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The expectations about the role of green hydrogen in the energy transition are sky-high and the EU envisages large-scale electrolyser capacity in the North Sea. However, the actual production of green hydrogen is still nascent and several knowledge gaps need to be filled on short term to enable a sustainable role of hydrogen. This is especially the case for offshore production of hydrogen from seawater, where currently only small pilot scale installations are in operation and planned for. Current research on offshore hydrogen is mostly focused on the upscaling of offshore hydrogen production, cost reductions and required infrastructure. Research areas that are relatively unchartered and relevant for sustainable hydrogen production relate to: What is a holistic view on energy efficient offshore hydrogen production within environmental boundaries? The research team may specify sub questions related to:

1. Which earth-abundant materials and conceptual designs can directly electrolyse seawater for hydrogen production (rather than from ultrapure water), while minimising negative environmental impacts (e.g. impacts from heat and brine)?
2. How can unavoidable production of heat and brine be valorised by harvesting blue energy and other ‘waste’ streams?
3. What are thermal- and salinity gradients from large-scale seawater electrolysers, within ecological and social acceptable threshold values?

By co-developing knowledge about hydrogen production at sea, this transdisciplinary research team aims to contribute to sustainable pathways for hydrogen production capacity at the North Sea. The output of our research is input for debate with policymakers and stakeholders about the potential capacity of hydrogen production at the North Sea within sustainable and justifiable boundary conditions. Further, it may evolve in future research with Universities of the nine North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSCE) Countries.

Team: Hamed Aslannejad, Nong Artrith, René van Roij, Matteo Gazzani, Willem Boon, Moutaz Altaghlibi, Udeke Huiskamp

Energy communities (ECs), defined as citizen-based initiatives aimed at collectively consuming, producing and storing energy from local renewable resources, are expected to play a major role in achieving a fair and sustainable energy transition. However, many of these initiatives do not materialize, and estimates of their actual benefits are scarce. Hence, the overarching challenge we plan to address is: What are the drivers and barriers to the realisation of ECs that enable a sustainable and fair energy transition? In the incubator project, we will formulate the relevant research questions and research approaches, which may address e.g. :

1. What behavioural changes and societal needs support the scale up of ECs?
2. What values drive and support energy community members and can these drivers be generalized and exploited to scale up ECs? 
3. What governance models hinder or facilitate the success of ECs?

From a practical perspective, the team will focus the research on EC’s in the Netherlands, making use of international experiences where relevant.

Team (in development): Madeleine Gibescu, Elena Fumagalli, Annelies Huygen, Jiamin Ou, Denise de Ridder, Luis Ramirez-Camargo, Sanne Akerboom, Nenya Jochemsen.

Resourcefulness: Mapping the changing global flows of material and finance for the energy transition

The energy transition is causing a steep increase in the mining of minerals and other materials such as lithium, copper, cobalt, and graphite that are needed for low-carbon technologies while shifting away from fossil energy sources. This leads to changing patterns in resource extraction and usage of fossil fuels and renewable energy, as well as a restructuring of global capital markets. Resource extraction and their finance are often socially and environmentally unsustainable and potentially displaces negative effects of the energy transition to mineral and fossil fuel-rich countries, often in Global South, while Global North countries profit from the benefits (emission reduction and financial gains). On top of that it is important that capital is allocated in an effective and equitable manner. An urgent question for a just and sustainable energy transition is: How are patterns and balances in mineral mining and fossil fuel extraction as well as renewable energy use changing due to the energy transition, and what kind of consequences does this have? 

The first step of the project is to map and visualize the changing global flows of resources and finance that are generated by the energy transition, starting with Lithium. This includes extraction as well as flows of disposal. We will follow the materials as well as the money to map directions and quantities, as well as institutions, infrastructures, regulations, and actors involved. The aim of the project is to develop possibilities for (financial) regulation, certification, technology, and recycling of materials crucial for of the energy transition.

Team (in development): Ernst Worrell, Jesse Hoffman, Nikkie Wiegink, Carolina Sanchez, Friedemann Polzin, Allard Mosk, Ezekiel Stevens