Hybrid CSP-PV Combination to Enhance the Green Hydrogen Production in Morocco: Solar Technologies Evaluation and Techno-Economic Analysis

With the fast-growing implementation of renewable energy projects, Morocco is positioned as a pioneer in green and sustainable development, aiming to achieve 52% of its electricity production from renewable sources by 2030. This ambitious target faces challenges due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy, which impacts grid stability. Hydrogen offers a promising solution, but identifying the most cost-effective production configurations is critical due to high investment costs. Despite the growing interest in renewable energy systems, the techno-economic analysis of (Concentrating Solar Power-Photovoltaic) CSP-PV hybrid configurations remain insufficiently explored. Addressing this gap is critical for optimizing hybrid systems to ensure cost-effective and scalable hydrogen production. This study advances the field by conducting a detailed techno-economic assessment of CSP-PV hybrid systems for hydrogen production at selected locations in Morocco, leveraging high-precision meteorological data to enhance the accuracy and reliability of the analysis. Three configurations are analyzed: (i) a standalone 10 MW PV plant, (ii) a standalone 10 MW Stirling dish CSP plant, and (iii) a 10 MW hybrid system combining 5 MW from each technology. Results reveal that hybrid CSP-PV systems with single-axis PV tracking achieve the lowest levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH2), reducing costs by up to 11.19% and increasing hydrogen output by approximately 10% compared to non-tracking systems. Additionally, the hybrid configuration boosts annual hydrogen production by 2.5–11.2% compared to PV-only setups and reduces production costs by ~25% compared to standalone CSP systems. These findings demonstrate the potential of hybrid solar systems for cost-efficient hydrogen production in regions with abundant solar resources.