Life cycle cost and sensitivity analysis of a hydrogen system using low-price electricity in China

To fully utilize low-price electricity including curtailed electricity (CE) and valley electricity (VE) in China, a hydrogen system, which can also be used for reducing peak electric power and raising the capacity factor of power supply equipment, is proposed as a solution for low-price electricity applications. The objective of the present study is to conduct a life cycle cost (LCC) analysis of hydrogen systems using low-price electricity considering three of significant application paths: 1) hydrogen is sold as a chemical material; 2) hydrogen fuels a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) to drive an automobile; and 3) hydrogen is burned in a hydrogen combustion engine to output power. A sensitivity analysis of these hydrogen systems using either curtailed renewable electricity or VE in China is conducted. The LCC of hydrogen using CE in Path 1, Path 2, and Path 3 are $0.9700/kg-H2, $0.1226/kWh, and $0.1265/kWh, respectively. When using VE in Path 1, Path 2, and Path 3, the LCC are $1.5389/kg-H2, $0.1273/kWh, and $0.1384/kWh, respectively. The average retail price of hydrogen is $4.2/kg-H2 in China, so the technical path utilizing hydrogen as a chemical material (Path 1) appears to be the more economically viable path. Based on the sensitivity analysis of Path 1, reducing the equipment cost, improving the hydrogen purity to increase the retail price, and enhancing the electrolytic efficiency are critical and are suggested as future research topics. The impact of the loan ratio is also analyzed in this work.