(107h) Coupled Techno-Economic Analysis and Thermodynamic Optimization of Large-Scale Hydrogen Storage and Transportation Via Metal Hydrides

The global transition to a hydrogen economy demands efficient, safe, and cost-effective solutions for hydrogen storage and transportation. Storage systems based on metal hydrides (MH) have emerged as promising candidates, offering high volumetric and gravimetric energy densities alongside enhanced safety compared to conventional pressurized or liquid hydrogen methods. However, while small-scale studies have demonstrated the economic potential of MH systems, there remains a significant knowledge gap: no holistic, large-scale approach exists that spans the entire value chain, from material synthesis and process engineering to full operational integration. Moreover, current techno-economic analyses (TEA) lack the incorporation of thermodynamic models that capture the sensitivity of system performance to operating conditions.

This study targets a techno-economic analysis of a large-scale hydrogen storage and transportation systems in the range of 10 MWh to 10 GWh (corresponding to 0.3–300 tons of hydrogen) by developing a conceptual design that integrates detailed process engineering with advanced thermodynamic optimization. By incorporating a dedicated thermodynamic submodule into our TEA framework, we assess the sensitivity of both capital and operational expenditures to critical operating parameters, including hydrogenation and dehydrogenation temperatures, pressures, and reaction kinetics, that govern the performance of MH-based systems. This integration enables the identification of optimal operating regimes that minimize energy input and cost while maximizing storage efficiency and cyclic performance, thereby bridging the gap between material-level properties and system-level operation.

This study suggests that the MH-based large scale storage is cost-competitive with conventional large scale hydrogen storage and transport methods, and safer and environmentally sustainable alternative for global hydrogen trade. Furthermore, the outcomes of our work include the development of an interactive open-source platform for cost estimation and system operation optimization. This integrated approach not only fills the existing gap between small-scale experimental studies and industrial-scale applications but also equips policymakers and industry stakeholders with critical decision-support tools to advance the use of MH systems for both stationary storage and intercontinental hydrogen transportation.