Assessing solar energy utilization for green hydrogen production: A techno-economic and environmental assessment
Publication Type
Original research
Authors

his study explores the feasibility of solar-driven hydrogen production across six Palestinian cities—Ramallah, Jenin, Tulkarm, Hebron, Jericho, and Rafah—by evaluating hydrogen yield potential, associated CO2 emissions reduction, and economic viability. Ramallah has the highest hydrogen production at 6.37 ± 0.22 kg/m2/year, while Jenin has the lowest at 5.51 ± 0.20 kg/m2/year, a 13.5 % difference. Other cities range from 5.80 to 6.10 kg/m2/year. Solar H2 availability showed and excellent impact on CO2 emissions reduction, Ramallah achieves the highest emissions reduction of 56.89 kg CO2/m2/year, whereas Jenin records the lowest at 49.22 kg CO2/m2/year.

The economic analysis indicates that the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) in Palestine is approximately $5/kg, higher than Egypt's $3.94/kg due to differences in system efficiency and solar conditions. The cost of CO2 reduction in Palestine ranges from $394 to $500 per ton, making hydrogen adoption viable but investment intensive. Enhancing feasibility requires improved electrolyzer efficiency, hybrid solar-wind systems, and supportive policies like carbon credits and subsidies.

Journal
Title
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher Country
United Kingdom
Indexing
Scopus
Impact Factor
83.0
Publication Type
Both (Printed and Online)
Volume
144
Year
2025
Pages
522-535