Techno-economic assessment of hydrogen supply solutions for industrial site

In Austria, one of the highest priorities of hydrogen usage lies in the industrial sector, particularly as a feedstock and for high-temperature applications. Connecting hydrogen producers with consumers is challenging and requires comprehensive research to outline the advantages and challenges associated with various hydrogen supply options. This study focuses on techno-economic assessment of different supply solutions for industrial sites, mainly depicted in two categories: providing hydrogen by transport means and via on-site production. The technologies needed for the investigation of these scenarios are identified based on the predictions of available technologies in near future (2030). The transportation options analyzed include delivering liquid hydrogen by truck, liquid hydrogen by railway and gaseous hydrogen via pipeline. For on-site low-carbon hydrogen production, a proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis was selected, as resent research suggests lower costs for PEM electrolysis compared to alkaline electrolysis (AEL). The frequency of deliveries and storage options vary by scenario and are determined by the industrial demand profile, transport capacity and electrolyser production capacity. The assessment evaluates the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of each option, considering factors such as infrastructure requirements, energy efficiency and economic viability. At a hydrogen demand of 80 GWh, the transport options indicate hydrogen supply costs in the range of 14–24 ct/kWh. In contrast, the scenarios investigating on-site production of hydrogen show costs between 29 and 49 ct/kWh. Therefore, transport by truck, rail or pipeline is economically advantageous to own-production under the specific assumptions and conditions. However, the results indicate that as energy demand increases, on-site production becomes more attractive. Additionally, the influence of electricity prices and the hydrogen production/import price were identified as decisive factors for the overall hydrogen supply costs. • Supply options of hydrogen to industrial site strongly depend on the yearly hydrogen demand. • Pipeline transport proves economically beneficial due to the absence of storage and conversion costs. • On-site hydrogen production with storage provides production flexibility and cost benefits under certain circumstances. • Sensitivity analysis shows that hydrogen import prices and electricity prices are key factors for hydrogen supply costs.