Powering the Future: Scottish Case Study on Optimizing Energy Facilities for Green Hydrogen Production

Green hydrogen is key as a sustainable energy solution amid fossil fuel use, transitioning from harmful finite resources. However, the instability of renewable energy sources and the high cost of the production process constrain the further development of green hydrogen. This study presents an optimization model of a tidal-wind hybrid system for hydrogen production with a focus on maximizing the economic benefits. By modelling an off-grid renewable energy system in the Scottish region, the results of the study show that the hybrid tidal-wind system has the lowest annual total cost of 5,000.19 M$ and the hydrogen cost is 12.347 $/kg, which are both better than other single energy systems. In addition, the CO2 emissions of the hybrid system are significantly lower than other blue-hydrogen production systems, helping to drive the transition to sustainable energy. Sensitivity analysis shows that the efficiency of electrolyzers and fuel cells has the most significant impact on system costs. Also, the hybrid tidal-wind system stabilizes power output by reducing the need for expensive auxiliary power generation and storage systems. This hybrid approach improves economic viability in remote areas and advances the goal of a sustainable energy transition.