Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of Hydrogen Production from Ammonia via Catalytic and Electrocatalytic Decomposition

Hydrogen has been widely regarded as a key energy carrier. However, its storage and long-distance transportation are challenging, resulting in the emergence of ammonia as a potential carrier of hydrogen due to its high hydrogen density, ease of liquefaction, and established transport infrastructure. This study presents a techno-economic and environmental impact assessment of two methods of hydrogen production from ammonia: catalytic cracking (ACC) and electrocatalytic (AEC) decomposition, modeled under the specific local economic conditions of Brunei Darussalam. Analysis over a 20-year plant lifetime under local economic conditions indicates that the more technologically established ACC achieves a higher net present value of USD 7.298 million, compared to USD 6.867 million for AEC, primarily due to its significantly lower replacement costs. Sensitivity analysis indicates that AEC becomes economically favorable at production rates above approximately 29.5 kg/h or electricity prices exceeding USD 0.13/kWh. Environmental impact analysis indicates that AEC produces higher lifetime CO2 emissions of approximately 84.9 million kg, compared to ACC with approximately 44.0 million kg of CO2 emissions under grid-based electricity supply. This is mainly due to its higher electricity demand. Overall, the study highlights clear economic–environmental trade-offs between ACC and AEC and underscores the importance of integrated techno-economic and environmental evaluation for ammonia-based hydrogen systems in a Bruneian context.