Project Description

The transition to low-carbon energy systems has heightened interest in hydrogen as a critical energy carrier for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors such as steel and cement industries. Numerous hydrogen production pathways, including electrolysis-based green hydrogen, natural gas reforming with carbon capture (blue hydrogen), and hybrid systems, are being actively explored. However, their economic viability remains highly dependent on regional factors such as resource availability, energy prices, infrastructure readiness, and policy frameworks.

Present techno-economic analysis studies frequently rely on simplified or generalized assumptions, limiting their capacity to reflect system-level interactions and realistic deployment scenarios accurately. In particular, there is a need for integrated frameworks that can evaluate multiple hydrogen production pathways under varying operational, economic, and policy scenarios, while quantifying the trade-offs between efficiency, cost, and scalability.

This Ph.D. project aims to establish a comprehensive techno-economic assessment framework for hydrogen production pathways, combining process-level modeling with system-level economic analysis. The study will measure key performance indicators, including energy consumption, capital and operational expenditures, and the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH), while also integrating scenario and sensitivity analysis to evaluate the effects of critical factors such as renewable integration, electricity pricing, and carbon regulations. Case studies will assess region-specific implementation strategies.

The findings will provide high-impact insights into cost-optimal hydrogen production pathways and contribute to the development of decision-support tools for energy transition planning.