Analysis of the energetic, economic, and environmental performance of hydrogen productions

In this work, process simulation is used to calculate material and energy balances for several different hydrogen production processes. Process simulation outcomes are then used to estimate three key performance indicators: the energy return of energy invested, the levelized cost of hydrogen and the life cycle assessment. We compared several hydrogen generation processes, each denoted by a unique colour code: (i) green hydrogen, produced by electrolysis of water using electricity from renewable sources, (ii) grid hydrogen, produced by electrolysis using grid electricity, (iii) grey hydrogen, produced from natural gas using steam reforming and (iv) blue hydrogen, like grey one, but coupled with carbon capture and storage. In conclusion, the most sustainable hydrogen production method is the green hydrogen, produced by water electrolysis.