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Techno-Economic Analysis of Geospatial Green Hydrogen Potential Using Solar Photovoltaic in Niger: Application of PEM and Alkaline Water Electrolyzers

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  • Bachirou Djibo Boubé

    (Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Niamey BP 10662, Niger
    West African Centre for Sustainable Rural Transformation (WAC-SRT), African Excellence Centre, Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Niamey BP 10662, Niger
    Doctorate Research Program in Climate Change and Energy (DRP-CCE), West Africa Sciences Climate and Land-Use (WASCAL), Niamey BP 10662, Niger)

  • Ramchandra Bhandari

    (Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics, TH Köln (University of Applied Sciences), 50678 Cologne, Germany)

  • Moussa Mounkaila Saley

    (Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Niamey BP 10662, Niger
    Doctorate Research Program in Climate Change and Energy (DRP-CCE), West Africa Sciences Climate and Land-Use (WASCAL), Niamey BP 10662, Niger)

  • Abdou Latif Bonkaney

    (Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Niamey BP 10662, Niger
    Doctorate Research Program in Climate Change and Energy (DRP-CCE), West Africa Sciences Climate and Land-Use (WASCAL), Niamey BP 10662, Niger)

  • Rabani Adamou

    (West African Centre for Sustainable Rural Transformation (WAC-SRT), African Excellence Centre, Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Niamey BP 10662, Niger
    Doctorate Research Program in Climate Change and Energy (DRP-CCE), West Africa Sciences Climate and Land-Use (WASCAL), Niamey BP 10662, Niger
    Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Niamey BP 10662, Niger)

Abstract

This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of solar-based green hydrogen potential for off-grid and utility-scale systems in Niger. The geospatial approach is first employed to identify the area available for green hydrogen production based on environmental and socio-technical constraints. Second, we evaluate the potential of green hydrogen production using a geographic information system (GIS) tool, followed by an economic analysis of the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) for alkaline and proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzers using fresh and desalinated water. The results show that the electricity generation potential is 311,617 TWh/year and 353,166 TWh/year for off-grid and utility-scale systems. The hydrogen potential using PEM (alkaline) water electrolyzers is calculated to be 5932 Mt/year and 6723 Mt/year (5694 Mt/year and 6454 Mt/year) for off-grid and utility-scale systems, respectively. The LCOH production potential decreases for PEM and alkaline water electrolyzers by 2030, ranging between 4.72–5.99 EUR/kgH 2 and 5.05–6.37 EUR/kgH 2 for off-grid and 4.09–5.21 EUR/kgH 2 and 4.22–5.4 EUR/kgH 2 for utility-scale systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Bachirou Djibo Boubé & Ramchandra Bhandari & Moussa Mounkaila Saley & Abdou Latif Bonkaney & Rabani Adamou, 2025. "Techno-Economic Analysis of Geospatial Green Hydrogen Potential Using Solar Photovoltaic in Niger: Application of PEM and Alkaline Water Electrolyzers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-23, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:7:p:1872-:d:1629787
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