Techno-Economic Analysis of Green Hydrogen Production from Solar Energy in Mena and Transport to Central Europe
Abstract (englisch):
This techno-economic study investigates a Power-to-Hydrogen (PtH2) and Power-to-Methane (PtCH4) process
chain producing 120 TWh (higher heating value, HHV) hydrogen or methane per year. The aim is to estimate the
efficiency as well as the production cost of green hydrogen and methane from solar energy in the MENA (Middle
East and North Africa) region followed by transport to central Europe. The examined PtH2 process chain includes
a photovoltaic (PV) system, desalination system, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Electrolysis (PEM), H2-storage,
and pipeline transport. The PtCH4–process chain contains an additional unit to capture CO2 from air (direct air
capture, DAC) and a methanation unit. Two key aspects are evaluated in this study. The first is the evaluation of
optimal capacities of the electrolysis plant with respect to PV capacities and second, the challenge of storing large
amounts of hydrogen due to volatile hydrogen production. Results suggest that the cost of hydrogen production
in the MENA region and its transport to Central Europe are 12 €-cent/kWh in 2021 and 6 €-cent/kWh in 2050,
whereas the purchase costs of methane are 19 €-cent/kWh and 9 €-cent/kWh respectively.
chain producing 120 TWh (higher heating value, HHV) hydrogen or methane per year. The aim is to estimate the
efficiency as well as the production cost of green hydrogen and methane from solar energy in the MENA (Middle
East and North Africa) region followed by transport to central Europe. The examined PtH2 process chain includes
a photovoltaic (PV) system, desalination system, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Electrolysis (PEM), H2-storage,
and pipeline transport. The PtCH4–process chain contains an additional unit to capture CO2 from air (direct air
capture, DAC) and a methanation unit. Two key aspects are evaluated in this study. The first is the evaluation of
optimal capacities of the electrolysis plant with respect to PV capacities and second, the challenge of storing large
amounts of hydrogen due to volatile hydrogen production. Results suggest that the cost of hydrogen production
in the MENA region and its transport to Central Europe are 12 €-cent/kWh in 2021 and 6 €-cent/kWh in 2050,
whereas the purchase costs of methane are 19 €-cent/kWh and 9 €-cent/kWh respectively.
| Zugehörige Institution(en) am KIT | Engler-Bunte-Institut (EBI) Institut für Technische Chemie (ITC) |
| Publikationstyp | Proceedingsbeitrag |
| Publikationsjahr | 2021 |
| Sprache | Englisch |
| Identifikator | ISBN: 978-3-9820408-7-5 KITopen-ID: 1000149772 |
| Erschienen in | Proceedings of the ISES Solar World Congress 2021 |
| Veranstaltung | Solar World Congress (SWC 2021), Online, 25.10.2021 – 29.10.2021 |
| Verlag | International Solar Energy Society |
| Bemerkung zur Veröffentlichung | in press |
| Schlagwörter | Electrolysis, Green hydrogen, MENA, Photovoltaics, Power-to-Gas, Process Chain, Techno-economic analysis |
| Nachgewiesen in | Dimensions Scopus |
| Globale Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung |