Hydrogen Production from Agro-Industrial Residues of the Wine Industry: A Techno-Economic Analysis

The growing global energy demand and the urgent need to decarbonize the energy sector are driving the search for renewable and low-impact energy sources. Within this context, the conversion of biomass into hydrogen represents a viable pathway to sustainable energy, enabling both carbon mitigation and circular use of agricultural residues. This research focuses on the simulation of an integrated system that converts viticulture residues, vine prunings and grape stalks into biogenic hydrogen through a combination of pretreatment, gasification, and upgrading stages. The analysis of four different supply scenarios shows that the integration of prunings and stalks ensures the highest hydrogen yield (6.61 × 105 Nm3/year of H2) and the highest energy self-sufficiency, with 25% of produced syngas used to partially cover internal energy demand. Gasification enables the process to be carbon-negative, saving 1.18 kgCO2eq for Nm3 of H2 produced, and economically competitive, with a break-even price of 3.81 €/kg and a return on investment of ten years. The study aligns with the decarbonization goals of the European energy transition, promoting local and circular valorization of agro-industrial waste.