Cost-efficient small scale hydrogen liquefaction

Expected Outcome:As the hydrogen economy grows and diversifies itself, the need for smaller-scale, point-of-use hydrogen liquefaction will become increasingly important. For applications such as remote transportation hubs, off-grid or remote communities as well as hydrogen-powered industrial facilities with lower LH2 demand (less than 5 metric tons per day (tpd)), having efficient and decentralised liquefaction capabilities is crucial.While centralised, large-scale liquefaction plants can achieve economies of scale, small-scale facilities need to be cost-competitive and efficient to ensure their viability. This includes optimising energy use, ensuring safety, and designing equipment that can handle fluctuating demand. New technologies and innovations are required to bring down the capital and operational costs associated with small-scale liquefaction of LH2.Project results are expected to contribute to all the following outcomes:Contribute to the roll-out of next generation decentralised hydrogen liquefaction technologies;Initiate the deployment of liquid hydrogen for off-takers with lower LH2 demand. Project results are expected to contribute to the following objectives and KPIs of the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA:Increase efficiency and reduce costs of hydrogen liquefaction technologies for small scale liquefaction (<5 tpd);Reducing the energy intensity for small-scale hydrogen liquefaction to 12 kWh/kgH2 at 500kg/day and 10 kWh/kgH2 at 5 tpd.Reducing H2 liquefaction cost to about 3.5 €//kg Scope:The hydrogen liquefaction process is generally composed of the following main technological sub-systems: pre-cooling (incl. heat exchangers with cooling fluid & compressors), cooling (incl. compression), coldbox (including heat exchangers and ortho-para conversion), expansion and boil-off gas management.To overcome the technological barriers of small-scale hydrogen liquefaction and to prepare a future deployment of smaller LH2 volumes at a higher TRL, the innovative hydr