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Techno-economic analysis of a novel concept for the combination of methane pyrolysis in molten salt with heliostat solar field

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  • Razmi, Amir Reza
  • Hanifi, Amir Reza
  • Shahbakhti, Mahdi

Abstract

Methane pyrolysis has emerged as a promising low-carbon hydrogen production method, serving as a bridge from conventional fossil fuels to renewable energies (REs). A recent technique for sustainable hydrogen production involves the process of methane pyrolysis in molten salt. To better understand the potential of sustainable turquoise hydrogen production, this paper presents a techno-economic assessment of methane pyrolysis in molten salt combined with a high-temperature heliostat solar field. In addition, a high-temperature thermal energy storage (HTES) unit is utilized to ensure uninterrupted hydrogen production during periods of solar unavailability, thereby contributing to the economic viability of the overall system. The proposed system can produce about 9 tons of H2/day and 27 tons of solid carbon/day with a round-trip efficiency of 49.8 % and a levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of 1.93 $/kg. To further decarbonize the process, the feasibility of utilizing REs as the source of electricity for the HTES was analyzed, yielding a synergistic achievement of clean and economic hydrogen production. This configuration resulted in a LCOH of 1.25 $/kg, after including the United States (US) clean hydrogen production tax incentives. The proposed system shows the potential to achieve the US Department of Energy target of 1 $/kg of hydrogen with a 20 % reduction in the cost of RE infrastructure.

Suggested Citation

  • Razmi, Amir Reza & Hanifi, Amir Reza & Shahbakhti, Mahdi, 2024. "Techno-economic analysis of a novel concept for the combination of methane pyrolysis in molten salt with heliostat solar field," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:301:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224014178
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.131644
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Malek Msheik & Sylvain Rodat & Stéphane Abanades, 2021. "Methane Cracking for Hydrogen Production: A Review of Catalytic and Molten Media Pyrolysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-35, May.
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    3. Razmi, Amir Reza & Hanifi, Amir Reza & Shahbakhti, Mahdi, 2023. "Design, thermodynamic, and economic analyses of a green hydrogen storage concept based on solid oxide electrolyzer/fuel cells and heliostat solar field," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    4. Li, Xin & Kong, Weiqiang & Wang, Zhifeng & Chang, Chun & Bai, Fengwu, 2010. "Thermal model and thermodynamic performance of molten salt cavity receiver," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 981-988.
    5. Mu, Ruiqi & Liu, Ming & Zhang, Peiye & Yan, Junjie, 2023. "System design and thermo-economic analysis of a new coal power generation system based on supercritical water gasification with full CO2 capture," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    6. Msheik, Malek & Rodat, Sylvain & Abanades, Stéphane, 2022. "Experimental comparison of solar methane pyrolysis in gas-phase and molten-tin bubbling tubular reactors," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    7. Jinho Boo & Eun Hee Ko & No-Kuk Park & Changkook Ryu & Yo-Han Kim & Jinmo Park & Dohyung Kang, 2021. "Methane Pyrolysis in Molten Potassium Chloride: An Experimental and Economic Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-15, December.
    8. Mostafavi Tehrani, S. Saeed & Taylor, Robert A., 2016. "Off-design simulation and performance of molten salt cavity receivers in solar tower plants under realistic operational modes and control strategies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 698-715.
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