Webinar: Back Home. How Global Crisis Will Change the Places Where We Live

With the support of the Embassy of Italy in Cyprus, as part of the Enrico Fermi Lecture Series

The Hydrogen Dilemma

Wednesday, 26 October 2022, 16:30 - 18:30

RSVP by Monday, 24 October 2022


The event will be addressed by H.E. Federica Ferrari Bravo, Ambassador of Italy in Cyprus, and Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas, President of The Cyprus Institute.
The lecture will be introduced by Dr Fabio Maria Montagnino, Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at The Cyprus Institute

 

Abstract

The role of molecular hydrogen as an energy vector has been advocated for decades, but its use has never materialized due to technical and economic hurdles. Under calls for a reshaping of energy production, hydrogen is undergoing a revival. Researchers, companies and governments are now focusing on the only option leading to zero CO2 emissions, namely green hydrogen, which is produced from splitting freshwater into hydrogen and oxygen by means of electrolyzers powered by renewable electricity.

Green hydrogen is projected to become market-competitive in about a decade, but even under this scenario, it poses a dilemma for the future of the energy system, as it requires large surpluses of renewable electricity, which will hardly happen before 2030. Using electricity to make hydrogen and then use it for powering cars or heating buildings is in stark contrast with the demanding target of increasing energy efficiency, which might be achieved by more mature and efficient direct electric technologies, such as battery vehicles and heat pumps.

While research on hydrogen and deployment of renewables must continue, time has come for political decisions on priorities for the next decade, and a clear choice must be made between betting on direct electrification or on hydrogen production.

Dr Nicola Armaroli

Nicola Armaroli is a research director at the National Research Council (CNR) in Bologna and a member of the Italian National Academy of Sciences. His research concerns the photochemistry and photophysics of molecules and materials for solar energy conversion and the study of the energy transition to more sustainable models and technologies, also in relation to resource scarcity and climate change.

He has published over 250 scientific papers and 10 books. He serves as consultant on energy and resources for international institutions and the Italian government and has given tens of invited lectures worldwide.

He has received national and international awards including the Enzo Tiezzi Gold Medal of the Italian Chemical Society. He is committed to advise people that science and technology – alone – cannot warrant us a sustainable future.