Fossil Fuel-based Energy System Research Articles

Microwave-assisted ammonia decomposition over metal nitride catalysts at low temperatures

The negative environmental impact of fossil fuel-based energy systems has unveiled the need to develop a COx-free sustainable hydrogen (H2) economy. Employing a microwave-assisted route, a ternary metal nitride catalyst (i.e., Co2Mo3N), and a low-temperature-pressure NH3 decomposition process, this study investigated the possibility of developing a distributed H2 production process. This study not only explored lower cost-based catalyst systems but also the use of a microwave reactor to increase the energy efficiency of the process. Results from catalytic NH3 decomposition experiments, performed in microwave reactors on Co2Mo3N catalyst, demonstrated the peak energy efficiency (of ∼0.006 kgH2/kWh) at 400 °C in ambient pressure (with an NH3 conversion >90%) which was around ninety times (∼90 x) more efficient than a conventional system. Activation energy calculation also displayed a 20% less energy requirement for the microwave-based process (∼31 kJ mol−1) than the conventional system (∼37 kJ mol−1), indicating the advantage of the microwave-based process. Further microwave-assisted catalytic measurements and characterization of the Co2Mo3N catalyst, using x-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images, revealed the excellent stability of this material at its peak performance (at 400 °C) and illustrated the potential of using this catalyst for a sustainable, economic, and energy-efficient approach for producing COx-free H2.

An Improved High Gain Continuous Input Current Quadratic Boost Converter for Next–Generation Sustainable Energy Application

With the rapid transformation from fossil fuel-based energy systems to renewable-based energy systems the application of a high gain boost DC-DC converter is becoming the main attraction due to its wide range of numerous applications. This specific study presents an improved high gain non isolated quadratic boost DC-DC converter (QBC) with voltage gain three times of the quadratic boost converter. The proposed non-isolated category topology is the modified version of the quadratic boost converter where the 2nd inductor of the QBC is replaced by a voltage multiplier cell (VMC) and a switch capacitor network is integrated with the VMC to increase the voltage gain as well as to reduce the switch’s voltage stress. Moreover, the continuous input current and common ground feature of this proposed circuit configuration have shaped its potential application by making it advantageous over other non-isolated based high gain boost converters. To support its feasibility a rated power of 150 W prototype is developed after validating the results by Plecs software. The voltage gain offered by this proposed circuit configuration is justified by experimental results and the software simulation. A comprehensive analysis and components design is also formulated and documented in this study.

ENERGY TRANSITION POLICIES: A GLOBAL REVIEW OF SHIFTS TOWARDS RENEWABLE SOURCES

The global landscape of energy production is undergoing a profound transformation as nations grapple with the imperatives of sustainable development and climate change mitigation. This paper encapsulates a comprehensive review of Energy Transition Policies, specifically focusing on the global shift towards renewable energy sources. The paper delves into the myriad policy initiatives adopted by countries worldwide to transition from conventional fossil fuel-based energy systems to cleaner and more sustainable alternatives. The analysis explores the diverse motivations driving these energy transitions, ranging from environmental concerns and climate change imperatives to economic competitiveness and energy security. By examining the unique policy frameworks of different regions, the research provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with the adoption of renewable energy sources. It investigates the regulatory mechanisms, financial incentives, and technological advancements that shape the trajectory of energy transition policies on a global scale. Furthermore, the paper sheds light on the impact of energy transition policies on various stakeholders, including governments, industries, and local communities. It examines the socio-economic implications of renewable energy integration, job creation, and the role of international collaborations in fostering sustainable energy practices. The study adopts a comparative approach, drawing on case studies from diverse geographical contexts to distill common trends and best practices in energy transition policy formulation and implementation. This paper provides a nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between policy frameworks and the global transition towards renewable energy. By synthesizing insights from different regions, it contributes to a holistic perspective on the challenges and opportunities inherent in shaping a sustainable and resilient energy future. The research is an invaluable resource for policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders seeking to navigate the intricate landscape of energy transition on a global scale.
 Keywords: Energy, Renewable Energy, Energy Innovation, Energy Transition, Review.

Techno-economic assessment of far-offshore hydrogen-carrying energy vectors off the Iberian Peninsula

Green hydrogen (H2) generation in far-offshore locations is being proposed as an alternative for the decarbonisation of the current fossil fuel-based energy system. However, due to the limited experience and low level of maturity of the technology, an accurate and comprehensive assessment of their technical and economic feasibility is crucial. To this aim, the present paper suggests a holistic numerical model for the techno-economic assessment of diverse H2-carrying energy vectors, such as gaseous (GH2) and liquid H2 (LH2), and ammonia (NH3), in far-offshore wind farms. The model includes all the relevant stages, from energy generation, to conversion, transportation, and storage. Hence, the model enables the assessment of broad offshore areas for site selection, sensitivity analyses to identify the most relevant aspects, and optimisation procedures to identify the most suitable H2-carrying energy vector. The consistency of the model is first verified against the literature and then applied to regions off the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands. Results show that, compared to bathymetry or distance to port, wind resource availability is the most crucial factor to ensure the economic feasibility of the projects. Additionally, for any given site, the full electric alternative turns out to be lower than any H2-based energy vector. Among the studied H2-carrying energy vectors, GH2 is the least expensive one and nearly competitive with electricity, as LH2 and NH3 show between two- to three- times greater expenses.

The impact of the new energy demonstration city construction on energy consumption intensity: Exploring the sustainable potential of China's firms

As a comprehensive energy transition reform strategy, China's new energy demonstration city (NEDC) pilot policy aims to accelerate the transformation from a fossil fuel-based energy system to a more sustainable energy system. Employing unique data on firms' energy consumption from National Tax Survey Database, this paper investigates how NEDC policy affects firms' energy utilization efficiency based on the difference-in-differences model. We observe that NEDC construction reduces firms' energy consumption intensity (ECI) in the pilot cities. After using the instrumental variable approach to deal with endogeneity problems, the conclusions still hold. The mechanism analysis reveals that the decrease in firms' ECI is driven by offering more tax incentives to enterprises and prompting them to pursue technological innovation. Heterogeneity analysis shows that this negative impact is more prominent for SOEs and high-energy-consuming enterprises; we also observe that this effect is more pronounced for firms in resource-based cities and old-industrial-based cities. Our results provide policy implications for initiating policies in other countries to improve firms' energy utilization performance.

Techno-economic case study of applying heat recovery and CO2 capture systems on a gas turbine power plant; 4E analysis

Produced CO2 from fossil fuel-based transportation vehicles and energy systems can have a direct impact on people who live in adjacent of the power plants. So, in the present work, we proposed and modeled an integrated system comprising a gas engine, a carbon dioxide capturing unit, an absorption chiller, and a greenhouse. The greenhouse uses directly the CO2 produced in gas engine through the carbon dioxide capturing unit to mitigate the emitted CO2 into the atmosphere. Besides that, the produced heating in gas engine could be exerted in a cycle to render the greenhouse space in cold weather condition. In warm seasons this thermal energy could also be delivered to an absorption chiller for producing required cooling for inside space of the greenhouse. Herein, the generated electricity is sold to grid, and an economic analysis is brought about. To evaluate and estimate the system performance and interest of selling electricity, a mathematical function was applied. The results show that, during cold seasons, the maximum possible net interest is 800,000 $, and for warm seasons is 2,500,000 $. The maximum COP is also achieved by 1.007. Finally, the amount of CO2 emission rate is mitigated at least 50%.

Just an energy transition? A gendered analysis of energy transition in Northern Cape, South Africa

abstract The world faces a climate crisis due to the extraction and burning of fossil fuels which has supported industrialisation and capitalist expansion. One of the solutions to the climate crisis is to reduce carbon emissions by transitioning from a fossil fuel-based energy system to one based on renewable sources, such as solar or wind energy. The just energy transition promises to address unemployment and poverty while reducing the carbon intensive nature of the energy system. However, this energy transition is complex and holds uncertainty and risk for many people, particularly communities and workers who depend on the coal value chain. This article adopts a feminist political economy lens to explore the relationship between the development of renewable energy and gendered labour. This approach highlights the importance of the economy, the household and the state in the process of social reproduction. By analysing the impact of the development of solar power plants on the communities and workers in three towns in the Northern Cape, South Africa, and focusing on the three components of social reproduction, I find that the energy transition in its current form will not deliver justice for the poor and working classes or promote gender equality.

Synergies of electrical and sectoral integration: Analysing geographical multi-node scenarios with sector coupling variations for a transition towards a fully renewables-based energy system

The cost-optimal pathway for moving from the current fossil-fuel based energy system to 100% renewables is still an open question. This work presents the first study that analyses the transition towards a 100% renewable energy system under different spatial resolutions (1-node, 6-nodes electrically isolated and interconnected) and various coupling configurations for the power, heat, transport and desalination sectors. With the LUT Energy System Transition Model for the case of Chile, 12 scenarios were investigated in an hourly resolution and considering more than one hundred energy-related technologies. The results show that: (1) 1-node systems deliver too simplistic results for key metrics; (2) power sector simulations can lead to a strongly distorted resources allocation compared to scenarios that include other sectors; (3) a multi-node model better reflects transmission bottlenecks and local resources, and; (4) the lowest-cost solution is reached when power transmission lines are considered. Thus, it is concluded that a cost-optimal, balanced, and realistic solution to reach a fully defossilised energy system is transitioning towards a multi-node, interconnected, and fully sector-coupled energy system. This can be called, in short, the ‘Power-to-X economy’, which in the case of Chile would more accurately be a ‘Solar-to-X economy’, given the high solar share found in the simulations.

Developing sustainable power systems by evaluating techno-economic, environmental, and social indicators from a system dynamics approach

The transition from fossil fuel-based energy systems to renewable energy systems (RES), especially in fossil-fuel-rich countries, is a challenging process requiring consideration of numerous factors, including technological feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and public acceptance. As governments play a crucial role in determining energy and environmental policy, developing practical policymaking tools encourages them to stimulate the adoption of renewable energy technology. This study proposes a novel framework to model an energy system transition focused on the power generation and its dynamic behavior of fossil-fuel-rich countries using the System Dynamics (SD) approach and then assesses the techno-economic and environmental impacts of various economic, technical, and environmental policies using the Multi-Criteria Decision-Analysis technique (MCDA). This study aims to compare the development of renewable technologies development versus improving the current technology efficiency under three different “business as usual,” “basic development,” and “advanced development” scenarios by assessing economic, environmental, and social indicators over the horizon of 2016–2040 in fossil-rich-fuel countries. The proposed framework was applied to Iran, a fossil-fuel-rich country. According to the case study results, in all of the defined policies under three scenarios, the improvement of fossil fuel technologies received the highest score indicating that improvement in the efficiency of the current energy system by utilizing combined cycle systems is an inevitable step. Taking into account the water shortage in Iran, the second crucial stage is the implementation of water-efficient renewable technologies.

Assessing the EU’s Evolving Position in Energy Geopolitics under Decarbonisation

ABSTRACT As a major importer of fossil fuels, the EU will likely see its position in the geopolitics of energy change following its commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050. This article analyses the implications of the energy transition for the EU’s role in energy geopolitics, looking at declining and emerging energy dependences by investigating the EU’s exposure to the material foundations of interdependence (sensitivity) and its ability to manage them (vulnerability). The EU is generally in a more advantageous geopolitical position in a clean energy order than in the current fossil fuel-based energy system. This is mostly a result of the geological distribution and specific material features of clean energy materials and the EU’s ability to manage such interdependence, as decarbonisation involves a set of policy areas where the EU shows important external strengths. Weaknesses may persist, however, as growing contestation could render sectoral state-like industrial policies more central to geo-economic competition.

Urban energy systems in India :

The fossil fuel-based energy systems require accelerated transitioning towards renewable energy provisions in order to reduce carbon emissions. Urban energy systems are commonly called sociotechnological systems, that have interconnections with the political, environmental, and economic landscape of the urban areas. These inter-sectoral linkages, the constant evolution of stakeholder's priorities and relationships, and their conflicting objectives in the urban energy landscape make urban energy systems a complex system. Asserting the need to comprehend the challenges of transitioning towards sustainable energy systems, it appears desirable to view urban energy systems as complex systems. Based on recent literature on urban energy systems and complex systems thinking, the paper initially discusses the characteristics of urban energy systems. It aims to demonstrate the relationship of urban energy systems with social, technological, environmental, political, and economic aspects of urban areas. It further emphasizes the need and the approaches to recognise urban energy systems as complex systems due to the presence of factors, such as multiple stakeholders, the interconnectedness of the agents, changing dynamics, and adaptive processes in the systems. This paper takes the case study of the city setting of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, and considers its urban Solar City Master Plan to better understand the essence of complex energy systems. Against this background, the aim of the paper is to understand the application of complexity economics and systems thinking to the transition of urban energy systems from fossil fuels to renewables. In addition, the paper intends to explore how examining the urban energy systems through the lens of complexity economics and systems thinking can be valuable in formulating policy interventions towards sustainable urban energy transitions.

Виробництво соняшникової олії на принципах циркулярної економіки: регіональні аспекти

Abstract. Introduction. Fossil fuel-based energy systems are limited by a number of factors such as their exhaustibility, harmful emissions, and increasing prices. Sunflower seed production strives to achieve high yields with the least production costs and environmental burden. Future development should be achieved mainly by recycling field-based and process-based residues instead of natural resources. The use of a circular economy strategy can overcome the above challenges. Purpose. The purpose of this paper was to study the impact of residues-based biorefinery (bio-fertilizer production, electricity, and heat generation) on primary circular economy indicators. Renewable energy production and carbon dioxide emission savings were the subjects of the current manuscript. The objectives of this study were as follows: the identification of suitable indicators; the analysis of current technologies; the calculation of circular economy indicators. Results. To reach the purpose, we used scientific methods such as abstract-logical (to establish the problem statement and draw the conclusions), monographic (to analyze scientific works devoted to the circular economy), and dialectical knowledge. The novelty of our study is the analysis of energy saving technologies in sunflower oil production and related circular economy indicators. Promising energy saving technologies for sunflower seed cultivation and oil production were analyzed. The use of recycled municipal sewage water for irrigated agriculture is a promising technology in arid and semi-arid regions. It can save scarce reserve of fresh water. The implementation of a circular model in sunflower cultivation and processing requires an application of suitable business models. Conclusions. Sunflower field-based and process-based residues can be resources for biorefinery and ensure a way toward sustainable development based on the principle of the circular economy. Utilization of by-products allows substituting of hydrocarbon fossil fuels, generating renewable energy, and decreasing of carbon dioxide emissions. Recycling of crop residues (sunflower stalks) has a positive impact on circular economy indicators. According to our research, the use of sunflower husk for co-generation gives the best results. The implementation of the circular economy model in sunflower seed cultivation and oil production will contribute to the sustainable economic development of agriculture.

The Impact of Renewable Energy Targets on Natural Gas Export Policy: Lessons from the Israeli Case

Evidence indicates that various countries around the world set renewable energy targets in an effort to promote clean and sustainable energy sources at the expense of polluting, fossil fuel-based energy systems. While scholars have discussed extensively how these targets affect the promotion of renewable energy sources, their effect on fossil fuel policy at the national level has been neglected. The current study addresses this research lacuna, examining the impact of renewable energy targets on decision making vis à vis fossil fuels, given that these energy sources are considered substitutes. This is achieved by focusing on intra-governmental discussions in Israel during 2020–2021 that sought to formulate the country’s natural gas export policy as a function of its ambitious renewable energy targets. The study demonstrates how renewable energy targets, which are often set by politicians, can significantly influence decision making concerning fossil fuels, even when they contradict professional regulators’ positions and from their perspective represent a risk to national energy security.

The Gulf states and the energy transition in the Indo-Pacific

ABSTRACT This paper examines the interdependence between the Gulf states and the Indo-Pacific in the context of the global energy transition away from a fossil-fuel based energy system. Instead of ending this energy interdependence, we argue that the energy transition presents opportunities for the Gulf states to address and manage energy governance issues with the Indo-Pacific. Applying a framework with four stylized choices comprising rule breaking, taking, promoting, and shaping, we find evidence that the Gulf states have evolved away from binary choices of rejecting or accepting the rules of global energy governance. Instead, some of them are becoming more adept at rule promoting and rule shaping, which, respectively, strengthen and contest but not undo the energy transition status quo.

Optimal Dispatch of Battery Energy Storage Considering Cycling and Calendar Ageing

The growing share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix and the liberalization of electricity markets drastically affected the operation of electricity generators. This transition from fossil fuel-based energy systems to renewable ones will significantly change the energy market, giving important opportunities for energy storage systems. In the next years, a large amount of storage capacity is foreseen to be integrated into the electricity grids to shave the demand peaks, mitigate price volatility, and provide services to the grid. In such a situation, to properly manage these crucial technologies, and thus guarantee the economic viability of the operation, it is essential to properly optimize the dispatch and define the best scheduling. This paper considers Battery Energy Storage (BES) to study the problem of dispatch optimization of storage technologies. The complete model of BES is developed, considering especially the effect of DoD (Deep of Discharge) on the total number of cycles, that influence significantly the degradation, and the influence of the current-rate on the total efficiency, due to the effects of losses for the Joule effect. The implemented optimization is based on a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) approach, the discretization of the state of charge (SoC), and the continuous update of rated capacity until the maximum admissible fade is reached. Different scenarios are compared showing how the effectiveness of the proposed approach at maximizing the net operational profits or minimizing the loss depending on the profitability of markets.

Renewable Energy Communities in Islands: A Maltese Case Study

Renewable energy communities are considered as key elements for transforming the present fossil fuel-based energy systems of islands into renewable-based energy systems. This study shows how renewable energy communities can be deployed in the Maltese context to achieve higher penetration of residential-scale photovoltaic systems. Case studies for five renewable energy communities in the Maltese LV distribution network have been analyzed in detail. A novel community battery energy storage sizing strategy was proposed to determine the optimal storage capacity at each energy community. The main objective of the community battery storage in each REC is to minimize the reverse power injection in the grid (minimize the total reverse energy and reverse peak power values), as well as to reduce the peak evening electricity demand. The optimal sizes for communal BESSs were determined to be of 57 kWh (EC 1), 55 kWh (EC 2), 31 kWh (EC 3), 37 kWh (EC 4) and 10 kWh (EC 5), respectively. The community storage systems were observed to reduce the overall impact of all five energy communities on the grid infrastructure. Power system simulations were performed for a typical spring day to evaluate the impact of communal BESS placement on the node voltages for all five energy communities. The results showed that the community storage was more effective at reducing the node rms voltage magnitudes when deployed at the end of the respective energy communities, rather than at the beginning of the community. During peak generation hours, reductions of up to 0.48% in the node rms voltage magnitudes were observed. This contrasts with reductions of only 0.19% when the community storage was deployed at the beginning of the energy communities.

Techno-economic feasibility of hybrid PV/wind/battery/thermal storage trigeneration system: Toward 100% energy independency and green hydrogen production

With the clear adverse impacts of fossil fuel-based energy systems on the climate and environment, ever-growing interest and rapid developments are taking place toward full or nearly full dependence on renewable energies in the next few decades. Estonia is a European country with large demands for electricity and thermal energy for district heating. Considering it as the case study, this work explores the feasibility and full potential of optimally sized photovoltaic (PV), wind, and PV/wind systems, equipped with electric and thermal storage, to fulfill those demands. Given the large excess energy from 100% renewable energy systems for an entire country, this excess is utilized to first meet the district heating demand, and then to produce hydrogen fuel. Using simplified models for PV and wind systems and considering polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolysis, a genetic optimizer is employed for scanning Estonia for optimal installation sites of the three systems that maximize the fulfillment of the demand and the supply–demand matching while minimizing the cost of energy. The results demonstrate the feasibility of all systems, fully covering the two demands while making a profit, compared to selling the excess produced electricity directly. However, the PV-driven system showed enormous required system capacity and amounts of excess energy with the limited solar resources in Estonia. The wind system showed relatively closer characteristics to the hybrid system but required a higher storage capacity by 75.77%. The hybrid PV/wind-driven system required a total capacity of 194 GW, most of which belong to the wind system. It was also superior concerning the amount (15.05 × 109 tons) and cost (1.42 USD/kg) of the produced green hydrogen. With such full mapping of the installation capacities and techno-economic parameters of the three systems across the country, this study can assist policymakers when planning different country-scale cogeneration systems.

Towards Achieving 100% Renewable Energy Supply for Sustainable Climate Change in Pakistan

Fossil fuel-based energy systems are mostly used for supplying energy that creates negative impacts on the environment, so in this study, the development of a 100% renewable energy system is evaluated for Pakistan for sustainable climate change. This study modeled three scenarios, namely, ongoing (ONG), energy saving policy (ESP), and green energy policy (GEP) scenarios using low emission analysis platform (LEAP) software for the study period 2022 to 2050 for Pakistan. The results revealed that a 100% renewable energy supply could be achieved through the GEP scenario. Model results show that the share of renewable sources in the total energy mix is 1117.08 TWh and non-renewable sources contribute only 18.12 TWh to meet the energy demand of 966.05 TWh until 2050. Non-renewable production leads to the generation of 8.85 million metric tons of carbon emissions, which is too low compared with the 135.47 million metric tons under the ONG scenario. The USD 1482.46 billion investment cost required for adding renewable energy capacity until 2050 is too high as compared with the USD 46.80 billion under the ONG scenario. Energy demand and production requirements are reduced by 34.18% under the ESP scenario until 2050. This approach can also be applicable to the majority of nations worldwide.

Implementation of Formic Acid as a Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC): Techno-Economic Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Formic Acid Produced via CO2 Utilization

To meet the global climate goals agreed upon regarding the Paris Agreement, governments and institutions around the world are investigating various technologies to reduce carbon emissions and achieve a net-negative energy system. To this end, integrated solutions that incorporate carbon utilization processes, as well as promote the transition of the fossil fuel-based energy system to carbon-free systems, such as the hydrogen economy, are required. One of the possible pathways is to utilize CO2 as the base chemical for producing a liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC), using CO2 as a mediating chemical for delivering H2 to the site of usage since gaseous and liquid H2 retain transportation and storage problems. Formic acid is a probable candidate considering its high volumetric H2 capacity and low toxicity. While previous studies have shown that formic acid is less competitive as an LOHC candidate compared to other chemicals, such as methanol or toluene, the results were based on out-of-date process schemes. Recently, advances have been made in the formic acid production and dehydrogenation processes, and an analysis regarding the recent process configurations could deem formic acid as a feasible option for LOHC. In this study, the potential for using formic acid as an LOHC is evaluated, with respect to the state-of-the-art formic acid production schemes, including the use of heterogeneous catalysts during thermocatalytic and electrochemical formic acid production from CO2. Assuming a hydrogen distribution system using formic acid as the LOHC, each of the production, transportation, dehydrogenation, and CO2 recycle sections are separately modeled and evaluated by means of techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA). Realistic scenarios for hydrogen distribution are established considering the different transportation and CO2 recovery options; then, the separate scenarios are compared to the results of a liquefied hydrogen distribution scenario. TEA results showed that, while the LOHC system incorporating the thermocatalytic CO2 hydrogenation to formic acid is more expensive than liquefied H2 distribution, the electrochemical CO2 reduction to formic acid system reduces the H2 distribution cost by 12%. Breakdown of the cost compositions revealed that reduction of steam usage for thermocatalytic processes in the future can make the LOHC system based on thermocatalytic CO2 hydrogenation to formic acid to be competitive with liquefied H2 distribution if the production cost could be reduced by 23% and 32%, according to the dehydrogenation mode selected. Using formic acid as a LOHC was shown to be less competitive compared to liquefied H2 delivery in terms of LCA, but producing formic acid via electrochemical CO2 reduction was shown to retain the lowest global warming potential among the considered options.

Tuning the Electronic Structure of Cobalt Selenide on Copper Foam by Introducing a Ni Buffer Layer for Highly Efficient Electrochemical Water Splitting.

The development of a cost-effective, remarkably competent, and durable bifunctional electrocatalyst is the foremost requirement of water splitting to generate H2 fuel as a renewable energy technology. Three-dimensional porous copper foam (Cuf) when electrochemically decorated with transition metal selenide results in a highly active electrocatalyst for adequate water electrolysis. In terms of water splitting, the role of cobalt selenide and Cuf has already proven to be remarkable. The introduction of a Ni buffer layer between Cuf and cobalt selenide (Cuf@Ni-CoSe2) acts as a valve to enhance the electron thrust from the substrate to the material surface with no compromise in the overall material conductivity, which not only increases the efficiency and activity but also improves the stability of the catalyst. The self-supported synthesized catalyst material showed an admirable activity toward the oxygen evolution reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline media. The performance of the catalyst was found to be significantly better than that of the noble catalyst RuO2. The catalyst was very stable up to 93 h and attained a full cell voltage of only 1.52 V at a current density of 10 mA cm-2. Therefore, for large-scale hydrogen production, this as-synthesized catalyst hss the potential to replace conventional fossil fuel-based energy systems.