•  
  •  
 

Document Type

Original Study

Keywords

Solar power; Levelized cost of hydrogen; Green hydrogen; Levelized cost of energy; Net present value

Abstract

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in West Africa have remained a challenge due to the region's huge dependence on fossil fuels in meeting its energy demand. The need for an alternative and sustainable means of meeting this energy demand, coupled with the rapid depletion of fossil fuels, has become inevitable. Green hydrogen, produced via renewable energy-powered water electrolysis, has become a pivotal element in achieving a zero-carbon economy. This study explores the techno-economic feasibility of a 1 MW solar plant, considering four different PV array technologies, i.e., Mono-crystalline (m-Si), Poly-crystalline (p-Si), Heterojunction Silicon (HIT-Si), and Amorphous Silicon (a-Si) for green hydrogen production in eight West African regions: Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Niger, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, and Benin. Key economic metrics like Levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH), Net present value (NPV), Simple payback period (SPP), and Return on investment (ROI) were analysed to identify the most economically viable PV technology and sites for a 25-year project lifetime. The results show that p-Si technology and Niger achieved the lowest LCOH ($3.4983 /kg) and SPP (11.83 years) with a corresponding highest NPV ($673,376) and ROI (8.45%). Sensitivity analysis results reveal electricity cost as the most influential cost parameter for green hydrogen production.

Download

Share

COinS