Chapter 41
Techno-economic Analysis on Renewable
Energy via Hydrogen from Macro
and Micro Scope Views
Meng Chen, Tatsuya Ookubo, Kei Hasegawa, Manabu Ihara, Takuya Oda,
and Koji Tokimatsu
Abstract Since 2012, the Japanese government has widely adopted variable renewable energy (VRE), especially photovoltaics (PVs), as a result of the Feed-In-Tariff
(FIT) system. However, energy storage technologies must reduce their burden on
the electric power grid to make best-use of intermittent renewable power sources.
Power-to-Gas (P2G), which converts surplus power from VRE to hydrogen, is a
promising candidate for large-scale and long-term energy storage technology. We
utilized analytical models based on actual data from micro-side research and simulation results from macro-side one. We assume that the system either uses a combination of electrolysis cells (ECs) and hydrogen fuel cells (FCs), or ECs and hydrogen
co-firing using surplus power from PVs, and will be introduced around 2030 on both
sides of the micro (building) and macro (power district area). On the macro side, we
investigated power mix by a power planning model. We found that hydrogen fuel cells
have great potential to increase local utilization of surplus power. On the micro side,
we applied a cost evaluation model consisting of ECs, FCs, hydrogen storage, and
PVs, with surplus power selling price as a given parameter. The model shows that total
costs are lower when hydrogen is used. Additionally, when electricity selling price
is volatile depending on power demand, the model predicts FC capacity expansion.
We conclude that P2G has both cost competitiveness and environmental benefit, and
that the combination of solar power and hydrogen is a promising technology which
expands PV capacity beyond limits without combination.
M. Chen (B) · K. Tokimatsu
Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Society,
Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
e-mail: chen.moe@outlook.com
T. Ookubo · K. Hasegawa · M. Ihara
Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical
Technology, Tokyo Insititute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
T. Oda
International Research Center of Advanced Energy Systems for Sustainability, Insititute of
Innovative Research, Tokyo Insititute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Kishita et al. (eds.), EcoDesign and Sustainability II, Sustainable Production, Life
Cycle Engineering and Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6775-9_41
619
Techno-economic Analysis on Renewable
Energy via Hydrogen from Macro
and Micro Scope Views
Meng Chen, Tatsuya Ookubo, Kei Hasegawa, Manabu Ihara, Takuya Oda,
and Koji Tokimatsu
Abstract Since 2012, the Japanese government has widely adopted variable renewable energy (VRE), especially photovoltaics (PVs), as a result of the Feed-In-Tariff
(FIT) system. However, energy storage technologies must reduce their burden on
the electric power grid to make best-use of intermittent renewable power sources.
Power-to-Gas (P2G), which converts surplus power from VRE to hydrogen, is a
promising candidate for large-scale and long-term energy storage technology. We
utilized analytical models based on actual data from micro-side research and simulation results from macro-side one. We assume that the system either uses a combination of electrolysis cells (ECs) and hydrogen fuel cells (FCs), or ECs and hydrogen
co-firing using surplus power from PVs, and will be introduced around 2030 on both
sides of the micro (building) and macro (power district area). On the macro side, we
investigated power mix by a power planning model. We found that hydrogen fuel cells
have great potential to increase local utilization of surplus power. On the micro side,
we applied a cost evaluation model consisting of ECs, FCs, hydrogen storage, and
PVs, with surplus power selling price as a given parameter. The model shows that total
costs are lower when hydrogen is used. Additionally, when electricity selling price
is volatile depending on power demand, the model predicts FC capacity expansion.
We conclude that P2G has both cost competitiveness and environmental benefit, and
that the combination of solar power and hydrogen is a promising technology which
expands PV capacity beyond limits without combination.
M. Chen (B) · K. Tokimatsu
Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Society,
Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
e-mail: chen.moe@outlook.com
T. Ookubo · K. Hasegawa · M. Ihara
Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical
Technology, Tokyo Insititute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
T. Oda
International Research Center of Advanced Energy Systems for Sustainability, Insititute of
Innovative Research, Tokyo Insititute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Kishita et al. (eds.), EcoDesign and Sustainability II, Sustainable Production, Life
Cycle Engineering and Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6775-9_41
619