A semi-desirable location and sizing model for hydrogen fuel storage areas: A case study for Istanbul

Abstract

Due to their sustainable nature and high energy efficiency, hydrogen fuel vehicles (HFVs) gradually replace gasoline internal combustion engine vehicles. The increasing number of HFVs brings out the need for installing hydrogen fuel storage areas (HFSAs) that serve as local suppliers for the fuel retail stations. In this study, we consider the HFSA locating and sizing problem for the Anatolian side of Istanbul and pose it as a bi-objective semi-desirable facility location problem which incorporates both social and transshipment costs as push and pull objectives. Next, by adopting a weighted goal programming framework, we minimize the total weighted unwanted deviations from each goal for years between 2021 and 2030 while accounting for several organizational and governmental rules. Our modelling approach is also supported by a structured demand prediction methodology which accounts for the HFV market penetration rates and other parameters such as predicted population, number of HFVs on road, etc. Having two conflicting objectives, we adopt a posteriori approach and generate a representative set of non-dominated solutions to provide decision support to planners and investors. Finally, we perform a sensitivity analysis to account for the uncertainty in the hydrogen fuel demands of districts by defining an uncertainty set for the demand of each district. Sensitivity analysis reveals how and how much change in the district demands modify the most preferred solution.