An economic analysis of the production of hydrogen from wind-generated electricity for use in transport applications

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 39; no. 5; pp. 2957 - 2965
• Main Authors: Menanteau, P., Quéméré, M.M., Le Duigou, A., Le Bastard, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2011; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Series: Energy Policy
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Demand profiles; Economic analysis; Economic data; Economic theory; Economics; Economics and Finance; Electric energy; Electricity; Electricity generation; Energy; Energy economics; Energy policy; Exact sciences and technology; Fossil fuels; France; Fuels; General, economic and professional studies; Ground, air and sea transportation, marine construction; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hydrogen; Hydrogen production; Hydrogen production Wind power Demand profiles; Hydrogen storage; Motorways; Natural energy; Power demand; Power generation; Production costs; Renewable energy sources; Road transport; Studies; Transport; Transportation; Transportation planning, management and economics; Wind energy; Wind power; Demand profiles; Wind power; Hydrogen production; hydrogen production; wind power
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2011.03.005

Wind-generated electricity is often considered a particularly promising option for producing hydrogen from renewable energy sources. However, the economic performances of such systems generally remain unclear because of unspecified or favorable assumptions and operating conditions. The aim of this paper is to clarify these conditions by examining how the hydrogen produced is used. The analysis that has been conducted in the framework of the HyFrance 3 project concerns hydrogen for transport applications. Different technical systems are considered such as motorway hydrogen filling stations, Hythane®-fueled buses or second-generation biofuels production, which present contrasted hydrogen use characteristics. This analysis reveals considerable variations in hydrogen production costs depending on the demand profiles concerned, with the most favorable configurations being those in which storage systems are kept to a minimum.