A technical and economic analysis of green hydrogen production: a case study of hydrogen export from Sumatra, Indonesia, to Singapore

Green hydrogen from renewable electricity is crucial for achieving future net-zero-emission energy systems. A promising strategy involves producing hydrogen in regions with high green electricity potential and transporting it to areas of demand. This study explores the technical and economic feasibility of producing green hydrogen in Sumatra, Indonesia, and transporting it to Singapore via a subsea pipeline with a capacity of 100 ktH2/year. Using commercially available electrolysers and components for hydrogen storage and transportation, the study evaluates the hydrogen supply chain. Two storage methods are considered: compressed tanks and metal hydrides. Electricity costs significantly impact the landed cost of hydrogen, contributing approximately 60% to compressed storage. The metal-hydride system has about 2% higher energy efficiency than compressed storage. In the given energy cost, the landed cost is around USD 4.09–6.03 per kilogram, which is lower than current literature values. From a system perspective, metal-hydride solid-state storage may offer advantages due to its low operational pressure requirements. Implementing these requirements simplifies hydrogen plant infrastructure and related expenses. In this scenario, the capital expenditure is around USD 275.91–453.49 per kilogram, making it competitive with compressed hydrogen storage options.