Techno-economic analysis of hydrogen pipeline network in China based on levelized cost of transportation

Pipeline hydrogen transmission is a powerful method for the large-scale, long-distance transport of hydrogen and is pivotal for the rapid expansion of the hydrogen energy sector. In different scenarios of hydrogen transmission demand, the levelized cost of transportation can vary greatly, mainly due to the effects of scaling up the network construction. For hydrogen pipeline networks of different scales, it is essential to determine the right design parameters to ensure the transport is economically viable. This paper introduces a techno-economic analysis model tailored for hydrogen pipeline networks of various scales. Guided by design pressures, annual hydrogen transmission quality, and transmission distances, an engineering design and simulation of process flows were conducted. This simulation highlights crucial technical parameters, such as energy consumption benchmarks, equipment costs, and the distribution across the inlet station, pipeline, and enroute stations. The scale-up effects on the capital and operational costs within the network is also examined. In conclusion, the study shows how the levelized cost of transportation fluctuates based on the three design parameters, offering quantifiable data essential for the techno-economic assessment required for the deployment of hydrogen pipeline networks of varying scales. The findings suggest that the levelized cost of transportation ranges from 0.13 to 1.81 $/kg when the design pressure spans 4-10 MPa, the annual transmission quality is between 0.25 and 2 million tons, and the distance extends from 200 to 1800 km. For shorter distances and reduced hydrogen transmission quality, a diminished design pressure is advised. Conversely, as both the transportation distance and quality of hydrogen escalate, it becomes necessary to incrementally adjust the design pressure to optimize the levelized cost of transportation.