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Event Details:

  • Date:                    Wednesday 26 October 2022
  • Time:                    Starts 16:30 until 18:30.  Join us for refreshments after the lecture.
  • Venue:                  Fresnel Auditorium, The Cyprus Institute
                                 Join us online!  The event is also streamed live via The Cyprus Institute YouTube and Facebook channels.
  • Speaker:              Dr Nicola Armaroli, Research Director at National Research Council (CNR), Bologna, Italy

 

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With the support of the Embassy of Italy in Cyprus, as part of the Enrico Fermi Lecture Series


The Hydrogen Dilemma

Wednesday, 26 October 2022, 16:30 - 18:30

RSVP by Monday, 24 October 2022


The event will be addressed by H.E. Federica Ferrari Bravo, Ambassador of Italy in Cyprus, and Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas, President of The Cyprus Institute.
The lecture will be introduced by Dr Fabio Maria Montagnino, Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at The Cyprus Institute

 

Abstract

hydrogen fuel station smallThe role of molecular hydrogen as an energy vector has been advocated for decades, but its use has never materialized due to technical and economic hurdles. Under calls for a reshaping of energy production, hydrogen is undergoing a revival. Researchers, companies and governments are now focusing on the only option leading to zero CO2 emissions, namely green hydrogen, which is produced from splitting freshwater into hydrogen and oxygen by means of electrolyzers powered by renewable electricity.

Green hydrogen is projected to become market-competitive in about a decade, but even under this scenario, it poses a dilemma for the future of the energy system, as it requires large surpluses of renewable electricity, which will hardly happen before 2030. Using electricity to make hydrogen and then use it for powering cars or heating buildings is in stark contrast with the demanding target of increasing energy efficiency, which might be achieved by more mature and efficient direct electric technologies, such as battery vehicles and heat pumps.

While research on hydrogen and deployment of renewables must continue, time has come for political decisions on priorities for the next decade, and a clear choice must be made between betting on direct electrification or on hydrogen production.


 

Speaker

Prof. Piero Formica Dr Nicola Armaroli

Nicola Armaroli is a research director at the National Research Council (CNR) in Bologna and a member of the Italian National Academy of Sciences. His research concerns the photochemistry and photophysics of molecules and materials for solar energy conversion and the study of the energy transition to more sustainable models and technologies, also in relation to resource scarcity and climate change.

He has published over 250 scientific papers and 10 books. He serves as consultant on energy and resources for international institutions and the Italian government and has given tens of invited lectures worldwide.

He has received national and international awards including the Enzo Tiezzi Gold Medal of the Italian Chemical Society. He is committed to advise people that science and technology – alone – cannot warrant us a sustainable future.




About the Event

This event is part of the Enrico Fermi Lecture series, which is co-organised by the Embassy of Italy in Nicosia and The Cyprus Institute. Since 2017, this series of prestigious talks has brought to Cypriot audiences the work of eminent Italian scientists, such as Prof. Massimo Inguscio (President of CNR), Prof. Ettore Fiorini (Emeritus Professor at the University di Milano-Bicocca and National Member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei), Prof. Antonio Sgamellotti (Università di Perugia, Accademia dei Lincei), Prof. Federico M. Butera (Professor Emeritus at Politecnico di Milano) and Prof. Piero Formica (Senior Research Fellow, Innovation Value Institute, Maynooth University, Ireland & Professor and Mentor, Contamination Lab, University of Padua, Italy). This year, the Lecture is also aimed at celebrating the day of Italian Research in the World.
 


 

The lecture will be in English and the live stream is open to the public.
Live streaming of the lecture will be available on The Cyprus Institute’s YouTube Channel and Facebook Channel and The Embassy of Italy in Cyprus Facebook page.
 
Live streaming is facilitated by the CySTEM project funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program under Grant Agreement No. 667942.
Images and/or recordings of our open public events may be used by The Cyprus Institute for dissemination purposes including print and digital media such as websites, press-releases, social media, and live streaming.

 




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Additional Info

  • Date: Enrico Fermi Lecture Series
  • Time: Wednesday, 26 October 2022 | Starts: 16:30
  • Speaker: Dr Nicola Armaroli, Research Director at National Research Council (CNR), Bologna, Italy