An Integrated Decision Support Framework for the Assessment and Analysis of Hydrogen Production Pathways

Abstract

As fossil fuel reserves become depleted, alternative energy sources will be required. One of the preferred options for an energy vector for the transportation sector is hydrogen. Hydrogen is considered as a clean fuel since its end use in fuel cell is virtually emission-free with a resulting significant improvement on urban air quality. However, the life cycle environmental impacts of hydrogen use depend strongly on the primary energy resources used and the process chain between the feedstock and its end use. In this study, an integrated decision support framework that combines the analytic hierarchy process and a life cycle analysis (LCA) criterion is proposed for the assessment and ranking of hydrogen production pathways. The LCA criterion was divided into energy consumption, fossil fuel usage, and greenhouse gas emissions. The pathways use electrolysis and steam methane reforming (SMR) as the technology for the production of hydrogen. A total of 11 hydrogen production pathways are compared and ranked using the proposed framework. The overall ranking in this analysis was found to be (1) electrolysis using renewable resources as a source of energy, (2) SMR, and (3) electrolysis using electricity mixes or fossil fuel electrical generation. The most preferred pathway was found to be electrolysis with hydroelectric power as the source of energy.