STUDY OF HYDROGEN PRODUCTION IN SMALL AIRPORT : System selection and sizing

Abstract: Shifting from fossil fuels and moving towards sustainable and environmentally friendly fuels is vital to combat global warming. Hydrogen's high energy content and abundance on earth qualify it as one of the primary clean fuels, especially when produced from renewable resources. However, the way of clean hydrogen production and its environmental effect is still in the research and development stage. Hydrogen production, use as aviation fuel, storage, and transportation pose a technological challenge to overcome. This thesis project studied one of the aspects of hydrogen usage in the aviation sector by finding the optimum hydrogen production pathway in airports to fuel aircraft. Stockholm Skavsta airport was taken as a study case. Through literature review, hydrogen production methods were evaluated. Water electrolysis was found to be the optimum method to produce hydrogen for such application because of its production plant's simplicity and the possibility of having no emissions during the production when renewable energy is used. The optimum sizing and scheduling of hydrogen production and storage in Stockholm Skavsta airport were found for three electrolysis systems (Alkaline, PEM, and solid oxide) and three processes and storage types (compressed gas, cryo-compressed and liquefied). The study assessed three power sources to supply the necessary power for the production and storage ( grid supply, grid +solar system, and pure renewable solar PV +wind). The study considered 27 scenarios covering all the possible combinations of electrolysis systems, storage types, and power sources.   The levelized cost of hydrogen and carbon dioxide emissions was lower for the solar + grid scenarios, while grid powered scenarios gave the highest Levelized cost and carbon emissions. The pure renewable energy scenarios were nonfeasible due to the low renewable resources near the study case location. The optimum levelized cost of hydrogen was found to be between 2.93 - 2.44 Euro/kg, and the annual carbon dioxide emissions were in the range of 34731.1 to 20861.3 tons/year.  The PEM electrolysis showed the highest Levelized cost and moderate emissions, while the Alkaline electrolysis showed the highest carbon emissions and moderate cost. The lowest levelized cost and emissions were for the solid oxide electrolysis system. This thesis project succeeded in finding a pathway for inhouse hydrogen production for airports that might even be of interest being utilized in different sectors