Feasibility studies of green hydrogen production using photovoltaic systems in Iran's southern coastal regions

Abstract

This study investigates the production of green hydrogen in the southern coastal cities of Iran, leveraging local advantages. These include the high potential for photovoltaic generation, the need for desalination power plants, and access to the sea and ports, all of which make the southern coasts of Iran favorable for green hydrogen production. However, the approach presented in this paper can also be applied to similar regions.

Initially, the optimal size of the electrolyzer for maximum hydrogen production at each location is determined. To compare the potential of these locations, the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) are calculated, and the effects of variables such as the discount rate and water price on these costs are analyzed. Unlike many existing studies, this research accurately models the impact of temperature on the techno-economic outputs of the photovoltaic power plant and electrolyzer and compares it to a scenario where the temperature effect is not considered. Additionally, the study examines the minimum power required for the electrolyzer to operate efficiently, avoiding low-efficiency operations.

The results indicate that ignoring the temperature effect leads to an overestimation of electrolyzer power and hydrogen production. The discount rate significantly impacts LCOE and LCOH, while the cost of water for hydrogen production has a negligible effect on LCOH. This is due to the higher influence of energy costs and electrolyzer investment on LCOH.