IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i19p5100-d1758089.html

The Viability of Green Hydrogen for Electric Power Generation: Evaluating Current Practicability and Future Demand

Author

Listed:
  • Pantea Parvinhosseini

    (W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada)

  • Greig Mordue

    (W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada)

Abstract

This study investigates the feasibility of green hydrogen as an alternative to natural gas for power generation. In doing so, it contributes to the broader discourse surrounding hydrogen’s potential role in the transition of the energy sector. Our case study is of Ontario, Canada, where natural gas serves as the sole remaining carbon-emitting energy source for the generation of electricity. Through this, we present a practical reference and methodology that energy planners, policymakers, and researchers can use to analyze fuel consumption patterns and their costs. Our research involves estimating the volume of hydrogen required to support the conversion of natural gas-powered turbines. At present, electrical power in Ontario generated by natural gas may reach 39 TWh annually by 2035. Our findings suggest that the cost of hydrogen to generate that volume of electricity will range between USD 1.8 billion and USD 23.2 billion, contingent upon turbine efficiency and fluctuations in hydrogen prices. Moreover, if hydrogen prices remain elevated (up to USD 8/kg), the annual premium for hydrogen-generated electricity compared to natural gas could reach USD 20.604 billion, a significant deterrence for energy planners in Ontario from adopting hydrogen at scale. Thus, the added costs of hydrogen, along with challenges related to infrastructure requirements, safety, and technological considerations, render a potential transition to hydrogen, and to green hydrogen specifically, a complex undertaking. Ultimately, insights derived here enhance understanding of hydrogen’s potential within the context of power generation and may be applicable to other regions considering similar transitions toward hydrogen-based energy systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Pantea Parvinhosseini & Greig Mordue, 2025. "The Viability of Green Hydrogen for Electric Power Generation: Evaluating Current Practicability and Future Demand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:19:p:5100-:d:1758089
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/19/5100/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/19/5100/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Welder, Lara & Ryberg, D.Severin & Kotzur, Leander & Grube, Thomas & Robinius, Martin & Stolten, Detlef, 2018. "Spatio-temporal optimization of a future energy system for power-to-hydrogen applications in Germany," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 1130-1149.
    2. Dierk Raabe & C. Cem Tasan & Elsa A. Olivetti, 2019. "Strategies for improving the sustainability of structural metals," Nature, Nature, vol. 575(7781), pages 64-74, November.
    3. Marco Raugei & Alessio Peluso & Enrica Leccisi & Vasilis Fthenakis, 2020. "Life-Cycle Carbon Emissions and Energy Return on Investment for 80% Domestic Renewable Electricity with Battery Storage in California (U.S.A.)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-22, August.
    4. Daria Kolbantseva & Dmitriy Treschev & Milana Trescheva & Irina Anikina & Yuriy Kolbantsev & Konstantin Kalmykov & Alena Aleshina & Aleksandr Kalyutik & Iaroslav Vladimirov, 2022. "Analysis of Technologies for Hydrogen Consumption, Transition and Storage at Operating Thermal Power Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-30, May.
    5. Seyed Mehdi Alizadeh & Yasin Khalili & Mohammad Ahmadi, 2024. "Comprehensive Review of Carbon Capture and Storage Integration in Hydrogen Production: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Perspectives," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-35, October.
    6. Offer, G.J. & Howey, D. & Contestabile, M. & Clague, R. & Brandon, N.P., 2010. "Comparative analysis of battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell and hybrid vehicles in a future sustainable road transport system," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 24-29, January.
    7. Tishler, A. & Woo, C.K., 2006. "Likely failure of electricity deregulation: Explanation with application to Israel," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 845-856.
    8. Tang, Ou & Rehme, Jakob & Cerin, Pontus & Huisingh, Donald, 2021. "Hydrogen production in the Swedish power sector: Considering operational volatilities and long-term uncertainties," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(PB).
    9. Li, Chengzhe & Zhang, Libo & Ou, Zihan & Ma, Jiayu, 2022. "Using system dynamics to evaluate the impact of subsidy policies on green hydrogen industry in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    10. Behdad Shadidi & Gholamhassan Najafi & Talal Yusaf, 2021. "A Review of Hydrogen as a Fuel in Internal Combustion Engines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-20, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Enzo Galloni & Davide Lanni & Gustavo Fontana & Gabriele D’Antuono & Simone Stabile, 2022. "Performance Estimation of a Downsized SI Engine Running with Hydrogen," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-12, June.
    2. Ren, Kaipeng & Tang, Xu & Wang, Peng & Willerström, Jakob & Höök, Mikael, 2021. "Bridging energy and metal sustainability: Insights from China’s wind power development up to 2050," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    3. Hunt, Julian David & Nascimento, Andreas & Zakeri, Behnam & Barbosa, Paulo Sérgio Franco, 2022. "Hydrogen Deep Ocean Link: a global sustainable interconnected energy grid," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    4. Tehseen Johar & Chiu-Fan Hsieh, 2023. "Design Challenges in Hydrogen-Fueled Rotary Engine—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-22, January.
    5. Østergaard, P.A. & Lund, H. & Thellufsen, J.Z. & Sorknæs, P. & Mathiesen, B.V., 2022. "Review and validation of EnergyPLAN," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    6. Omoyele, Olalekan & Hoffmann, Maximilian & Koivisto, Matti & Larrañeta, Miguel & Weinand, Jann Michael & Linßen, Jochen & Stolten, Detlef, 2024. "Increasing the resolution of solar and wind time series for energy system modeling: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).
    7. Das, Himadry Shekhar & Tan, Chee Wei & Yatim, A.H.M., 2017. "Fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles: A review on power conditioning units and topologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 268-291.
    8. Emblemsvåg, Jan, 2022. "Wind energy is not sustainable when balanced by fossil energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    9. Jae Bok Seol & Won-Seok Ko & Seok Su Sohn & Min Young Na & Hye Jung Chang & Yoon-Uk Heo & Jung Gi Kim & Hyokyung Sung & Zhiming Li & Elena Pereloma & Hyoung Seop Kim, 2022. "Mechanically derived short-range order and its impact on the multi-principal-element alloys," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    10. Behiri, Walid & Belmokhtar-Berraf, Sana & Chu, Chengbin, 2018. "Urban freight transport using passenger rail network: Scientific issues and quantitative analysis," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 227-245.
    11. Ruffini, Eleonora & Wei, Max, 2018. "Future costs of fuel cell electric vehicles in California using a learning rate approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 329-341.
    12. Togun, Hussein & Basem, Ali & Abdulrazzaq, Tuqa & Biswas, Nirmalendu & Abed, Azher M. & dhabab, Jameel M. & Chattopadhyay, Anirban & Slimi, Khalifa & Paul, Dipankar & Barmavatu, Praveen & Chrouda, Ama, 2025. "Development and comparative analysis between battery electric vehicles (BEV) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 388(C).
    13. Belessiotis, George V. & Kontos, Athanassios G., 2022. "Plasmonic silver (Ag)-based photocatalysts for H2 production and CO2 conversion: Review, analysis and perspectives," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 497-515.
    14. Fridgen, Gilbert & Keller, Robert & Körner, Marc-Fabian & Schöpf, Michael, 2020. "A holistic view on sector coupling," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    15. Xuyang Zhou & Sourabh Kumar & Siyuan Zhang & Xinren Chen & Baptiste Gault & Gerhard Dehm & Tilmann Hickel & Dierk Raabe, 2025. "Boron triggers grain boundary structural transformation in steel," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.
    16. Mediavilla, Margarita & de Castro, Carlos & Capellán, Iñigo & Javier Miguel, Luis & Arto, Iñaki & Frechoso, Fernando, 2013. "The transition towards renewable energies: Physical limits and temporal conditions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 297-311.
    17. Shashank Deepak Prabhu, 2025. "Understanding the Sustainable Hydrogen Generation Potential for the Region of Bavaria, Germany via Bio-Waste Processing Using Thermochemical Conversion Technology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-24, April.
    18. Monika Bortnowska & Arkadiusz Zmuda, 2025. "A Comparative Analysis of Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Internal Combustion Engines Used for Service Operation Vessels Propulsion," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-32, September.
    19. Li, Wanyu & Gong, Yu & Liu, Pan, 2025. "Identifying the ecological operating space for explicit decisions of hydro–hydrogen–wind–photovoltaic hybrid power systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 332(C).
    20. Bedoić, Robert & Dorotić, Hrvoje & Schneider, Daniel Rolph & Čuček, Lidija & Ćosić, Boris & Pukšec, Tomislav & Duić, Neven, 2021. "Synergy between feedstock gate fee and power-to-gas: An energy and economic analysis of renewable methane production in a biogas plant," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 12-23.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:19:p:5100-:d:1758089. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.