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Green hydrogen and oxygen production with different geothermal-driven ORC configurations: A 7E analysis and optimization

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  • Saleh, Amin
  • Hajabdollahi, Hassan

Abstract

This study aims to develop and optimize a geothermal energy-based system for hydrogen and oxygen production using a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer. Four Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) configurations are examined to identify the most efficient design: basic ORC, basic ORC with a heat exchanger (HX), dual-fluid ORC, and dual-pressure ORC. A comprehensive 7E analysis, covering energy, exergy, economic, exergoeconomic, exergoenvironmental, emergoeconomic, and emergoenvironmental dimensions, is applied to evaluate the system's performance. Additionally, a multi-objective optimization is performed using the Fast and Elitist Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II) to determine the configuration that offers the best trade-off between efficiency, cost, and environmental impact. The optimal outcomes disclosed that basic ORC with HX and dual pressure ORC achieve the highest energy efficiency (11.81 %) and exergy efficiency (25.49 %). Based on exergy and economic analyses, PEM electrolyzer involves the highest investment cost and exergy destruction among all configurations. According to 7E analysis, dual-pressure ORC as the most efficient configuration is recommended, achieving a cost rate of 790.42 $/kgh, environmental impact rate of 774.09 Pts/kgh, monetary rate of 7.90 ×1014 sej/kgh, and ecological rate of 9.99 ×1014 sej/kgh for hydrogen-oxygen production. Finally, the emergy analysis revealed that configurations using basic ORC and dual-fluid ORC show stronger monetary than ecological impact, while the basic ORC with HX and dual-pressure ORC exhibit the opposite trend, highlighting their greater ecological impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Saleh, Amin & Hajabdollahi, Hassan, 2026. "Green hydrogen and oxygen production with different geothermal-driven ORC configurations: A 7E analysis and optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 342(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:342:y:2026:i:c:s0360544225052065
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.139564
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    References listed on IDEAS

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