Hydrogen storage solutions for residential heating: A thermodynamic and economic analysis with scale-up potential

Abstract

The study presents a thermodynamic and economic assessment of different hydrogen storage solutions for heating purposes, powered by PV panels, of a 10-apartment residential building in Milan, and it focuses on compressed hydrogen, liquid hydrogen, and metal hydride. The technical assessment involves using Python to code thermodynamic models to address technical and thermodynamic performances. The economic analysis evaluates the CAPEX, the ROI, and the cost per unit of stored hydrogen and energy. The study aims to provide an accurate assessment of the thermodynamic and economic indicators of three of the storage methods introduced in the literature review, pointing out the one with the best techno-economic performance for further development and research. The performed analysis shows that compressed hydrogen represents the best alternative but its cost is still too high for small residential applications. Applying the technology to a big system case would enable the solution making it economically feasible.