Enhancing Energy Efficiency in the Maritime Industry: The Role of Hydrogen Refueling Stations for Ships

Unofficial AI-generated summary based on the public title and abstract. Not an official translation.

🔬研究者:Provides a validated simulation and economic model for renewable hydrogen refueling systems, useful for further optimization and comparative studies across different port environments.

🏢実務担当者:Offers concrete LCOH figures and system design insights for companies considering investments in hydrogen refueling stations for maritime fleets.

🏛政策担当者:Demonstrates the economic viability pathway for hydrogen in shipping and underscores the need for policies that encourage scaling and hybrid renewable integration.

<title>Abstract</title> <p> Problem: The transition to sustainable maritime operations requires clean energy carriers like green hydrogen. However, establishing reliable hydrogen production for refueling stations is challenged by the intermittent and variable nature of renewable energy sources like solar and wind. This intermittency can lead to unstable power supply for electrolyzers, resulting in inefficient hydrogen production, system downtime, and the need for significant energy storage, impacting both technical performance and economic viability. Solution: This study proposes and analyzes an integrated hydrogen production and refueling system powered by renewable energy, specifically designed to support maritime vessels. The solution combines solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy generation with an electrolyzer for hydrogen production and a battery Energy Storage System (ESS) to balance supply and demand. The system is designed to convert variable renewable power into a steady hydrogen output, leveraging storage to mitigate renewable intermittency. Methodology: The system's performance was evaluated through a detailed 180-hour simulation across two distinct scenarios: one powered solely by solar energy and another by wind energy. Key performance indicators, including electrolyzer power, renewable power output, battery State of Charge (SOC), and cumulative hydrogen production, were tracked and analyzed. A comparative assessment between the two energy sources was conducted, followed by a feasibility study examining the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH), capital (CAPEX), operational expenditures (OPEX), and payback periods for systems of various capacities (2–18 MTPD). <bold>Results</bold> : The simulation results demonstrate that both solar and wind energy can effectively power the hydrogen production system, albeit with distinct characteristics. The solar-powered system achieved a higher peak electrolyzer power (222.06 kW) and total hydrogen output (247.12 kg) but exhibited significant variability, relying heavily on battery storage during nighttime. The wind-powered system provided more consistent power, enabling stable hydrogen production (147.27 kg total) with less extreme fluctuations but also led to a deeper battery discharge (SOC min of 16.53%). The comparative analysis highlights the complementary nature of the two sources: solar offers higher peaks, while wind provides better continuity. The feasibility study indicates that economies of scale significantly reduce production costs, with the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) falling from approximately $6.80/kg for a 2 MTPD system to $2.90/kg for an 18 MTPD system at high utilization. The study concludes that a hybrid solar-wind configuration with an optimized storage system would offer the most reliable and cost-effective solution for continuous maritime hydrogen refueling. </p>

• Research Square https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-10257244/v1first seen 2026-07-10 04:45:04