Techno-Economic Analysis of Green Hydrogen Energy Production in West Africa

PurposeHydrogen has enormous decarbonization potential in the transportation sector. Heavy vehicles, maritime transport, aviation and railways are exploring hydrogen as a decarbonization solution. Hydrogen is important as a future mobility and transportation solution because global regulations for emissions reduction are becoming increasingly stringent. The European Green Deal aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels, affecting the mobility industry. Hydrogen will play a crucial role in achieving climate goals, especially in public transport and mobility. A rigorous statistical study of global hydrogen production capacities becomes essential in the context of the enormous decarbonization potential that hydrogen holds for transportation. The study analyzes the evolution of global annual hydrogen production capacity for mobility from 2009 to 2022. Until 2015, the main technology used was alkaline water electrolysis, while in 2016, polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzer technology became dominant. Alkaline water electrolysis technology has a 22% higher production capacity compared to PEM technology. It has been observed that Asia has the largest operational hydrogen production capacity at 43.3%, followed by Europe at 26.8%, the USA at 26.2%, Africa at 3.5% and Australia at 0.3%. The countries with the highest operational hydrogen production capacity for mobility are China at 41.7%, the USA at 25.7% and Germany at 7.4%.Design/methodology/approachThe study involved the analysis of data related to hydrogen production systems for use in mobility, conducted over an extended period from 2011 to 2022. It represents a detailed look at the evolution of this vital technology for the future of global sustainable mobility. Hydrogen production has seen significant development in recent years, driven by increasing awareness of the adverse impact of GHG emissions on the environment and the need for cleaner and more efficient solutions for transportation. In the study, we analyzed the evolution of hydrogen production capacity in each country, also tracking its development over time. Additionally, we investigated continental-level capacity, providing a comprehensive overview of progress and global potential in hydrogen production.FindingsGreen hydrogen represents a promising solution for decarbonizing the transportation industry. Its production using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power can significantly reduce carbon emissions. Green hydrogen can be used in fuel cell vehicles to power zero-emission cars and transportation, contributing to the fight against climate change and the creation of a sustainable future for our mobility. The analysis highlighted that the development of hydrogen production capacities is highly dynamic. During the period from 2009 to 2015, the hydrogen production for mobility was approximately 1,570 cubic meters per hour (m3 H2/h). However, what becomes evident from the analysis is the impressive growth in hydrogen production capacity in this area. Between 2016 and 2020, production capacity increased significantly, reaching approximately 6,240 m3 H2/h, which represents roughly a fourfold increase compared to the previous period.Originality/valueA crucial factor that has spurred this growth is the increasing commitment to reducing carbon emissions and other pollutants from the transportation industry. The potential of hydrogen production systems has been recognized as a viable alternative due to their capacity to generate environmentally friendly hydrogen, commonly referred to as green hydrogen, through the utilization of renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power. Over recent years, researchers have made significant advancements in the field of hydrogen generation, specifically in the areas of water electrolysis and natural gas reforming. These approaches have played a crucial role in improving the efficiency of both green and gray hydrogen production. Green hydrogen is considered one of the most environmentally friendly energy sources because the carbon emissions associated with its production are minimal or even nonexistent.

Evaluation of Green and Blue Hydrogen Production Potential in Saudi Arabia

According to Malaysia's National Energy Transition Roadmap, hydrogen is a critical component of the country's energy transition. However, there is a scarcity of hydrogen studies for Peninsular Malaysian states, which limits discussions on green hydrogen production. This study employs a Monte Carlo model to assess the economic and technical factors influencing the success of green hydrogen in Peninsular Malaysia. The study focuses on three target years: 2023, 2030, and 2050, representing various stages of technological development and market adoption. The levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of a 1-MW Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer system ranges from $5.39 to $10.97 per kg in 2023, highlighting early-stage challenges and uncertainties. A 6-MW PEM electrolyzer system could achieve an LCOH of $3.50 to $4.72 per kg by 2030, indicating better prospects. Because of technological advancements and cost reductions, a 20-MW PEM electrolyzer system could achieve an LCOH of $3.12 to $3.64 per kg in 2050. The findings indicate that the northern regions of Peninsular Malaysia have consistently low LCOH values due to favorable geographical conditions. Due to minor variations in solar capacity factors, uncertainty distributions in LCOH remain stable across different regions. Some states may face increased uncertainty, emphasizing the need for additional policy support mechanisms to mitigate risks associated with green hydrogen investments. The sensitivity analysis shows that key cost drivers are shifting, with early-stage electrolyzer investments dominating in 2023 and electricity prices becoming more important in 2030 and 2050. Future research could focus on optimizing green hydrogen systems for areas with underdeveloped green hydrogen industries. This study contributes to informed discussions about green hydrogen production by emphasizing the importance of tailored strategies that consider local conditions and highlighting the role of Peninsular Malaysia in the energy transition.

High-pressure PEM water electrolyser: A review on challenges and mitigation strategies towards green and low-cost hydrogen production

Hydrogen farm concept: A Perspective for Turkey

Hydrogen is an excellent source of energy that can be burnt directly and used in fuel cells with no emission to environment. In recent years, green hydrogen has become a research interest in many developed and developing countries. The main barrier to this green fuel is the production cost. Production of hydrogen using solar photovoltaic (PV) powered water electrolysis process might reduce the production cost. This paper presents the determination of the Levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) produced from a PV-based electrolysis plant which is built in Energy Institute, Dhaka University. The analysis uses LCOH and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) methods to determine the production cost of hydrogen. HOMER Energy software has been used to determine the electricity cost. The plant's lifetime is assumed to be 25 years, with a discount rate of 5%. The Levelized electricity cost from the invested Solar PV plant is about BDT 37.92, and the pay back period is about four years. The electricity consumption of the hydrogen generating plant is 4225 kWh/year, and the amount of hydrogen yield is 128520 kg/year. It is found that the LCOH of green hydrogen is BDT 3.41/kg by LCOH method and BDT 6.79/kg by LCC. The determined cost is very competitive concerning the international market price which is about US$13.99/kg. If production cost becomes comparatively lower, Bangladesh could become a remarkable green hydrogen producer with a remarkable impact in the international market. The model and analysis might help to design, assess and implement such projects in Bangladesh and establish a green hydrogen economy. DUJASE Vol. 6 (2) 64-71, 2021 (July)

Feasibility studies of green hydrogen production using photovoltaic systems in Iran's southern coastal regions

Potential of solar and wind-based green hydrogen production frameworks in African countries

Techno-economic analysis of green hydrogen production from wind and solar along CPEC special economic zones in Pakistan

The cost of green: Analyzing the economic feasibility of hydrogen production from offshore wind power

Fueling Costa Rica’s green hydrogen future: A financial roadmap for global leadership

Increased electricity generation from renewable sources is critical for the transition towards a zero-carbon future. While this growth of production presents challenges in grid management due to inadequate storage systems for surplus electricity, solutions such as green hydrogen production offer promising avenues for integration into existing infrastructure. By leveraging surplus renewable electricity to power electrolyzers and inject green hydrogen into natural gas networks, we take a significant step forward in realizing an integrated gas-electric system. This study delves into this concept by conducting a comprehensive techno-economic assessment of a hydrogen production facility. The initial step is to determine the required volume of hydrogen to achieve a 10% concentration within a real natural gas distribution network. This value is such that the gas mixture remains within the Higher Heating Value (HHV), Wobbe Index (WI) ranges defined by Italian legislation. The goal is to optimize component sizing using a genetic algorithm to minimize the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) while meeting criteria for green hydrogen production. In fact, results show that an input from electricity grid is necessary to meet the hydrogen demand while maintaining the techno-economic feasibility of the system. A sizing optimization is therefore performed on photovoltaic, electrolyzer and storage system. Furthermore, the study underscores the critical role of energy policies, particularly green hydrogen incentives, in determining the economic feasibility of the system. By analyzing their impact on economic revenues, the authors emphasize the importance of supportive regulatory frameworks in driving the transition towards a more sustainable future.

In December 2018, the Council of Australian Governments set a vision (Australia Hydrogen Strategy) for a clean, innovative, safe, and competitive hydrogen industry that benefits all Australians and will be a major global player by 2030. This study will summarize the current and forecast uses and volumes of hydrogen along with estimating the potential future range of hydrogen prices and prices’ key drivers across Australia seven territories. The seven hubs are the basis to understand the range in hydrogen prices combined with the technologies available to produce hydrogen across Australia. These seven hubs are planned as a springboard to large scale production, although hydrogen projects can be outside these hubs as well. The impact of the drivers and price assessment across the green and blue hydrogen technologies were studied. Hydrogen price ranges were calculated and are based on the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) for the different electrolysis technologies as well as, steam methane reforming, black coal and lignite gasification with carbon capture and sequestration. The price is equivalent to a Free on Board (FOB) or at wellhead price. The model was built to replicate the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) LCOH for the mentioned technologies, which was then used to model the price for green and blue hydrogen across the seven states and territories. Since the model is based on LCOH it does not incorporate additional costs such as transport or company overheads and market forces such as supply and demand. A comparison of the hydrogen price for various generation methods across the states and territories of Australia was generated and analyzed. The key observations from the results include: 1) there is neither a leading technology nor a leading territory for the low or high hydrogen price; 2) variations in energy commodity prices are directly linked to the hydrogen price and the main factor to consider with green hydrogen production; 3) decreases in costs suggest efficiencies in technology across the green and blue hydrogen industry are starting to be realized; 4) short-term volatility is expected as the industry develops but over the longer term the price should stabilize towards the lower end of the range. With Japan is a strong partner aiming to reach hydrogen cost of A$3/kg., Australia must reduce the hydrogen production cost as much as possible to keep its competitive advantage amongst competitors. This paper will describe the hydrogen price calculation process, the variables, and considerations for each of the seven Australian territories to become the top producer and exporter of the region.

In order to harmonizFranziska Hönige the supply and demand of green energy, new future-proof technologies are needed. Here, hydrogen plays a key role. Within the current framework conditions, the production of green hydrogen is not yet economically viable. The use of the oxygen produced and the possible increase in efficiency associated with it mostly remain unconsidered. The aim is to demonstrate that the economic efficiency of a power-to-gas (PtG) project can be increased by using the byproduct oxygen. In this research project, a water electrolyzer connected to grid is powered to supply hydrogen to a hydrogen refueling station. By utilizing the byproduct oxygen from water electrolysis for a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), it is shown that the net present value (NPV) of the project can be improved by up to 13% compared to the initial scenario. If a photovoltaic (PV) system is used in addition to grid electricity for higher green hydrogen production, the NPV can be further improved by up to 58%. The levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) is calculated for different scenarios with and without oxygen configuration. A sensitivity analysis is then performed to find important parameters.

In 2015, the participants of the Paris Agreement collectively acknowledged the urgent need for immediate actions to decarbonize their national economies, with the aim of mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change. There is a call for policymakers to step up efforts to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in all economic sectors, with a focus on prioritizing options that can deliver substantial emission cuts. Some industry and transport subsectors present significant challenges in terms of technical and economic feasibility. Viable solutions for these sectors, known as “hard-to-abate” sectors, are limited. Green hydrogen has emerged as a promising alternative that is gaining increasing attention. It is poised to play a crucial role in transitioning towards a more sustainable future. There is a growing interest in green hydrogen among researchers, institutions, and nations, all committed to advancing its development, improving efficiency, and reducing costs. This paper explores the concept of green hydrogen, particularly its production processes that rely on renewable energy sources in Uruguay. It demonstrates the significant potential for green hydrogen production, facilitating the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy and promoting environmental sustainability through the widely accepted electrolysis process. Uruguay currently boasts a high percentage of renewable electricity generation (reaching 97 % in 2020). To support this further, there is a need to increase renewable energy capacity, which would impact the energy prices. The cost of energy accounts for more than 40 % of the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) in all studied scenarios. Additionally, optimizing the costs associated with electrolysers, which can exceed 30 % of the LCOH in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolysis, is crucial. This optimization is essential for positioning the country as a net exporter of green hydrogen. The range of LCOH values calculated in the different scenarios is between 2.11 USD/kg H2 and 4.12 USD/kg H2. According to updated specialized literature, achieving LCOH values under USD 1.4/kg H2 is essential for this goal.