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Hybrid solar transcritical CO2 and green hydrogen loop for sustainable off-grid energy: Performance analysis and techno-economic optimization

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  • Ramachandran, Siddharth
  • Bhogilla, Satya Sekhar
  • Kuo, Jenn-Kun

Abstract

This study evaluates an innovative approach to harness solar resources by directly integrating concentrated solar power into a transcritical carbon dioxide (tCO2) power cycle and a power-green hydrogen-power pathway to achieve sustainable energy generation and utilization. The proposed system utilizes CO2 as the heat-transfer medium in a solar parabolic trough concentrator array operating in a tCO2 Rankine power cycle to produce electricity for load, hydrogen-oxygen synthesis, and supply excess thermal energy for space conditioning. A proton exchange membrane electrolyzer/fuel cell, in conjunction with a compressed hydrogen storage system, facilitates the generation and long-term storage of hydrogen for the production of electricity and thermal energy during night-time and periods of low solar irradiance. The significance of the major operating parameters and turbine inlet conditions was deliberated and optimized to augment exergy effectiveness and green hydrogen generation and decrease the overall cost rate. Under optimum operating conditions, the proposed scheme produced 34.7 kW of electricity, 25.3 kW of thermal energy, 0.62 kg/h of green hydrogen, and 5.83 kg/h of oxygen, attaining an energy efficiency of 23.7 %, exergy efficacy of 25.5 %, and cost rate of 25.4 USD/h. The proposed system architecture shows potential for generating and utilizing clean hydrogen, oxygen, electricity, and heating, thereby enhancing the feasibility of grid-independent renewable energy integration tailored to medical facilities in challenging and remote cold desert areas, such as Ladakh, India.

Suggested Citation

  • Ramachandran, Siddharth & Bhogilla, Satya Sekhar & Kuo, Jenn-Kun, 2026. "Hybrid solar transcritical CO2 and green hydrogen loop for sustainable off-grid energy: Performance analysis and techno-economic optimization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:257:y:2026:i:c:s0960148125024115
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.124747
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    References listed on IDEAS

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