CorroSense: Self-powered corrosion monitoring

Construction aggregates is a broad category of coarse grained materials like sand, gravel and stone used in construction and infrastructure projects. Aggregates are the most mined resources globally, and annually about 25 million cubic meters are extracted and processed in Denmark. A significant part of the aggregate costs is related to transportation. In Denmark, the direct costs amount to approx. 3 billion DKK annually. Calculations suggest that an additional 650M DKK are needed to cover indirect costs related to abrasion of roads, accidents, climate change, air pollution, congestion, etc. Therefore, this project aims at building a new and beyond state-of-the-art framework, based on information theory, allowing more informative mapping of aggregate resources using electromagnetic (EM) measurements (Figure 1). On top of the mapping framework, we will develop a web-based frontend system, allowing decision makers to extract relevant information to perform aggregate resource extraction planning. With this framework it will be possible to locate new aggregate resources, and in turn save 365M DKK in reduced transportation costs. The project will revolutionize mapping of the near-surface, using EM data, and the outcome will have a significant economic, societal and environmental impact. In addition, it will strengthen Denmark’s position as an international frontrunner on utilizing EM data in subsurface mapping, and also provide new export opportunities for Danish technology.

The global shift of energy paradigm to carbon-free technologies has significantly increased the penetration of grid-tied power electronics. Power electronic systems are a key enabler in the energy conversion process, from renewable generation like wind/solar power, electric vehicles down to lighting. To ensure smooth transition to green technologies, electronic systems must be compatible with each other and the power grid. Recently, there have been new disturbances on power grid due to high incompatibility of power electronic systems in the new frequency range of 2-150 kHz which has been unregulated in the past. Therefore, new international standards have been drafted and are going to be effective by 2023. This will challenge the power electronics industry as no effective solution exists to comply with new standards. This prevents from deployment of renewable energy systems and reaching green transition goals by 2030. Supra-EMC will be a leap forward for Danish electronics industry and utility operators in two aspects. Firstly, proposing new energy and cost-effective solutions with new business potential. Secondly, developing new tools and devices for commercialization. Incremental inclusion of the Supra-EMC outcomes into the design phase of industrial products during the course of the project is vital. Thereby, the proposed consortium being key players in power electronics industry is a dream team to solve and implement viable solutions in the entire value chain.

The overall goal of the H2-FOAM project is to develop multi-layered asymmetrical nickel foam electrodes with increased surface area towards the membrane and larger pore structures further away from the membrane to facilitate lye, H2, and O2 flowing in three dimensions. This will increase the H2 production efficiency for alkaline electrolysis and at the same time reduce the usage of nickel. The goal is to reduce OPEX by additionally minimum 5% by increasing the H2 formation and reduce CAPEX of the electrodes by minimum 10% (nickel reduction and production processes) for production of green hydrogen using Alkaline Water Electrolysis (AWE). Project results are expected to be implemented in the near future (<2-3 years after termination of the project). The project length is 36 months and will be initiated Q1-2024. The key output of this project will be the ability to fabricate asymmetric nickel foam based on the Mond process utilising nickel CVD carbonyl Ni(CO)4 process capable of fabricating asymmetric nickel foam, i.e. electrodes with smaller pores and higher surface area near the membrane and lager pores further away to facilitate improved flow properties. The H2-FOAM project has immense potential to revolutionise the green H2 and PtX market. Its primary objective is to develop asymmetrical anodes/cathodes that reduce operational expenditures (OPEX) and capital expenditures (CAPEX) for alkaline water electrolysis, while also validating the technology.