A framework for assessing economics of blue hydrogen production from steam methane reforming using carbon capture storage & utilisation

Hydrogen (H-2) generation using Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) is at present the most economical and preferred pathway for commercial H-2 generation. This process, however, emits a considerable amount of CO2, ultimately negating the benefit of using H-2 as a clean industrial feedstock and energy carrier. That has prompted growing interest in enabling CO2 capture from SMR for either storage or utilisation and producing zero-emission blue H-2. In this paper, we propose a spatial techno-economic framework for assessing blue hydrogen production SMR hubs with carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), using Australia as a case study. Australia offers a unique opportunity for developing such 'blue H-2' hubs given its extensive natural gas resources, availability of known carbon storage reservoirs and an ambitious government target to produce clean/zero-emission H-2 at the cost of A$2.7 kgH(2)(-1)). On the other hand, Western Australia offers lower gas pricing and relatively lesser storage costs, which would lead to more economically favourable hydrogen production (

Automated summary

This paper proposes a spatial techno-economic framework for assessing blue hydrogen production SMR hubs with carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), using Australia as a case study.