HCNG refuelling station to accelerate the transition towards a real hydrogen economy: A techno-economic analysis

A viable solution for an immediate road transport sector decarbonisation is internal combustion engine vehicles fuelled with H2 compressed natural gas (HCNG). In this work a techno economic analysis has been carried out in order to optimise the sizing process of a retrofitted HCNG refuelling station with on-site electrolysis, powered by photovoltaic energy. The sizing approach has been addressed by conjecturing a variable hydrogen volumetric fraction in the blend up to 30% vol. Thereafter, once the HCNG effects on the fill-ups demand have been considered, 150 refuelling station capacity scenarios have been analysed by iterating PV plant, electrolyser, and storage systems capacities. Each configuration has been dynamically simulated via a detailed simulation model in the MATLAB/Simulink environment. Hence, by means of the Pareto-based multi-objective optimization and Utopia point the optimal capacity scenarios have been detected by maximising the hydrogen production, and minimising the LCOH, HCNG cost and carbon avoidance cost (CAC) as well. The most suitable HCNG refuelling station ensures an overall H2 volumetric fraction of 23.98% vol., a LCOH of 9.22 /kg, 1.18 /kg as HCNG final cost and carbon avoidance cost of 264.98 /tCO2,Avd.