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This study investigates the optimisation of hydrogen supply chains for a potential hydrogen valley in the Southern Upper Rhine Region through a novel techno-economic framework. Hydrogen valleys, characterized by integrated production, transportation, and consumption systems, are pivotal for advancing a hydrogen economy. The present study introduces a novelty by combining the optimisation of the hydrogen valley with the results of an energy system analysis modelling a defossilisation pathway for Europe. This approach enables the incorporation of realistic price projections for the import and export of electricity and hydrogen within the hydrogen valley with local production. The findings reveal that the levelized cost of hydrogen in a early development phase with only local hydrogen production in 2025 is approximately 7.89 €/kg, primarily influenced by expensive grid electricity and hydropower. By 2030, with the integration of the hydrogen backbone, levelized cost of hydrogen is projected to decrease to 6.8 €/kg, emphasizing the economic viability of hydrogen imports. The total range of LCOH over all scenarios is from 5.55 to 8.69 €/kg. Sensitivity analyses demonstrate that the economic viability of local electrolysis projects highly depends on hydrogen import prices, advocating for strategic investment planning. The research emphasizes the significance of adapting to evolving boundary conditions in hydrogen valley development, establishing a foundational model for future studies on regional hydrogen economies and their integration into broader energy systems . This work contributes to the understanding of hydrogen supply chain optimisation, highlighting the necessity of holistic planning to achieve efficient resource utilisation and cost-effective hydrogen production .
Mendler et al. (Wed,) studied this question.