A critical review on the potential of urban (BIPV) and rural (AgriPV) solar hydrogen production

The global transition toward a decarbonised energy system has intensified interest in solar-powered hydrogen production via electrolysis as a clean and scalable fuel alternative. While photovoltaic (PV) and electrolyser systems can be directly coupled due to their mutual operation in direct current (DC), practical applications often involve intermediate power electronics, storage, and grid interfaces. A major limitation remains the overall system efficiency (solar to hydrogen), primarily due to the relatively low conversion efficiency of conventional PV technologies. This literature review explores the potential of innovative photovoltaic applications, specifically, Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) and Agrivoltaics (AgriPV) to support hydrogen production through electrolysis in urban and rural contexts. These integrated systems offer the potential to optimise land use, enhance energy efficiency, and reduce infrastructure costs. The review examines four BIPV-powered hydrogen systems and three AgriPV-powered cases, highlighting the limited availability of studies and identifying key barriers such as the perceived risks of hydrogen use in buildings and limited awareness of AgriPV's benefits. Additional challenges include water demand for electrolysis and PV cleaning, as well as concerns regarding the end-of-life management of PV and electrolyser materials. Despite these challenges, growing interest in BIPV as a means to mitigate urban heat island effects and promote renewable energy uptake, along with AgriPV’s potential for rural electrification, point toward a promising research direction for sustainable hydrogen production.