Techno-economic and environmental evaluation of on-site solar hydrogen systems for decarbonizing port in Corsica

As part of the energy transition and efforts to develop green ports, green hydrogen emerges as a promising and environmentally sound solution for achieving carbon neutrality. This study investigates the potential of green hydrogen to decarbonize the Port of Ajaccio through a power-to-power strategy. A detailed electricity consumption profile was constructed based on data from docked vessels and two adjacent buildings. A multi-objective optimization model was employed to determine the optimal configuration of a hybrid energy system. The optimal system includes 12 MW of photovoltaic panels, a 5 MW electrolyzer, a 3 MW fuel cell, and 320 kg of hydrogen storage under water at 35 bar. This configuration enables a significant reduction in pollutant emissions: carbon dioxide (CO₂) by 80.02%, nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) by 84.27%, particulate matter (PM) by 84.27%, and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) by 84.26%. The resulting levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) is estimated at 298 €/MWh, making it a competitive alternative to conventional fossil-fuel-based generation. Furthermore, the study highlights the advantages of underwater hydrogen storage, demonstrating that greater storage depths lead to increased hydrogen density, reduced storage volume requirements, and minimized visual impact an essential aspect for enhancing public acceptance.