Milford Haven: Energy Kingdom

MH:EK is a two-year £4.5 million project, completing in 2022, exploring what a decarbonised smart local energy system could look like for Milford Haven, Pembroke and Pembroke Dock. The project will explore the potential of hydrogen as part of a multi-vector approach to decarbonisation. Central to the project, and to achieving net-zero, is a commitment to engage with the community and local industry, providing insight and opportunities for growth.

MH:EK builds on a previous Welsh Government funded project to explore a Zero Carbon Area in Milford Haven Waterfront.

Why Energy Kingdom?

The name ‘Energy Kingdom’ comes for Port of Milford Haven’s ‘sense of place’ report, which aims to explain the history, present and future of energy operations in the UK’s biggest energy port.

What will MH:EK seek to do?

Our ambition is to gather detailed insight into the whole energy system around Milford Haven, to identify and design a future smart local energy system based on a truly multi-vector approach (heat, electricity, transport) and comprehensive energy systems architecture.

Can you explain MH:EK in a bit more detail?

The project is multi-faceted and will see the team investigate local renewable energy, including solar, onshore wind, future offshore wind and biomass for decarbonised gas transition; diversified seed markets for hydrogen across buildings, transport and industry; consumer trials of fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen-ready hybrid heating systems.

The project aims to output:

A design for a flexibility trading platform: a design for the underlying system architecture for the trading platform integrating national to local networks, including a detailed whole energy system.
Infrastructure outline drawings, generation model and hydrogen production model incorporating major energy infrastructure in the project area, including existing and planned solar, wind and offshore renewables, and major natural gas infrastructure, and current and potential hydrogen infrastructure.
Undertake detailed designs and local pilot study for hydrogen-ready hybrid heating applications that are appropriate for residential and commercial heating applications and provide valuable demand-side flexibility for optimising with today’s and tomorrow’s energy system.
Design outline drawings of transport solutions, to include hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for public transport, public and private fleets, including Port vehicles.
Budget for the complete local energy system, sizing calculations and schedule.

Who are the MH:EK team?

Who’s doing what?

The project is broken down into work packages (WP’s) with each partner leading and supporting on specific elements – the work allocation is not set in stone and partners are flexible in crossing resources into other work packages – e.g. ORE Catapult and Arup are now heavily involved in WP 9 and Wales & West Utilities are supporting with WP 6:

What do you believe will be the benefits of MH:EK?

We believe the project holds promise in showcasing the far-reaching benefits of low carbon energy. It has the potential to lead the way and become the first of many Smart Local Energy Systems supporting our local communities, Wales and the UK in reaching the legislated target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

What are the advantages of the MH:EK project?

Enthusiastic community support with a ready-made project building on previous work.
Genuinely includes all energy demand sectors: heat in buildings, electricity and transport, with connections into industry.
The project fills an important need - for safeguarding of local energy sector jobs and maintaining momentum in the UK’s transition from natural gas to green gas like hydrogen and biomethane.

Who is funding MH:EK?

MH:EK is one of the chosen “Detailed Design” projects within the Prospering from the Energy Revolution (PfER) programme of works funded by Innovate UK as part of their Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) with match funding provided by some project partners.

What does MH:EK mean for interested parties?

Stakeholder area of interest	Example benefit of engaging with MH:EK
Economy Skills Supply chain Local / Regional Industry Innovators	MH:EK presents an opportunity to make a strong business case for investment in hydrogen to the Government and can identify opportunities for engaged key stakeholders in the waterway to invest in hydrogen technology and make use of existing or new assets. We want to contribute to a vibrant UK economy, illustrating the positive impact a whole energy system can have. We believe that this project will bring many benefits locally through the safeguarding of energy sector jobs in an area where there is a high import of natural gas as we transition towards a low-carbon society. The project aims to identify diversified seed markets for hydrogen across buildings, transport and industry; consumer trials of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen-ready hybrid heating systems. The project aims to create a “Systems Architecture” for Hydrogen. This will allow new innovation of all kinds a route to become a part of the system. IT will identity what they can do within the system and who they will need to work with to be successful.
Related projects	Strong synergies with many regional, national and international projects e.g. South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC), Pembroke Dock Marine City Deal, HyHy, HyNet, HyDeploy, H21, EMEC, FLEXIS, Rhondda Cynon Taff Hydrogen Valley project, Ynys Mon (Anglesey) Hydrogen Island, other PfER SLES detailed design projects.
Energy Infrastructure	We are on a journey to explore how MH:EK could affect the direct & wider energy system for now and the future.
Energy generators	MH:EK aims to investigate local renewable energy, including solar, onshore wind, future offshore wind and biomass for decarbonised gas transition.
Government/Policy	We hope that our project will support Pembrokeshire County Council, Welsh Government and both UK and Welsh Governments in understanding where whole system investment should be made to move towards a net zero carbon society.
Regulatory	The project aims to identify and make proposals to overcome barriers.
Communities & public	We see this as a chance to help people realise the benefits of green energy growth.
Climate change	Our ambition is for MH:EK to provide a roadmap to decarbonisation with the benefit of using both hydrogen and electricity systems.
Environment, Health & Wellbeing	We want to present evidence which supports the notion that renewables have a positive impact on our environment & wellbeing.
Education	A large focus for the project is helping people to understand the potential of using hydrogen in their day-to-day lives, such as for home heating and in their vehicles.
Transport	We want to be gathering data to support the business case and demonstrate the usability & demand for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Academia	Research potential, knowledge sharing.
Investment community	MH:EK aims to identify potential markets for investment in a hydrogen based economy.

Are there any emerging themes from the project?

Yes. The MH:EK team have some emerging asks of Government, such as:

Prioritise the publication of a national hydrogen strategy to support the development of a hydrogen economy in a coherent and joined up way.
A whole energy systems approach to buildings, industry, power and transport must inform the strategy to give innovators and investors a clear view of the pathway to net zero.
Acknowledge the complementary roles that hydrogen and renewable electricity will have in decarbonising homes, businesses, power and transport together: it’s not one or the other.
Mandate hydrogen-ready boilers by 2025 – a no regrets decision at very little cost to Government.
Crate a level playing field for options to decarbonise home heating that includes smart hybrids that benefit the customer and energy system.
Direct innovation funding to target demand side projects for hydrogen, and not just production, to support the development of a complete hydrogen supply chain.
Recognise that Smart Local Energy Systems (e.g. Milford Haven Waterfront as a zero carbon smart grid) can also give non-monetised benefits - resilience, affordability, health, network optimisation, community engagement, just & equitable transition etc.

Can you explain a little more about the MH:EK Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (HFCEV) Trial?

We are constructing a hydrogen electrolyser and hydrogen refuelling station at Milford Haven Waterfront. We will fuel two Riversimple ‘Rasa’ HFCEVs (Riversimple) which we will use to demonstrate the viability of hydrogen refuelling at a smaller, local scale as well as demonstrating consumer demand is critical at this point of the whole green energy market development. As examples, MH:EK aims to engage the local community and the public sector fleet owners in the new green hydrogen transport system demonstration. The Rasa’s will be used for business mileage by the maintenance teams, NHS district healthcare workers and showcased to regional public sector agencies and community organisations. MH:EK aims to take the Rasa car to local schools and provide educational packs within our Sustainable Schools Award Scheme and in tandem with other partners at Eco Schools and Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum Education team.

We will use renewable electricity from local solar when available, or from a renewable electricity tariff at other times, to carry out electrolysis of water on site to make green renewable hydrogen. This hydrogen will be used to fuel the two trial cars.

The MH:EK detailed design project is about the whole system approach and interconnectivity of transport, heat, gas and electricity using hydrogen from renewable energy sources.

Can you explain a little more about the Hybrid Heating System trial?

We are installing a smart hydrogen-ready hybrid heating system in an operational building belonging to the Port of Milford Haven. This is a first of its kind trial combining principles of hybrid heating with hydrogen in a commercial setting.

The new heating system will comprise an air source heat pump paired with a new gas boiler capable of hydrogen combustion. Smart heating controls will be used to manage the system which will make best use of local renewable energy to run the heat pump and switch to gas heating when it is very cold or when renewable energy isn’t available. A boiler will be trialled on-site to demonstrate the combustion of hydrogen as a clean heating fuel. Numerous trials will take place to demonstrate the heating system operating in a number of modes; lowest carbon, lowest cost, etc.

What are the advantages of Hydrogen as an energy source?

It can be produced anywhere you have electricity and water. It can also be made using natural gas combined with carbon capture and storage.
It can generate either heat or electricity.
It can be produced, stored, transported and used without toxic pollution or CO2 emissions.
It carries three times as much energy per unit weight as petrol, diesel or jet fuel.
It can deliver power at 60% efficiency via a fuel cell, which can also run in reverse.
It can be pumped at similar transfer rates to liquid hydrocarbons.
It burns at a similar temperature to natural gas – giving the potential to use existing gas infrastructure and keep disruption in homes as low as possible when changing over to low carbon heating systems.

What are the challenges of Hydrogen as an energy source?

It loves to bond to other stuff. It does not occur on its own in nature so it requires energy to separate.
Its volume storage requires compression to 350-700 times atmospheric pressure depending on application/compression requirement.
It carries one-third the energy per unit volume of natural gas.
It can embrittle metal. But the HSE are working with gas networks on this and all networks in cities and towns are converting over to plastic pipes anyway.
it escapes through the tiniest holes. It is definitely more keen to exit via an opportunity to leak, yes – but this is all part of the HSE’s programme with networks and safety of using hydrogen.
It is explosive. Hydrogen has been in industrial use and has been transported for decades; so it’s well regulated; electricity explodes, methane explodes. The HSE will only allow hydrogen to replace natural gas if it is proved to be at least as safe. For the first 150 years of gas being transported in our networks, hydrogen made up over 50% of the gas in the mix that used to be made from coal. Having moved over to cleaner, cheaper natural gas in the 1960s, now is the time to evolve gas again to zero carbon hydrogen.

I notice the Riversimple Rasa car is a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (HFCEV) – what is a hydrogen Fuel Cell?

A fuel cell is a device that generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction, not combustion. In a fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen are combined to generate electricity, heat, and water. Fuel cells are used today in a range of applications, from providing power to homes and businesses, keeping critical facilities like hospitals, grocery stores, and data centers up and running, and moving a variety of vehicles including cars, buses, trucks, forklifts, trains, and more.

Fuel cell systems are a clean, efficient, reliable, and quiet source of power. Fuel cells do not need to be periodically recharged like batteries, but instead continue to produce electricity as long as a fuel source is provided.

A fuel cell is composed of an anode, cathode, and an electrolyte membrane. A typical fuel cell works by passing hydrogen through the anode of a fuel cell and oxygen through the cathode. At the anode site, a catalyst splits the hydrogen molecules into electrons and protons. The protons pass through the porous electrolyte membrane, while the electrons are forced through a circuit, generating an electric current and excess heat. At the cathode, the protons, electrons, and oxygen combine to produce water molecules. As there are no moving parts, fuel cells operate silently and with extremely high reliability.

Due to their chemistry, fuel cells are very clean. Fuel cells that use pure hydrogen fuel are completely carbon-free, with their only byproducts being electricity, heat, and water. Some types of fuel cell systems are capable of using hydrocarbon fuels like natural gas, biogas, methanol, and others. Because fuel cells generate electricity through chemistry rather than combustion, they can achieve much higher efficiencies than traditional energy production methods such as steam turbines and internal combustion engines. To push the efficiency even higher, a fuel cell can be coupled with a combined heat and power system that uses the cell’s waste heat for heating or cooling applications.

Fuel cells are also scalable. This means that individual fuel cells can be joined with one another to form stacks. In turn, these stacks can be combined into larger systems. Fuel cell systems vary greatly in size and power, from combustion engine replacements for electric vehicles to large-scale, multi-megawatt installations providing electricity directly to the utility grid.

Benefits of fuel cells at a glance:

Low-to-Zero Emissions
High Efficiency
Reliability
Fuel Flexibility
Energy Security
Durability
Scalability
Quiet Operation

 Can you explain a bit more about Hydrogen?

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, though it is not found naturally on Earth. Hydrogen must be extracted from other sources. In its purest form, hydrogen is a non-toxic colourless and odourless gas.

Hydrogen (when used as a fuel), like electricity, is an energy carrier rather than an energy resource. Both electricity and hydrogen can be produced from all energy resources available (including, natural gas, petroleum products, coal, solar and wind electrolysis, biomass, and others). Hydrogen and electricity can be generated from greenhouse gas-neutral sources, addressing climate change and urban air quality problems. As with electricity, hydrogen can also be produced from sustainable domestic and renewable energy resources, such as wind or solar-powered electrolysis, which enhances our long-term energy security.

Millions of metric tons of hydrogen are produced annually in the United States, which is enough to fuel tens of millions of FCEVs. The current primary uses for hydrogen, however, are for the petroleum, ammonia for fertilizer, chemical, and food industries.

Today, 95% of the hydrogen produced in the United States is made by industrial-scale natural gas reformation. This process is called fossil fuel reforming or steam methane reformation (SMR) and uses natural gas and steam to generate carbon dioxide and hydrogen. We expect to use hydrogen produced from renewable energy, like wind power, and from methane reforming – but only with carbon capture and storage, os that all hydrogen is complaint with a net zero energy system.

Is Hydrogen safe?

Hydrogen has been safely produced and used around the globe for nearly half a century. As with every fuel, safe handling practices are required but hydrogen is non-toxic and does not pose a threat to human or environmental health if released.

Hydrogen systems are as safe, if not safer, than conventional fuel systems, including gasoline and natural gas. Hydrogen is ubiquitous in the universe. On Earth, hydrogen is a molecule consisting of two atoms and has a propensity to bond with other molecules.

Hydrogen has been safely used by many different industrial sectors for more than 50 years. Ten million metric tons of hydrogen is produced every year for use in a range of industrial applications such as chemical, refining, electronics, and pharmaceuticals. Hydrogen can create clean energy and stores energy from renewables, is used to make fertiliser, and makes consumer goods and food more shelf-stable.

In the transportation sector, hydrogen has been safely used as a fuel for cars, trucks, buses, forklifts, and other applications.

Safety features of Hydrogen:

Low radiant heat - hydrogen flames have low radiant heat. Hydrogen combustion produces heat and water. Due to the absence of carbon, a hydrogen flame has significantly less radiant heat compared to a hydrocarbon fire. Since the flame emits low levels of radiant heat and take (the flame itself is just as hot) the risk of secondary fires is lower.
Needs an oxidiser to combust - combustion cannot occur in a tank unless both a fuel (hydrogen) and an oxidiser are present. This means an oxidiser, such as air, must be present in the hydrogen tank or systems. Due to the physical properties of hydrogen and hydrogen storage system designs, it is impossible to get air in a tank under normal conditions.
Carbon fibre tanks - HFCEV car manufacturers have developed and tested carbon-fibre hydrogen storage tanks, which withstand crash, drop test, fire, and ballistic testing.
Safety systems - hydrogen tanks and the vehicle systems are designed with multiple safety enhancements to prevent leaks in both routine use and extreme circumstances. In the very unlikely scenario that an issue should occur, hydrogen systems are designed to safely release and ventilate the hydrogen.
Safe and fast hydrogen refuelling - the hydrogen fuelling protocol has been universally accepted around the world to ensure safe refuelling of fuel cell vehicles in three to five minutes for a range of 300 – 400 miles on a tank of fuel.
Safety codes and standards - as a result of decades of fundamental research into hydrogen behaviour by private sector companies and organisations around the world, we have learned how to make hydrogen systems as safe, if not safer, than conventional fuelling systems such as gasoline, natural gas, propane, and others. Hydrogen safety information resources and best practices are being developed and continually refined for emergency responders and authorities having jurisdiction based on safety research and development, as well as stakeholder input from the fire-protection community, academia, car manufacturers, and the energy, insurance, and aerospace sectors.

A Systems Architecture is mentioned, what’s that?

The Milford Haven: Energy Kingdom (MH:EK) project is using a novel, systematic engineering approach that the Energy Systems Catapult (ESC) describe as a hydrogen based 'Systems Architecture'. This aims to capture every possible scenario of hydrogen use and provide a financially stable, mutually beneficial environment to allow business to flourish.

The systems architecture achieves this by mapping the hydrogen system fundamental building blocks and interactions between them, these include the consideration of the physical components and sub-systems, market structures and trading platforms, policy and regulation barriers and opportunities, digital interfaces and commercial structures and arrangements. The architecture is developed to be a technology agnostic local hydrogen system that can manage the supply, transport and demand for current and future hydrogen use cases. It will enable greater flexibility for new entrants into the system as technology changes and policy and regulation matures over time.

Why use a Systems Architecture Approach

A more traditional agile development approach is a brilliant technique for bottom-up innovation for so many of the things we experience in our lives. However, we also recognise that large infrastructure projects, whether digital or physical in nature are first designed. To use an analogy no-one expects for a space shuttle to emerge from successive design sprints, however the component parts can be developed through a more ‘agile’ approach once the structure and interfaces of the space shuttle have been first described.

Therefore the identification of the high level components and their required interactions within a system will allow the more detailed activity to be undertaken within each component (such as the supply, transport or demand components) with greater confidence of success and less wasted effort.

ID: 7804, revised 06/06/2022