Optimizing post-production alternate hydrogen supply chain pathways - An integrated TEA and LCA approach

This study presents a comprehensive techno-economic assessment (TEA) of alternative hydrogen supply chain (HSC) pathways, with a focus on the conditioning, transportation, and reconditioning stages. The pathways assessed include compressed hydrogen, liquefied hydrogen, and ammonia as a hydrogen carrier. A distinctive feature of this study is its consideration of a broad range of operational capacities and transportation distances, facility economies of scale, and multiple vessel capacities. The TEA is complemented by a life cycle assessment (LCA) to incorporate environmental impacts, ensuring a holistic analysis of economic and environmental trade-offs. The results reveal that the compressed hydrogen pathway is optimal for short distances and low-demand scenarios, with levelized costs of hydrogen (LCOH) ranging from $1.11/kg to $6.91/kg. Liquefied hydrogen shows economic competitiveness for medium distances, with LCOH between $1.43/kg and $3.84/kg. Ammonia emerges as the most cost-effective for longer distances and higher demand levels, with LCOH between $1.61/kg and $3.80/kg. However, the LCA analysis revealed that the ammonia pathway incurs higher emissions, particularly during the ammonia synthesis and cracking processes, making it less promising from an integrated perspective. This integration of LCA results into the TEA framework provides a comprehensive view of each pathway, accounting for both economic and environmental factors. This study provides a robust framework for guiding decision-makers in the development of an effective hydrogen supply chain, integrating both economic and environmental considerations. • A comprehensive TEA of compressed H 2 (CH2), liquefied H 2 (LH2), and NH 3 pathways. • A TEA integrated with LCA results of HSC pathways with a focus on post-production. • CH2 pathway is effective in short-haul trips with an LCOH $1.11/kg to $6.91/kg. • Ammonia is the most cost-effective pathway, with an LCOH $1.61/kg and $3.80/kg. • The LH2 showed potential for long-haul trips with short to medium demand.