Technical and economic analysis of hydrogen refuelling

• Published in: Applied energy Vol. 167; pp. 211 - 220
• Main Authors: Nistor, Silviu, Dave, Saraansh, Fan, Zhong, Sooriyabandara, Mahesh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2016
• Subjects: Alkaline; Dynamical systems; Dynamics; Economic analysis; Gasoline; Hydrogen; Hydrogen economics; Hydrogen fuels; Hydrogen production; PEM; Petrol; Stations; Wind integration; Alkaline; Wind integration; PEM; Hydrogen economics; Hydrogen production
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.10.094

•Technical and economic models of a hydrogen station for vehicles refuelling.•Hydrogen demand from fuel cell electric vehicles modelled stochastically.•Study case based on a UK pilot project.•Operation of the H2 station using combined energy from wind and power grid is preferred.•Return on investment of 5–10years is possible for the hydrogen station. This paper focuses on technical and economic analysis of a hydrogen refilling station to provide operational insight through tight coupling of technical models of physical processes and economic models. This allows the dynamic relationships of the system to be captured and analysed to provide short/medium term analytical capability to support system design, planning, and financing. The modelling developed here highlights the need to closely link technical and economic models for technology led projects where technical capability and commercial feasibility are important. The results show that hydrogen fuel can be competitive with petrol on a GBP/KG basis if the return on investment period is over 10years for PEM electrolysers and 5 for Alkaline electrolysers. We also show that subsidies on capital costs (as reflected by some R&D funding programs) make both PEM and Alkaline technologies cheaper than the equivalent price of petrol, which suggests more emphasis should be put on commercialising R&D funded projects as they have commercial advantages. The paper also shows that a combined wind and grid connected station is preferable so that a higher number of customers are served (i.e. minimum shortage of hydrogen).