Technical and economic analysis of a pilot-scale hydrogen system: From production to application

Abstract

The uneven distribution of renewable energy resources and different levels of development have produced a large amount of abandoned electricity. Hydrogen production from the electrolysis of water can effectively consume abandoned electricity. And hydrogen energy has been hailed as the ultimate energy source in the 21st century. However, the many branches of the industry have made the overall layout of local hydrogen energy a tricky issue. Therefore, combining the characteristics and development status, and pilot project data, this article selects three typical hydrogen energy industry routes with high development potential for focused study. These three routes cover the main hydrogen production, storage and transportation technologies, and hydrogen energy application scenarios. A modeling-based approach is applied to calculate the energy utilization and economics of each route. The analysis is then combined with the current development status to obtain the advantages and disadvantages, suitable conditions, and development potential of each route. Among the three routes, the PEMFC route has the highest energy efficiency of 46.6% but is less economical. Suitable for construction in and around power plants to improve energy utilization. The hydrogen transportation route has a lower energy utilization rate of 34.9%. However, this route is more economical, with a conservative estimate of hydrogen refueling cost of about 60 RMB/kg at the current demonstration level. Suitable for medium and large cities with mature hydrogen energy development. The transportation cost of pipeline hydrogen transportation is low, but the preliminary pipeline construction and modification are more complicated. Based on the research results and local conditions, the government or enterprises can personalize the design of the hydrogen energy industry chain faster and more effectively.