds the fleet's hydrogen requirements, confirming the viability of this local biohydrogen pathway for public transport.
Keywords:
anaerobic digestion, biogas, biomass, hydrogen, organic waste, syngas, reforming
Topic:
Biomass Conversion to Intermediate Bioenergy Carriers and Sustainable Biofuels
Subtopic:
Biofuels and synthetic fuels from biomass and hydrogen
Event:
33rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
5BV.4.7
Pages:
965 - 971
ISBN:
978-88-89407-25-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/33rdEUBCE2025-5BV.4.7
Price:
FREE
