Technoeconomic Analysis : Green hydrogen production by integrating Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) & Solid Oxide Electrolyzer (SOE)

Abstract

This thesis presents a techno-economic analysis of integrating Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Solid Oxide Electrolysis (SOE) technologies for the production of hydrogen. The study begins with the development of system-level 0D models for CSP and SOE individually. These models are then combined to create a unified model for CSP-SOE integration. The Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) is estimated and different modes of integration are explored, leading to the selection of off-grid integration as the preferred option. Sensitivity analyses are performed to assess the impact of various parameters on the system’s performance, and preliminary estimates indicate that a power capacity of 195 MW for CSP and SOE is required to achieve the desired hydrogen production target. Based on the results of the basic sizing analysis, a detailed plant model is constructed, incorporating the SOE and hydrogen processing sections. The Aspen simulation software is utilized for the implementation of these sections. To address the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources, three different strategies are proposed for operating the SOE system. After careful evaluation, a strategy is selected that yields an LCOH of $4.1 per kilogram of hydrogen, with a best-case scenario of $3 per kilogram and a worst-case scenario of $5 per kilogram. This study contributes to the understanding of the techno economic aspects of integrating CSP and SOE technologies for hydrogen production, highlighting the potential for achieving competitive costs and promoting the adoption of renewable energy-based hydrogen systems.