Techno-economic analysis of low-carbon hydrogen production by sorption enhanced steam methane reforming (SE-SMR) processes

Hydrogen is an attractive energy carrier that will play a key role in future global energy transitions. This work investigates the techno-economic performance of six different sorption enhanced steam methane reforming (SESMR) configurations integrated with an indirect natural gas or biomass-fired calciner, oxy-fuel combustion and chemical-looping combustion for large-scale blue and carbon-negative hydrogen production. The technoeconomic performance of the proposed cases was evaluated by their net efficiency, CO2 capture efficiency, levelised cost of hydrogen (LCOH), and costs of CO2 avoided and removal. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted to evaluate the key parameters and explore existing uncertainties that can affect the economic performance of the proposed SE-SMR processes. The results revealed that the proposed systems were comparable with conventional steam methane reforming (SMR) with carbon capture and storage (CCS). The LCOH of the proposed SE-SMR plants ranged from 1.90-2.80 pound/kg, and the costs of CO2 avoided and removal ranged from 33-69 pound/tonne and 58-10(7) pound/tonne, respectively. By applying a carbon price (16 pound/tonne CO2), the costs of CO2 avoided and removal for the proposed SE-SMR processes could be significantly reduced. The results of cumulative discounted cash flow of SE-SMR plants at a hydrogen selling price of 3.00 pound/kg indicated that all the investment of the proposed cases could be paid back after eight years, even if the carbon tax is zero.