Sustainable H2 production/separation by integration of solid oxide electrolyzer, biomass gasifier and H2 separation membrane: A techno-economic/environmental evaluation and multi-objective optimization

Hydrogen as a clean fuel can simultaneously respond to the challenges of energy shortage and environmental issues, provided that it is produced in a clean and cheap way. In this research, a hydrogen production system based on the combination of a solid oxide electrolyzer with a gasifier and a hydrogen separation membrane has been studied from a techno-economic outlook. In order to achieve a proper approximation of the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH), an elaborated economic analysis has been performed considering all aspects, where the life of the hydrogen separation membrane (HSM) and the solid oxide electrolyzer (SOE) has been taken into account. Finally, the minimization of the levelized cost of hydrogen and the levelized carbon dioxide emission (LCE) was carried out through multi-objective optimization. The cost of selling hydrogen was determined according to the various payback times. According to the conducted optimization, it is possible to obtain the minimum levelized cost of hydrogen of 3.63 $/kg. This condition leads to the levelized emission of 10.17 kg CO2/kg H2. Also, the system has the ability to bear levelized CO2 emissions up to 2.92 kg CO2/kg H2, so that the levelized cost of H2 production is 6.45 $/kg. In the four optimal conditions obtained from the optimization, considering the payback time of 5 years, the cost of selling the produced H2 can be 3.64 $/kg, 6.45 $/kg, 5.98 $/kg, and 5.29 $/kg.