abstract
This work combined the techniques of planetary boundaries and environmental cost accounting to optimize environmental, economic and social gains of the production and distribution of green hydrogen (GH2) and green hospital oxygen (GHO2) in a microregion of the State of Bahia, Brazil. Specifically, the study considers a PEM electrolysis plant powered by a wind turbine set for GH2 production, which will be used as fuel in the transport of GHO2 to cities within the microregion. To this end, it had been combined. The PB control variables were obtained through a life cycle analysis of the GH2 process supply chain. The study performs a sensitivity analysis of several economic parameters of the investment project, with a lifetime of 20 years. The results indicate that the proposed pathway can supply hospital oxygen to up to 500,000 inhabitants or 1,000 hospital beds. The most favorable economic conditions occur when GHO2 is sold between 4.81 and 5.77 US$/Nm3 and GH2 is priced at 2.50 US$/kg. Under these conditions, a profit of more than US$ 5 million, a payback period between 4 and 5 years, a rate of return on investment (RRI) greater than 18%, and a return on investment (ROI) greater than 200% were found. The GH2 project did not transgress the planetary boundaries variables, confirming that the production and use of H2 causes little impact on the environment. Overall, the study demonstrates the feasibility and sustainability of GH2 and GHO2 productions using a PEM plant powered by a wind turbine set, and contributes to the sustainable development of the microregion.
authors
José Carlos Curvelo Santana; Murilo Leite Alcantara; Cláudio Augusto Oller do Nascimento; Celma de Oliveira Ribeiro
our authors
Murilo Leite Alcantara
Junior ResearcherProjects
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020)
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDP/50011/2020)
Associated Laboratory CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (LA/P/0006/2020)
acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Fundação Carlos Alberto Vanzolini, Petronas Lubricants International, University of São Paulo (USP), Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation (RCGI), CICECO Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020, UIDP/50011/2020; LA/P/0006/2020 and Horizon Europe agreement n° 101192964), the São Paulo Research Foundation, FAPESP (#2021/07155-6) and National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brasilia, Brazil, Financial Codes: 305987/2018-6 and 308909/2021-6) for research grants awarded to researchers.