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From Biogas to Hydrogen: A Techno-Economic Study on the Production of Turquoise Hydrogen and Solid Carbons

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  • Ashton Swartbooi

    (HySA Infrastructure Centre of Competence, Chemicals Cluster, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Meiring Naudé Road, Brummeria, Pretoria 0184, South Africa)

  • Kutemba K. Kapanji-Kakoma

    (National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research, KK International Airport Rd., Lusaka 15302, Zambia)

  • Nicholas M. Musyoka

    (HySA Infrastructure Centre of Competence, Chemicals Cluster, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Meiring Naudé Road, Brummeria, Pretoria 0184, South Africa)

Abstract

Biogas is a renewable feedstock that can be used to produce hydrogen through the decomposition of biomethane. However, the economics of the process are not well studied and understood, especially in cases where solid carbons are also produced, and which have a detrimental effect on the performance of the catalysts. The scale, as well as product diversification of a biogas plant to produce hydrogen and other value-added carbons, plays a crucial role in determining the feasibility of biogas-to-hydrogen projects. Through a techno-economic study using the discounted cash flow method, it has been shown that there are no feasible sizes of plants that can produce hydrogen at the target price of USD 3/kg or lower. However, for self-funded anaerobic digestor plants, retrofitting modular units for hydrogen production would only make financial sense at biogas production capacities of more than 412 m 3 /h. A sensitivity analysis has also shown that the cost competitiveness is dependent on the type of carbon formed, and low-grade carbon black has a negative effect on economic feasibility. Hydrogen produced from biogas would thus not be able to compete with grey hydrogen production but rather with current green hydrogen production costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Ashton Swartbooi & Kutemba K. Kapanji-Kakoma & Nicholas M. Musyoka, 2022. "From Biogas to Hydrogen: A Techno-Economic Study on the Production of Turquoise Hydrogen and Solid Carbons," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:11050-:d:906799
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Varun & Bhat, I.K. & Prakash, Ravi, 2009. "LCA of renewable energy for electricity generation systems--A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(5), pages 1067-1073, June.
    2. Baena-Moreno, Francisco M. & Gonzalez-Castaño, Miriam & Arellano-García, Harvey & Reina, T.R., 2021. "Exploring profitability of bioeconomy paths: Dimethyl ether from biogas as case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Sekoai, Patrick T. & Chunilall, Viren & Msele, Kwanele & Buthelezi, Lindiswa & Johakimu, Jonas & Andrew, Jerome & Zungu, Manqoba & Moloantoa, Karabelo & Maningi, Nontuthuko & Habimana, Olivier & Swart, 2023. "Biowaste biorefineries in South Africa: Current status, opportunities, and research and development needs," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    2. Gayatri Udaysinh Ingale & Hyun-Min Kwon & Soohwa Jeong & Dongho Park & Whidong Kim & Byeingryeol Bang & Young-Il Lim & Sung Won Kim & Youn-Bae Kang & Jungsoo Mun & Sunwoo Jun & Uendo Lee, 2022. "Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Hydrogen Production Processes: Turquoise Hydrogen vs. Steam Methane Reforming," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-20, November.

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