Hydrogen station location optimization coupling hydrogen sources and transportation along the expressway

Abstract

The appropriate siting of hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) can contribute to reducing hydrogen costs and promoting the widespread adoption of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs). This study integrates hydrogen sources and transportation, aiming to minimize the unit hydrogen cost. Two models for hydrogen station siting along the expressway are established. For the selection of feasible station siting schemes under discrete conditions, we design a screening process and algorithm Taking a specific highway section as a case study, both models are optimized, resulting in the unit hydrogen cost of 50.44 CNY/kg and 51.69 CNY/kg, respectively. Optimization verification is conducted, with percentage variances of 6.61 % and 18.77 %, respectively. Furthermore, the study delves into the impacts of different hydrogen demand, hydrogen production capacities, and the maximum allowable spacing between HRSs on station siting for both models. This research provides significant insights for hydrogen station siting along the expressway.