Optimizing Wind-to-Hydrogen Production in Newfoundland for Export: A Techno-Economic Perspective

This study explores the feasibility of generating green hydrogen using wind energy in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) for potential export to Germany, aiming to reduce their heavy reliance on grey hydrogen. NL features abundant wind resources, deep-water export harbours, and proximity to Europe, making it an ideal location to contribute to Europe’s energy security. Utilizing the Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER Pro) microgrid software, we conducted a techno-economic analysis of a wind-to-hydrogen case study at the Port au Port location aimed at offsetting 1% of Germany’s grey hydrogen consumption. The optimal system comprises 49 wind turbines, each with 4.2 MW capacity, a 130 MW PEM electrolyzer, a liquid hydrogen storage facility, and a grid as a backup. We evaluated various financial metrics, including Net Present Cost (NPC), Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE), and Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCoH) for short-term, mid-term, and long-term storage scenarios. The financial metrics were compared with similar case studies around the globe to highlight the economic competitiveness of clean hydrogen production in Newfoundland and Labrador.