Life cycle assessment of SMR and Electrified-SMR with renewable energy systems: Projecting emissions and optimizing hydrogen production for California's 2035 goals

This study evaluates the environmental and economic impacts of hydrogen production through traditional steam methane reforming and electrified steam methane reforming, utilizing various renewable energy systems. A life cycle assessment using greenhouse gases, regulated emissions, and energy use in technologies model software reveals significant annual carbon dioxide emissions from traditional steam methane reforming, projected to reach 14 million tonnes by 2035. In contrast, electrified steam methane reforming with carbon capture and storage shows an 82 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. The system advisor model was used to design and optimize renewable energy systems, identifying concentrated solar power as producing the highest annual energy output of 1.63 million megawatt-hours and hydrogen output of 39,057 tonnes, with total revenues of $4.4 billion. While concentrated solar power is the most efficient and economically viable for hydrogen production, the horizontal wind turbine system provides a continuous energy supply, ideal for consistent energy needs. These findings highlight the importance of integrating mature technologies like steam methane reforming with renewable energy and carbon capture and storage to achieve sustainable hydrogen production.