In the context of fuel crises and environmental pollution, the Antonio Meucci Public High School in Carpi, Italy, has implemented a boiler powered by green hydrogen.
This is the first educational facility in the EU to use this fuel for heating with zero emissions, opening up opportunities to revolutionize heating systems.
Antonio Meucci in Carpi looks like any other high school in Europe. However, tucked away in a distant corner of the schoolyard is a facility enclosed by a fence.
Antonio Meucci High School and gym heated by hydrogen boiler. (Photo: Euronews).
Only specialized technicians can access this site, which houses the first green hydrogen boiler to heat an educational venue in the EU, and it has zero emissions. So how does the green hydrogen boiler work? Could this technology revolutionize our heating systems, making them more sustainable?
Potential
The green hydrogen boiler at Meucci School was designed by Coopservice in 2020. The project commenced on January 20, 2023, and has received widespread acclaim for its progressive approach.
During this period, the EU has shown great interest in hydrogen as member countries seek more sustainable and energy-efficient alternatives to fossil fuels. This is when green hydrogen has emerged as a potential solution.
Produced from renewable sources, green hydrogen is non-polluting and simplifies energy transportation and storage. This new fuel is at the center of many European financial programs aimed at energy transition, aimed at reducing high production costs. Spain and Germany are among the most promising EU countries for green hydrogen production, but Italy is also contributing to the development of projects like the Meucci boiler.
Hydrogen boiler. (Photo: Euronews).
How Does Green Hydrogen Work?
The boiler system heats the gym at Meucci School through a chemical process called electrolysis. Annalisa Vita is the engineer behind the project. She explains that green hydrogen is produced from renewable energy collected from solar panels on the gym’s roof.
This renewable energy activates the electrolysis process, which splits water into oxygen and hydrogen. Oxygen is released into the air, while hydrogen is stored in tanks.
Thanks to hydrogen storage capabilities, the green hydrogen boiler is more reliable than simple renewable heating systems. According to Vita, on cloudy days, the solar panels alone do not generate much energy. However, hydrogen allows us to store excess energy from sunny days and use it in the winter.
This characteristic is particularly suitable for northern Italian cities like Carpi, where winter skies are often clouded and foggy.
The hydrogen boiler has another advantage: it produces no emissions. According to Vita, Meucci’s boiler, along with 20 other energy projects in the Modena province of Italy, is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 717 tons per year, equivalent to the CO2 emissions from 700 cars annually.
Once again, this point is especially significant for the town of Carpi, located in the polluted Po Valley. Upon visiting the school, local authorities have expanded emergency measures in response to alarming air quality data.
Limitations
If green hydrogen has so many advantages, why haven’t all homes, factories, and schools been heated with this technology? In reality, the use of green hydrogen in heating systems faces obstacles, primarily due to cost.
Meucci’s project was made possible by a €350,000 investment. This amount represents a financial barrier to the widespread implementation of similar projects. Furthermore, green hydrogen heating installations in Europe must comply with strict safety regulations, which tend to reduce energy efficiency.
Engineer Vita explains: “We designed the boiler to operate with 100% hydrogen in the future, but currently, it operates at 20% hydrogen and 80% methane due to safety rules.” This hybrid system minimizes risks associated with the flammability of hydrogen and nitrogen oxide emissions from combustion, but it also reduces the energy efficiency of the system.
Another crucial reason is that experts are sharply divided on the use of green hydrogen in heating systems. In 2022, the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicted “a negligible role” for hydrogen in heating by 2030.
Laura Cozzi, IEA Director for Sustainability, Technology, and Outlook, acknowledged the role of hydrogen in hard-to-decarbonize sectors such as steel, cement, and petrochemicals. However, she emphasized that electric heat pumps for residential heating can also be equally environmentally friendly while offering lower operating costs and heat distribution.
Meucci’s gym heated by hydrogen boiler. (Photo: Euronews).
A Promising Starting Point
Despite scientific skepticism, Carpi’s green hydrogen initiative has been praised by the community as a step toward sustainability. Principal Viviana Valentini and her students are excited about the sustainable opportunities provided to the school and eager to expand the project.
According to engineer Vita, while hydrogen may not be as energy-efficient as other sources, if we want to find greener solutions for building environmentally friendly energy in the future, we need pilot projects like this one.
“Our hydrogen heating system is like the first giant mobile phone. Initially, it seems pathetic but is a significant investment for the future,” she noted.
