Comparative cost evaluation of nuclear hydrogen production methods with the Hydrogen Economy Evaluation Program (HEEP)

Abstract

In this paper, a comparative cost assessment of some selected nuclear hydrogen production methods is performed with various options of hydrogen storage and transportation by employing Hydrogen Economy Evaluation Program (HEEP), as developed by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This HEEP software package is treated as one the most comprehensive ones with various nuclear hydrogen generation options. In the HEEP database, there are three different nuclear power plant options and three hydrogen production plant options included. The cost estimations for capital, fuel, decommissioning, O&M, and consumables are performed and evaluated in addition to the thermal energy and electricity cost details. These cost estimations include various hydrogen storage and transportation options. The hydrogen storage options considered are mainly compression, liquefaction and metal-hydride storage, which are available in the HEEP database. Furthermore, both pipeline and vehicle transportation costs are considered for cost calculations and evaluations.