Hydrogen Feasibility Study
Techno-economic feasibility study of hydrogen-fuelled freight transport
Project Background
Transition to a hydrogen-based energy system to support and accelerate the widespread adoption of hydrogen-powered freight HDVs is, however, significantly hindered by the lack of the infrastructure required for producing, storing, transporting and distributing hydrogen.
Designing an economically viable and competitive Hydrogen Supply Chain (HSC) to meet the end-user demand is a significant challenge and relies primarily on the optimal configuration and sizing of required facilities and infrastructure.
In essence, the ultimate price of hydrogen at pump which in turn implies its economic feasibility against conventional fuel options, relies greatly on the optimal determination of production and storage facilities location, technology and capacity given their required capital investment and operational costs, and connecting them using cost-effective, sufficient and appropriate transport links.
Research Questions
The main objective of the current research is to analyse economics of HFSC development under alternative technology development and energy policy scenarios for land-based freight transport in Great Britain. The research aims to build a prototype
HFSC model that can be used for the assessment of different pathway and technology-driven scenarios over short, medium and long-term horizons.
Read the Executive Summary or watch a presentation about this project.
The full report: NH2-001-Final Report with supplementary information.
Methods
The project employs a multidisciplinary approach towards building the model, generating and assessing scenarios, which includes data analysis and mathematical models. A two-stage demand-driven supply chain design for hydrogen-fuelled road freight transport is developed that distinctively unifies centralised and on-site production decisions. The proposed model is a very useful tool for deriving important managerial and policy making insights and can be simply adapted to incorporate many different scenarios and demand settings.
Project Lead
Dr Ramin Raeesi - University of Kent
Co-investigators/ PhDs/ RAs
- Professor Philip Greening
- Dr Christa Searle
- Dr Nazmiye Ozkan - Cranfield University
- Dr Mi Tian - University of Exeter