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At What Cost Can Renewable Hydrogen Offset Fossil Fuel Use in Ireland’s Gas Network?

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  • Tubagus Aryandi Gunawan

    (Mechanical Engineering, Alice Perry Engineering Building, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway H91 HX31, Ireland
    Ryan Institute for Marine, Environmental and Energy Research, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland
    MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, Environmental Research Institute, Beaufort Building, University College Cork, Cork P43 C573, Ireland)

  • Alessandro Singlitico

    (Center for Electric Power and Energy (CEE), Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark)

  • Paul Blount

    (Coillte CGA, Dublin Road, Wicklow A63 DN25, Ireland)

  • James Burchill

    (Network Services Centre, Gas Networks Ireland, Dublin 11 D11 Y895, Ireland)

  • James G. Carton

    (Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, DCU Glasnevin Campus, Dublin City University, Dublin 9 D09 V209, Ireland)

  • Rory F. D. Monaghan

    (Mechanical Engineering, Alice Perry Engineering Building, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway H91 HX31, Ireland
    Ryan Institute for Marine, Environmental and Energy Research, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland
    MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, Environmental Research Institute, Beaufort Building, University College Cork, Cork P43 C573, Ireland)

Abstract

The results of a techno-economic model of distributed wind-hydrogen systems (WHS) located at each existing wind farm on the island of Ireland are presented in this paper. Hydrogen is produced by water electrolysis from wind energy and backed up by grid electricity, compressed before temporarily stored, then transported to the nearest injection location on the natural gas network. The model employs a novel correlation-based approach to select an optimum electrolyser capacity that generates a minimum levelised cost of hydrogen production (LCOH) for each WHS. Three scenarios of electrolyser operation are studied: (1) curtailed wind, (2) available wind, and (3) full capacity operations. Additionally, two sets of input parameters are used: (1) current and (2) future techno-economic parameters. Additionally, two electricity prices are considered: (1) low and (2) high prices. A closest facility algorithm in a geographic information system (GIS) package identifies the shortest routes from each WHS to its nearest injection point. By using current parameters, results show that small wind farms are not suitable to run electrolysers under available wind operation. They must be run at full capacity to achieve sufficiently low LCOH. At full capacity, the future average LCOH is 6–8 €/kg with total hydrogen production capacity of 49 kilotonnes per year, or equivalent to nearly 3% of Irish natural gas consumption. This potential will increase significantly due to the projected expansion of installed wind capacity in Ireland from 5 GW in 2020 to 10 GW in 2030.

Suggested Citation

  • Tubagus Aryandi Gunawan & Alessandro Singlitico & Paul Blount & James Burchill & James G. Carton & Rory F. D. Monaghan, 2020. "At What Cost Can Renewable Hydrogen Offset Fossil Fuel Use in Ireland’s Gas Network?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-23, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:7:p:1798-:d:342949
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Vidas, Leonardo & Castro, Rui & Bosisio, Alessandro & Pires, Armando, 2024. "Optimal sizing of renewables-to-hydrogen systems in a suitable-site-selection geospatial framework: The case study of Italy and Portugal," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    2. Cristina Hora & Florin Ciprian Dan & Nicolae Rancov & Gabriela Elena Badea & Calin Secui, 2022. "Main Trends and Research Directions in Hydrogen Generation Using Low Temperature Electrolysis: A Systematic Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-21, August.
    3. Luciano De Tommasi & Pádraig Lyons, 2022. "Towards the Integration of Flexible Green Hydrogen Demand and Production in Ireland: Opportunities, Barriers, and Recommendations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-32, December.
    4. Yue, Meiling & Lambert, Hugo & Pahon, Elodie & Roche, Robin & Jemei, Samir & Hissel, Daniel, 2021. "Hydrogen energy systems: A critical review of technologies, applications, trends and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    5. Gunawan, Tubagus Aryandi & Monaghan, Rory F.D., 2022. "Techno-econo-environmental comparisons of zero- and low-emission heavy-duty trucks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    6. Ali Ekhtiari & Damian Flynn & Eoin Syron, 2020. "Investigation of the Multi-Point Injection of Green Hydrogen from Curtailed Renewable Power into a Gas Network," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-21, November.
    7. Gray, Nathan & O'Shea, Richard & Smyth, Beatrice & Lens, Piet N.L. & Murphy, Jerry D., 2022. "What is the energy balance of electrofuels produced through power-to-fuel integration with biogas facilities?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).

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