Wind energy utilization for hydrogen production in an underdeveloped country: An economic investigation. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rezaei, Mostafa; Naghdi-Khozani, Nafiseh; Jafari, Niloofar
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 147(2020)Part 1
• Page Start: 1044
• Page End: 1057
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) -- Levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) -- Payback period -- Energy efficiency -- Hydrogen production -- Afghanistan; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.09.079
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: Since economic viability is among the main criteria for deciding whether to launch a project, therefore the aim of this study is to scrutinize economic aspects of harnessing wind energy in Afghanistan for producing hydrogen. In this regard, levelized cost of wind-generated electricity was first projected for all 34 capital cities. Then, energy efficiency of the hydrogen production system, Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) and payback period of establishing wind farm were investigated for the city with the least Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE). As some unpredictable conditions may occur during lifetime of a wind power plant, causing decline in output energy of the turbines, thus 5 degradation rates were deemed to compute LCOE, LCOH, energy efficiency and payback period under 3 scenarios, which leaded to 15 different cases. The results showed that utilizing one set of "WES 100 GENERAL" wind turbine with rated power of 100 kW in Fayzabad could produce 260, 610 kWh/yr of electricity when degradation rate constituted zero. Moreover, Fayzabad had LCOE of 0.063, 0.068 and 0.079 $/kWh and LCOH of 2.118, 2.158 and 2.261 $/kg for the scenarios 1, 2 and 3, respectively, when degradation rate was zero. Highlights: Investigating wind energy potential in all capital cities of Afghanistan. Economic analysis for projecting levelized cost of wind-generated electricity and LCOH. Estimating energy efficiency of a wind/hydrogen energy conversion system. Calculating the time required to reach profitability using cost-income diagram.