Comparative analysis of green hydrogen production from solar and offshore wind energy

Abstract

On the road to decarbonizing the economy, hydrogen has a high energy value and is proving to be a promising substitute for fossil fuels. In this context, green hydrogen stands out. Unlike other forms of hydrogen production, it can achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions because it is produced with electricity from renewable sources. This article deals with two cases: the first investigates the production of green hydrogen in an offshore hub from a wind farm also located in the same hub. In the second case, the production of green hydrogen from an onshore photovoltaic park is investigated. To this end, a brief contextualization of the most mature water electrolysis technology applied in this investigation is presented. Subsequently, the methodology used to determine the amounts and costs of green hydrogen production for each case are described. To compare the costs and productivity of each solution, it is assumed that the two generation plants have the same installed capacity. As a result of this study, it can be seen that the production of green hydrogen is higher in the onshore photovoltaic park, with lower production costs. Future research should carry out a more detailed analysis of costs, including a comparison with onshore wind farms and taking into account the costs of transmitting the energy to the hydrogen production plant and other necessary infrastructure.