Dynamic planning, conversion, and management strategy of different renewable energy sources: A Sustainable Solution for Severe Energy Crises in Emerging Economies

Green hydrogen energy is a natural substitute for fuel-based energy and it increases a country's long-term energy safety. Pakistan has been a victim of a severe energy crisis for the past few decades. In this context, this research addresses green hydrogen generation and renewable energy supply (i.e., wind, solar, biomass, public waste, geothermal and small hydropower) as an alternate energy source in Pakistan. The assessment is carried out through a two-step framework (i.e., Fuzzy-AHP and non-parametric DEA). Results show that Pakistan has abundant renewable power capacity from wind, which the light-duty transport in the country can opt. Almost 4.89 billion gallons of fuel are consumed annually in Sindh, whereas Punjab uses up around 6.92 billion gallons of fuel annually, which need to be substituted with 1.63 billion kg and 2.31 billion kg of wind-produced hydrogen, respectively. It has been discovered that solar and wind energy attain the same criterion of weights (i.e., 0.070) in-line with the commercial potential criterion. Besides, wind generated power is ideal for green hydrogen generation in Pakistan, and the subsequent choice for green hydrogen energy is small hydropower and solar, which are also good for green hydrogen generation in the country. Hence, this research offers a solid recommendation for the use of wind energy, which is ideal for the production of Green Hydrogen energy in the country. (c) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The research focuses on the use of green hydrogen energy as a substitute for traditional fuel-based energy in Pakistan, where there has been a severe energy crisis. The study recommends utilizing wind energy for green hydrogen generation, with solar and small hydropower also identified as suitable sources for green hydrogen production in the country.