Global techno-economic and life cycle greenhouse gas emissions assessment of solar and wind based renewable hydrogen production

Loiy Al-Ghussain; Zifeng Lu; Mohammad Alrbai; Sameer Al-Dahidi; Xin He; Amgad Elgowainy; Michael Wang

doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126595

Global techno-economic and life cycle greenhouse gas emissions assessment of solar and wind based renewable hydrogen production

Loiy Al-Ghussain^*
, Zifeng Lu
, Mohammad Alrbai
, Sameer Al-Dahidi
, Xin He
, Amgad Elgowainy
, Michael Wang

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study conducts a global assessment of renewable hydrogen production using solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, and hybrid PV/wind systems, integrated with proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. A multi-objective optimization is applied to evaluate techno-economic performance and life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for embodied emissions in the system's components. Results identify optimal configurations to minimize levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) and carbon intensity (CI) of hydrogen, showing potential reductions of cost and CI by 2030. Specifically, standalone PV systems can achieve LCOH less than 6.5 USD/kg H₂ and CI below 2.5 kg CO_2eq/kg H₂ in high-irradiance regions such as Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Chile. Wind systems in regions like MENA, Australia and Central USA can reach LCOH below 5 USD/kg H₂ and CI below 1.5 kg CO_2eq/kg H₂. Hybrid systems emerge as the most effective configuration, maximizing the renewable energy use and minimizing both LCOH and CI.

Original language	English
Article number	126595
Journal	Applied Energy
Volume	401
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126595
State	Published - 15 Dec 2025
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

Life cycle GHG emissions
Proton exchange membrane electrolyzer
Renewable hydrogen
Solar photovoltaic
Techno-economic analysis
Wind energy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Building and Construction
General Energy
Mechanical Engineering
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

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10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126595

Cite this

@article{57eb28d9626f4a4993904c04464438bf,

title = "Global techno-economic and life cycle greenhouse gas emissions assessment of solar and wind based renewable hydrogen production",

abstract = "This study conducts a global assessment of renewable hydrogen production using solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, and hybrid PV/wind systems, integrated with proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. A multi-objective optimization is applied to evaluate techno-economic performance and life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for embodied emissions in the system's components. Results identify optimal configurations to minimize levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) and carbon intensity (CI) of hydrogen, showing potential reductions of cost and CI by 2030. Specifically, standalone PV systems can achieve LCOH less than 6.5 USD/kg H2 and CI below 2.5 kg CO2eq/kg H2 in high-irradiance regions such as Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Chile. Wind systems in regions like MENA, Australia and Central USA can reach LCOH below 5 USD/kg H2 and CI below 1.5 kg CO2eq/kg H2. Hybrid systems emerge as the most effective configuration, maximizing the renewable energy use and minimizing both LCOH and CI.",

keywords = "Life cycle GHG emissions, Proton exchange membrane electrolyzer, Renewable hydrogen, Solar photovoltaic, Techno-economic analysis, Wind energy",

author = "Loiy Al-Ghussain and Zifeng Lu and Mohammad Alrbai and Sameer Al-Dahidi and Xin He and Amgad Elgowainy and Michael Wang",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126595",

language = "English",

volume = "401",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Global techno-economic and life cycle greenhouse gas emissions assessment of solar and wind based renewable hydrogen production

AU - Al-Ghussain, Loiy

AU - Lu, Zifeng

AU - Alrbai, Mohammad

AU - Al-Dahidi, Sameer

AU - He, Xin

AU - Elgowainy, Amgad

AU - Wang, Michael

PY - 2025/12/15

Y1 - 2025/12/15

N2 - This study conducts a global assessment of renewable hydrogen production using solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, and hybrid PV/wind systems, integrated with proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. A multi-objective optimization is applied to evaluate techno-economic performance and life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for embodied emissions in the system's components. Results identify optimal configurations to minimize levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) and carbon intensity (CI) of hydrogen, showing potential reductions of cost and CI by 2030. Specifically, standalone PV systems can achieve LCOH less than 6.5 USD/kg H2 and CI below 2.5 kg CO2eq/kg H2 in high-irradiance regions such as Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Chile. Wind systems in regions like MENA, Australia and Central USA can reach LCOH below 5 USD/kg H2 and CI below 1.5 kg CO2eq/kg H2. Hybrid systems emerge as the most effective configuration, maximizing the renewable energy use and minimizing both LCOH and CI.

AB - This study conducts a global assessment of renewable hydrogen production using solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, and hybrid PV/wind systems, integrated with proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. A multi-objective optimization is applied to evaluate techno-economic performance and life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for embodied emissions in the system's components. Results identify optimal configurations to minimize levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) and carbon intensity (CI) of hydrogen, showing potential reductions of cost and CI by 2030. Specifically, standalone PV systems can achieve LCOH less than 6.5 USD/kg H2 and CI below 2.5 kg CO2eq/kg H2 in high-irradiance regions such as Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Chile. Wind systems in regions like MENA, Australia and Central USA can reach LCOH below 5 USD/kg H2 and CI below 1.5 kg CO2eq/kg H2. Hybrid systems emerge as the most effective configuration, maximizing the renewable energy use and minimizing both LCOH and CI.

KW - Life cycle GHG emissions

KW - Proton exchange membrane electrolyzer

KW - Renewable hydrogen

KW - Solar photovoltaic

KW - Techno-economic analysis

KW - Wind energy

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105013521631

U2 - 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126595

DO - 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126595

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105013521631

SN - 0306-2619

VL - 401

JO - Applied Energy

JF - Applied Energy

M1 - 126595

ER -

Global techno-economic and life cycle greenhouse gas emissions assessment of solar and wind based renewable hydrogen production

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this