Economic analysis of hydrogen production plant with water electrolysis

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2022.0062

Abstract

Abstract:

Hydrogen is the most suitable energy carrier for smart networks and large-scale renewable energy generation. Currently, the cost of hydrogen produced by water electrolysis is rather expensive, making it uncompetitive for large-scale use in manufacturing, transportation, construction, and other industries. In this study, we have investigated the whole life cycle cost of a hydrogen production plant with water electrolysis and compared the cost composition under different technical routes. According to the findings, the primary elements influencing the total cost of water electrolysis for hydrogen generation are equipment acquisition cost, power cost, and equipment durability. Because of the lower equipment purchase cost, alkaline electrolyzers have lower total hydrogen production costs than proton exchange membrane electrolyzers. The full-life-cycle power consumption of electrolytic hydrogen production plants can be significantly lowered by increasing the operating temperature of the electrolyzer, developing a high-efficiency electrolyzer, and improving the durability of the electrolyzer, thereby reducing the overall cost of hydrogen production. The results demonstrate that reducing the power usage of hydrogen production by 1 kWh/Nm³ reduces the levelized cost of hydrogen by 1.1 P yuan/Nm³ (P is the electricity price, yuan/kWh). When the price of electricity falls, so does the levelized cost of hydrogen. Correspondingly, the electricity price is reduced by 0.01 yuan/kWh, and the reduction in the levelized cost of hydrogen is 0.057 yuan/Nm³.

Key words: hydrogen production by water electrolysis, hydrogen energy, economic evaluation

CLC Number:

TK 09

Jin XU, Xian DING, Yongli GONG, Guangli HE, Ting HU. Economic analysis of hydrogen production plant with water electrolysis[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2022, 11(7): 2374-2385.

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序号	主要布置	占地面积/m²
1	电解槽及氢气纯化设备	150
2	储氢罐、纯水系统、空压系统、冷冻机	120
3	氢气压缩机、汇流排	210
4	变电系统、制氢电源	200
5	冷却塔、换热器	400
6	管束充装和存放	240
7	气瓶组充装和存放	90
8	中控室	600
9	值班及其他公共场所	600
10	安全距离面积、公共用地等	按照实际使用面积的 2倍核算
	合计	6030

序号	名称	技术规格	单价/万元	数量	合计/万元
1	制氢电源	5.5 MW	170	1	170
2	碱水电解系统	1000 Nm³/h	1000	1	1000
3	纯水制取系统	1 m³/h	20	1	20
4	储氢罐	2 MPa、50 m³	10	1	10
5	氢气压缩机	500 Nm³/h、 20 MPa排气	300	2	600
6	其他	管路、仪表风、集控系统等	100	1	100
	合计				1900

序号	名称	性能指标	单价/万元	数量	合计/万元
1	制氢电源	5.5 MW	170	1	170
2	质子交换膜水电解系统	400+600 Nm³/h	2500+4500	1	7000
3	纯水制取系统	1 m³/h	20	1	20
4	储氢罐	2 MPa、50 m³	10	1	10
5	氢气压缩机	500 Nm³/h、 20 MPa排气	300	2	600
6	其他	管路、仪表风、集控系统等	100	1	100
	合计				7900

投入运行年份	电解电耗/ (kWh/Nm³ H₂)	压缩电耗/ (kWh/Nm³ H₂)	综合电耗/ (kWh/Nm³ H₂)
1	5.00	0.13	5.13
2	5.04	0.13	5.17
3	5.08	0.13	5.21
4	5.12	0.13	5.25
5	5.16	0.13	5.29
6	5.20	0.13	5.33
7	5.24	0.13	5.37
8	5.28	0.13	5.41
9	5.32	0.13	5.45
10	5.36	0.13	5.49
11	5.40	0.13	5.53
12	5.44	0.13	5.57
13	5.48	0.13	5.61
14	5.52	0.13	5.65
15	5.56	0.13	5.69
16	5.60	0.13	5.73
17	5.64	0.13	5.77
18	5.68	0.13	5.81
19	5.72	0.13	5.85
20	5.76	0.13	5.89
21	5.80	0.13	5.93
22	5.84	0.13	5.97
23	5.88	0.13	6.01
24	5.92	0.13	6.05
25	5.96	0.13	6.09

运行年份	土建年金/万元	设备折旧/万元	综合电耗 /(kWh/Nm³H₂)	满负荷产氢量/Nm³	负荷率/%	电价/ (元/kWh)	电费/ 万元	水耗/ (m³/Nm³H₂)	水价/(元/m³)	水费/ 万元	人工费/万元	维护费/万元	总费用/万元
合计	1750	3154		220095008			61780			90	4192	95	69323
1	70	126	5.13	8803805	100	0.5	2260	0.001	4.1	3.6	96	3.8	2490
2	70	126	5.17	8803805	100	0.5	2278	0.001	4.1	3.6	100	3.8	2512
3	70	126	5.21	8803805	100	0.5	2295	0.001	4.1	3.6	105	3.8	2534
4	70	126	5.25	8803805	100	0.5	2313	0.001	4.1	3.6	109	3.8	2556
5	70	126	5.29	8803805	100	0.5	2330	0.001	4.1	3.6	114	3.8	2578
6	70	126	5.33	8803805	100	0.5	2348	0.001	4.1	3.6	119	3.8	2601
7	70	126	5.37	8803805	100	0.5	2366	0.001	4.1	3.6	124	3.8	2624
8	70	126	5.41	8803805	100	0.5	2383	0.001	4.1	3.6	129	3.8	2647
9	70	126	5.45	8803805	100	0.5	2401	0.001	4.1	3.6	135	3.8	2670
10	70	126	5.49	8803805	100	0.5	2418	0.001	4.1	3.6	141	3.8	2693
11	70	126	5.53	8803805	100	0.5	2436	0.001	4.1	3.6	147	3.8	2717
12	70	126	5.57	8803805	100	0.5	2454	0.001	4.1	3.6	153	3.8	2741
13	70	126	5.61	8803805	100	0.5	2471	0.001	4.1	3.6	160	3.8	2765
14	70	126	5.65	8803805	100	0.5	2489	0.001	4.1	3.6	167	3.8	2790
15	70	126	5.69	8803805	100	0.5	2506	0.001	4.1	3.6	174	3.8	2815
16	70	126	5.73	8803805	100	0.5	2524	0.001	4.1	3.6	182	3.8	2840
17	70	126	5.77	8803805	100	0.5	2542	0.001	4.1	3.6	190	3.8	2865
18	70	126	5.81	8803805	100	0.5	2559	0.001	4.1	3.6	198	3.8	2891
19	70	126	5.85	8803805	100	0.5	2577	0.001	4.1	3.6	207	3.8	2917
20	70	126	5.89	8803805	100	0.5	2594	0.001	4.1	3.6	216	3.8	2944
21	70	126	5.93	8803805	100	0.5	2612	0.001	4.1	3.6	225	3.8	2971
22	70	126	5.97	8803805	100	0.5	2630	0.001	4.1	3.6	235	3.8	2998
23	70	126	6.01	8803805	100	0.5	2647	0.001	4.1	3.6	245	3.8	3026
24	70	126	6.05	8803805	100	0.5	2665	0.001	4.1	3.6	256	3.8	3055
25	70	126	6.09	8803805	100	0.5	2682	0.001	4.1	3.6	267	3.8	3083