Renewable energy-based decentralized hydrogen production potential in British Columbia, Canada: an integrated environmental and techno-economic assessment framework

Abstract Hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier that can be produced from a range of feedstocks. Therefore, decentralized hydrogen production from renewable energy sources is gaining popularity worldwide, as it is considered environmentally friendly and less energy-intensive due to the use of cleaner energy sources and proximity to end-users. The present study provides a foundation work for identifying and assessing the applicability of different renewable energy-based decentralized hydrogen production alternatives through a systematic approach. This research commenced with a comprehensive literature review on renewable-based hydrogen production routes. Then, the identified routes were evaluated using life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA). Finally, the fuel production routes were prioritized using suitable multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) ranking methods. The results revealed that run-of-river technology scenarios showed relatively higher impacts on terrestrial ecosystems. Moreover, over 60% of the greenhouse gas emissions of hydrogen production are associated with the energy consumption during the operational phase of the electrolyzer. Solar energy-based hydrogen production with solid oxide electrolysis cells was identified as the most favourable hydrogen production route. The proposed framework is flexible and can be used to compare renewable-based hydrogen production methods under any regional conditions.