Prefeasibility analysis of biomass gasification and electrolysis for hydrogen production

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 248; p. 118003
• Main Authors: Garcia-Vallejo, Maria Camila, Cardona Alzate, Carlos Ariel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.05.2024
• Subjects: Bioenergy; Energy carrier; Energy efficiency and economic assessment; Hydrogen production; Bioenergy; Energy efficiency and economic assessment; Hydrogen production; Energy carrier
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.118003

Hydrogen is a key energy vector to accomplishing energy transition and decarbonization goals proposed in the transport and industrial sectors worldwide. In recent years, research has focused on analyzing, designing, and optimizing hydrogen production, searching to improve economic prefeasibility with minimal emissions of polluting gases. Therefore, the techno-economic analysis of hydrogen production by electrolytic and gasification processes becomes relevant since these processes could compete commercially with industrial technologies such as SMR - Steam methane reforming. This work aims to analyze hydrogen production in stand-alone processes and energy-driven biorefineries. The gasification and electrolysis technologies were evaluated experimentally, and the yields obtained were input data for scaling up the processes through simulation tools. Biomass gasification is more cost-effective than electrolytic schemes since the hydrogen production costs were 4.57 USD/kg and 8.30 USD/kg at an annual production rate of 491.6 tons and 38.96 tons, respectively. Instead, the electrolysis process feasibility is strongly influenced by the recycled water rate and the electricity cost. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the temperature, pressure, and current density variability on the hydrogen production rate. The increase in pressure and current density induces parasitic currents while the temperature increases hydrogen production. Although higher hydrogen production rates from gasification, the syngas composition decreases the possibility of being implemented in applications where purity is critical. [Display omitted] •The costs associated with raw materials and utilities have the greatest impact on the hydrogen product cost.•The prefeasibility of the electrolytic processes depends strongly on the recirculated water and electricity cost.•The thermochemical processes present higher economic profitability than the electrolytic processes.