Achieving gigawatt-scale green hydrogen production and seasonal storage at industrial locations across the U.S.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39426968.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-024-53189-2 and PMC identifier 11490532.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
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Abstract
Onsite production of gigawatt-scale wind- and solar-sourced hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) at industrial locations depends on the ability to store and deliver otherwise-curtailed H<sub>2</sub> during times of power shortages. Thousands of tonnes of H<sub>2</sub> will require storage in regions where subsurface storage is scarce, which may only be possible using liquid organic H<sub>2</sub> carriers. We evaluate aboveground system with a focus on providing technical insights into toluene/methylcyclohexane (TOL/MCH) storage systems in locations suitable for gigawatt-scale wind- and solar-powered electrolyzer systems in the United States. Here we show that the levelized cost of storage, at a national median of US dollar $1.84/kg-H<sub>2</sub> is spatially heterogeneous, causing minor impact on the cost of H<sub>2</sub> supply in the Midwest, and significant impact in Central California and the Southeast. While TOL/MCH may be the cheapest aboveground bulk storage solution evaluated, upfront capital costs, modest energy efficiency, reliance on critical materials and pre-sulfided catalysts, and greenhouse gas emissions from heating are opportunities for further development.