Hydrogen Production with a Lower Carbon Footprint

ABSTRACT

Aramco, the Seeker for this Challenge, is seeking novel ideas and innovative concepts that support its Net Zero 2050 agenda with regards to the production, distribution, and utilization of lower-cost, lower-carbon hydrogen.

This is an Ideation Challenge with a guaranteed award for at least one submitted solution.

OVERVIEW

Hydrogen has the potential to be a clean-burning, portable, and lower-carbon, fuel of the future. A tremendous amount of research is currently focused on all aspects of the hydrogen economy, from production to transport to utilization. The Carbon Management Research & Development Team at Aramco is exploring innovations to cost-efficiently produce lower-carbon hydrogen from traditional hydrocarbon feedstocks. A number of technologies including reforming catalysis, CO₂ capture processes and materials, intensified process configurations, renewable energy integration, and hydrocarbon fed fuel cells are being researched and developed offering the potential for helping to lower the cost of lower-carbon hydrogen produced. However, to achieve the goal of lower cost, lower-carbon hydrogen production, transformational and novel ideas for innovative technology concepts need to be further explored. Aramco is seeking such ideas and concepts to help achieve its ambition of creating hydrogen at a cost of $0.80 and with less than 4.3 kilograms of CO₂ emitted for each kilogram of hydrogen produced.

This is an Ideation Challenge, which has the following unique features:

• There is a guaranteed award.  The award(s) will be paid to the best submission(s) as solely determined by the Seeker. The total payout will be $25,000, with at least one award no smaller than $5,000 and no award being smaller than $2,500.

• The Solvers are not required to transfer exclusive intellectual property rights to the Seeker.  Rather, by submitting a proposal, the Solver grants to the Seeker a royalty-free, perpetual, and non-exclusive license to use any information included in this proposal, including for promotional purposes.

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on 03-Jul-2023.
Late submissions will not be considered.

After the Challenge deadline, the Seeker will complete the review process and make a decision in regards to the Winning Solution(s). All Solvers that submit a proposal will be notified on the status of their submissions; however, no detailed evaluation of individual submissions will be provided.

ELIGIBILITY

Employees of Aramco are not eligible to receive awards for this Challenge.

ABOUT THE SEEKER

The Carbon Management Research and Development team conducts strategic research, development, and demonstration programs in support of Aramco’s drive for innovation that in turn supports the Company’s overall Net Zero (Scope 1 and Scope 2 in wholly owned and operated facilities) ambition. Current R&D focus areas encompass lower-carbon hydrogen production, ammonia synthesis (new approaches), ammonia cracking, carbon capture and utilization, energy/hydrogen storage, renewable hydrogen, etc.

What is the Wazoku Crowd?

Imagine a world where any problem you have can be looked at by millions of expert, motivated eyes. The Wazoku Crowd makes this possible. With twenty years of experience in crowdsourcing, the Wazoku Crowd is the gold standard for open talent and external innovation solutions. Commercial, governmental and humanitarian organizations engage with the Wazoku Crowd to solve problems that can impact humankind in areas ranging from the environment to medical advancements.

What is a Wazoku Crowd Ideation™ Challenge?

A Wazoku Crowd Ideation™ Challenge is a broad question formulated to obtain access to new ideas, similar to a global brainstorm for producing a breakthrough idea or market survey which may include ideas for a new product line, a new commercial application for a current product, or even a viral marketing idea to recruit new customers. Ideation™ Challenge submissions are typically about two written pages, and Seekers receive a non-exclusive, perpetual license to use all submissions.

In an Ideation™ Challenge, Solvers may:

• Submit ideas of their own
• Submit third party information that they have the right to use and further the authority to convey that right and the right to use and develop derivative works to Seekers
• Submit information considered in the public domain without any limitations on use

Solvers should not reveal any confidential information in their submissions. Often the Ideation™ Challenge will be followed by one or more of the other three Challenge types to further develop the ideas and gain Intellectual Property protection when the concept has been well-defined.