Feasibility of Green Hydrogen Storage in Chile: Influence of Electrolysis Type, Solar Irradiance, and Storage Technology
Abstract
The technical and economic feasibility of green hydrogen production and storage in Chile is examined, considering the country’s geographical characteristics and local energy resources. The methodology involves modeling electrolysis systems based on Proton Exchange Membrane (PEME) and Alkaline Water Electrolysis (AWE) technologies, powered by photovoltaic (PV) solar plants located in three representative regions of the country, each with different levels of solar irradiance. Two hydrogen storage options are evaluated, compressed gaseous hydrogen and liquid hydrogen, and system operation is analyzed both with and without curtailment. The results reveal that both the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) and the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) increase as solar irradiance decreases. For instance, with a Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) of 2329 kWh/m²/year, the LCOE reached 53.89 USD/MWh, while the LCOH was 8.63 and 5.63 USD/kg H₂ for PEME and AWE electrolyzers, respectively. In contrast, for a GHI of 1865 kWh/m²/year, the corresponding values were 68.80 USD/MWh and 11.02 and 7.20 USD/kg H₂. Moreover, the Levelized Cost of Storage (LCOS) was 0.84 USD/kg H₂ for compressed hydrogen (CGH₂) and 2.65 USD/kg H₂ for liquid hydrogen (LH₂) in the region with the highest solar irradiance, increasing to 1.07 and 3.38 USD/kg H₂, respectively, in the region with the lowest irradiance. These findings highlight the comparative advantages of compressed hydrogen storage, while also identifying specific scenarios in which liquid hydrogen could become a viable alternative despite its higher technical and energy requirements.
Keywords
PV, Hydrogen, LCOS, LCOH, PEM, AWE, Curtailment