Approaches for integrated hydrogen production based on nuclear and renewable energy sources: Energy and exergy assessments of nuclear and solar energy sources in the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has for a long time been using oil and gas for its electricity production. However, with increasing demand in energy, rises in oil and gas prices and their future possible depletion, the UAE has adopted an ambitious plan to opt for nuclear and solar energy as its primary energy sources in the near future. The energy from a nuclear power plant is sufficiently high to back up a renewable energy source. The proposed model in this study is an integrated hydrogen production system combining both nuclear and solar energies, installed in the UAE. In this regard, a thermodynamic analysis is carried out on the nuclear and solar energy systems incorporating energy and exergy efficiencies. Overall efficiencies and the net electrical/thermal output of the power plant and system energy losses/destructions have been explained in detail. Grid network options have been explored and a smart grid system has been introduced to help better utilize solar energy. A parametric study has been conducted to determine the effect of key design and operating parameters on the system performance. Results show that the integrated system can be operated with an overall energy efficiency of 35%.