IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i4p796-d1586751.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Reducing Environmental Impacts of Water Electrolysis Systems by Reuse and Recycling: Life Cycle Assessment of a 5 MW Alkaline Water Electrolysis Plant

Author

Listed:
  • Annika C. Hoppe

    (Department of Circular Economy Systems, Institute of Energy Process Engineering and Fuel Technology, Clausthal University of Technology, D-38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany)

  • Christine Minke

    (Department of Circular Economy Systems, Institute of Energy Process Engineering and Fuel Technology, Clausthal University of Technology, D-38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany)

Abstract

The circular economy offers a vital avenue for sustainable development by optimizing resource utilization through reusing and recycling materials. This study focuses on the lifecycle assessment (LCA) of a 5 MW alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) system, emphasizing end-of-life (EoL) strategies, material recovery, and their environmental implications. Focusing on the recycling and reuse of critical materials—including stainless steel and nickel—we argue that enhancing material efficiency in AWE systems can lead to significant reductions in global warming potential (GWP). Our LCA reveals that manufacturing an AWE system from recycled materials results in a 50% decrease in GWP compared to virgin materials. Despite the operational focus of previous studies, our research uniquely incorporates comprehensive EoL considerations, assessing realistic recycling scenarios that highlight potential material recovery and component reuse after the system’s 20-year lifespan. Notably, 77% of materials in the AWE system can be recycled or reused, though the substantial environmental impacts of certain components, particularly the inverter and nickel, necessitate ongoing research and improved recycling technologies. This study underscores the critical role of systematic recycling and the strategic selection of materials to enhance the sustainability profile of hydrogen production technologies. By bridging the gap between operational efficiency and EoL management in AWE systems, our findings contribute to the broader aim of advancing circular economy principles in clean energy transitions. Ultimately, the research emphasizes the need for integrating innovative recycling methods and material reuse strategies to lower carbon footprints and enhance resource security, aligning with sustainable industrial practices and future energy demands.

Suggested Citation

  • Annika C. Hoppe & Christine Minke, 2025. "Reducing Environmental Impacts of Water Electrolysis Systems by Reuse and Recycling: Life Cycle Assessment of a 5 MW Alkaline Water Electrolysis Plant," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:4:p:796-:d:1586751
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/796/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/796/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jan Christian Koj & Christina Wulf & Andrea Schreiber & Petra Zapp, 2017. "Site-Dependent Environmental Impacts of Industrial Hydrogen Production by Alkaline Water Electrolysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Negar Shaya & Simon Glöser-Chahoud, 2024. "A Review of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Studies for Hydrogen Production Technologies through Water Electrolysis: Recent Advances," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-21, August.
    3. Johnson, Jeremiah & Reck, B.K. & Wang, T. & Graedel, T.E., 2008. "The energy benefit of stainless steel recycling," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 181-192, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. John A. Mathews, 2020. "Schumpeterian economic dynamics of greening: propagation of green eco-platforms," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 30(4), pages 929-948, September.
    2. Seck, Gondia Sokhna & Hache, Emmanuel & D'Herbemont, Vincent & Guyot, Mathis & Malbec, Louis-Marie, 2023. "Hydrogen development in Europe: Estimating material consumption in net zero emissions scenarios," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    3. Carlos Scheel & Bernardo Bello, 2022. "Transforming Linear Production Chains into Circular Value Extended Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-17, March.
    4. Zhou, Kaile & Yang, Shanlin, 2016. "Emission reduction of China׳s steel industry: Progress and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 319-327.
    5. Tan, Hao & Sun, Aijun & Lau, Henry, 2013. "CO2 embodiment in China–Australia trade: The drivers and implications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 1212-1220.
    6. Boguslaw Pierozynski & Tomasz Mikolajczyk & Boguslaw Wojciechowski & Mateusz Luba, 2021. "An Innovative 500 W Alkaline Water Electrolyser System for the Production of Ultra-Pure Hydrogen and Oxygen Gases," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-11, January.
    7. Ling-Chin, Janie & Roskilly, Anthony P., 2016. "Investigating the implications of a new-build hybrid power system for Roll-on/Roll-off cargo ships from a sustainability perspective – A life cycle assessment case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 416-434.
    8. Mehrshad Kolahchian Tabrizi & Jacopo Famiglietti & Davide Bonalumi & Stefano Campanari, 2023. "The Carbon Footprint of Hydrogen Produced with State-of-the-Art Photovoltaic Electricity Using Life-Cycle Assessment Methodology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-25, July.
    9. Fan, Jing-Li & Yu, Pengwei & Li, Kai & Xu, Mao & Zhang, Xian, 2022. "A levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) comparison of coal-to-hydrogen with CCS and water electrolysis powered by renewable energy in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    10. Borja Ena & Alberto Gomez & Borja Ponte & Paolo Priore & Diego Diaz, 2022. "Homogeneous grouping of non-prime steel products for online auctions: a case study," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 315(1), pages 591-621, August.
    11. Amponsah, N.Y. & Le Corre, O. & Lacarriere, B., 2011. "Recycling flows in emergy evaluation: A mathematical paradox?," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(17), pages 3071-3081.
    12. Quan-Hoang Vuong & Manh-Tung Ho & Hong-Kong To Nguyen & Minh-Hoang Nguyen, 2019. "The trilemma of sustainable industrial growth: evidence from a piloting OECD’s Green city," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-14, December.
    13. Christina Wulf & Petra Zapp & Andrea Schreiber & Wilhelm Kuckshinrichs, 2021. "Setting Thresholds to Define Indifferences and Preferences in PROMETHEE for Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of European Hydrogen Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-21, June.
    14. Michel Brondani & Jivago Schumacher Oliveira & Flávio Dias Mayer & Ronaldo Hoffmann, 2020. "Life cycle assessment of distillation columns manufacturing," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 5925-5945, August.
    15. Eckelman, Matthew J., 2010. "Facility-level energy and greenhouse gas life-cycle assessment of the global nickel industry," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(4), pages 256-266.
    16. Zhang, Wenjing & Fu, Shikun & Gao, Peng & Wu, Weidong & Pan, Quanwen & Wang, Liwei, 2024. "Solar photovoltaic refrigeration system coupled with a flexible, cost-effective and high-energy-density chemisorption cold energy storage module," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    17. Cassandra L. Thiel & Nicole Campion & Amy E. Landis & Alex K. Jones & Laura A. Schaefer & Melissa M. Bilec, 2013. "A Materials Life Cycle Assessment of a Net-Zero Energy Building," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-17, February.
    18. Mohamed Benghanem & Adel Mellit & Hamad Almohamadi & Sofiane Haddad & Nedjwa Chettibi & Abdulaziz M. Alanazi & Drigos Dasalla & Ahmed Alzahrani, 2023. "Hydrogen Production Methods Based on Solar and Wind Energy: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-31, January.
    19. Clarisse Aujoux & Kumiko Kotera & Odile Blanchard, 2021. "Estimating the carbon footprint of the GRAND project, a multi-decade astrophysics experiment," Post-Print hal-03228304, HAL.
    20. Farhan Ashraf & Arijit Lodh & Emanuele Pagone & Gustavo M. Castelluccio, 2023. "Revitalising Metallic Materials: A Path towards a Sustainable Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-17, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:4:p:796-:d:1586751. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.