Sustainable bio-hydrogen production: Assessing economic and environmental implications of a scaled-up industrial bioethanol prototype

This study comprehensively evaluates a bioethanol steam reforming plant in Colombia for green hydrogen (H₂) production, sourced from the country's sugar industry. By integrating experimental data and Aspen Plus simulations, the research examines the techno-economic and environmental aspects of utilizing bioethanol as a renewable feedstock for H₂ production. Rigorous process modeling, capital investment appraisal, operational cost estimation, economic performance metrics, and environmental assessment are considered. Key findings indicate an H₂ yield of 0.155 kg/kg of bioethanol and 34 % energy efficiency, eliminating reliance on fossil fuels. The Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) at a Colombian sugar mill is calculated at 10.27 USD/kg under specific assessment conditions. The process exhibits a carbon footprint of 2.16 kg_CO2-eq/kg_H2 from an environmental perspective. These results emphasize the potential of bioethanol steam reforming as a sustainable and economically viable pathway for green-H₂ production, advancing energy transition efforts away from fossil fuels.