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In response to climate change and the imperative for sustainable energy solutions, this study investigates the feasibility of producing green hydrogen and associated e-fuels (methane, methanol, and ammonia) using a renewable energy hybrid system in Dakhla, Morocco. Utilizing the System Advisor Model (SAM) software for simulation-based analysis, the research evaluates a hybrid system combining concentrated solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV) plants against standalone counterparts. Various simulations comparing standalone PV and CSP plants with a novel CSP/PV hybrid concept were carried out. The hybrid system demonstrates significant promise, exhibiting increased annual energy yield and capacity factors up to 90%, leading to enhanced efficiency, performance, and cost savings with a Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) approximating 17 cents/kWh. Furthermore, this paper conducts an in-depth exploration into the feasible production of hydrogen and its derived synthetic fuels utilizing hybrid renewable systems. The study provides a thorough examination of the production processes, yields, and efficiencies of hydrogen and its derivative e-fuels, with a focus on green hydrogen production through water electrolysis, CO2 hydrogenation, the Sabatier process, and the Haber-Bosch process. It sheds light on the potential applications of these fuels in the transportation sector, including in electric and hydrogen vehicles and aviation. The insights garnered are indispensable for crafting future strategies and policies in sustainable energy planning. These findings not only provide valuable direction for forthcoming initiatives in renewable energy but also underscore the pivotal role of hybridization in enhancing the efficient production and utilization of hydrogen within both renewable energy and transportation sectors. • PV and CSP systems to generate electricity for the Dakhla city was investigated. • A Hybrid system optimization has been proposed. • The Electricity surplus was used to produce hydrogen and hydrogen-based products. • Various scenarios for the heavy-duty application of e-fuel were presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the complex relationship between the role of H 2 , carbon emissions and their impact on global warming and the economy. Despite improvements in energy efficiency, fossil fuel consumption continues to increase. CO 2 from industrial activities at high temperatures, such as cement, iron, steel and glass production, have increased rapidly, resulting in an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These emissions accelerate climate change, leading to dangerous consequences such as increasing average atmospheric temperature and decreasing agricultural productivity. To combat this, it is advocated to reduce CO 2 emissions by using renewable energy sources such as hydroelectricity, biomass, wind solar energy. Current study also discusses carbon reduction methods, including oxy-fuel combustion capture, pre-combustion capture, and post-combustion capture. Despite their unique advantages and disadvantages, these methods play an important role in reducing CO 2 emissions from power plants. Additionally, the article highlights the importance of H 2 as a cornerstone in the development of synthetic fuels and future energy systems. H 2 from renewable sources holds the potential to use carbon-neutral synthetic liquid fuels and revolutionize transportation. Although traditional H 2 production methods are associated with emissions, sustainable H 2 production techniques can facilitate low-carbon fuel production. The article concludes by highlighting the importance of sustainable energy practices and the role of H 2 in reducing carbon emissions, highlighting research efforts to improve production methods, integrate renewable energy, and develop carbon capture technologies for a sustainable future. • Methods used in synthetic fuel production and sources of hydrogen production. • Carbon capture methods and their comparative discussion. • The importance of hydrogen production in synthetic fuel production and future plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is widely used in many industries, yet its role in the clean energy transition goes beyond being an element of these industries. Near-term practical large-scale clean hydrogen production can be made available by involving nuclear, solar, and other renewable energy sources in the process of hydrogen production, and coupling their energy systems to sustainable carbon-free hydrogen technologies. This requires further investigation and assessment of the different alternatives to achieve clean hydrogen using these pathways. This paper assesses the technoeconomics of promising hydrogen technologies that can be coupled to nuclear and solar energy systems for large-scale hydrogen production. It also provides an overview of the design, status and advances of these technologies. • Assessment of promising clean large-scale hydrogen technologies is presented. • Review on technoeconomics of nuclear and solar hydrogen is conducted. • Nuclear hydrogen is found to be a feasible route for sustainable hydrogen production. • Thermochemical nuclear hydrogen production is a cost effective path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demands for the decline of CO 2 emissions resulted in a significant transformation of the energy systems working on carbon sources towards more sustainable, clean, and renewable characteristics. Hydrogen is emerging as a secondary energy vector with ever-increasing importance in the decarbonisation progress. Indeed, hydrogen, a green and renewable energy source, could be produced from steam gasification of plant-originated lignocellulosic biomass. In this current review, key factors affect the hydrogen production yield from steam gasification of plant-originated lignocellulosic biomass, including the design of the gasifier, temperature, pressure, and steam-to-biomass ratio, steam flow rate, moisture and particle size of fed biomass, and catalysts were thoroughly analysed. Moreover, the effects of the abovementioned factors on the reduction of tar formation, which is also a key parameter towards ensuring the trouble-free operation of the reactor, were critically evaluated. More importantly, the separation of produced hydrogen from steam gasification of biomass and challenges over technological, environmental, and economic aspects of biomass gasification were also presented in detail. In addition, this paper is also profiling the prospect of Vietnam in fulfilling its hydrogen economy potential because Vietnam has vast biomass due to its tropical weather and availability of arable land, providing abundant lignocellulosic biomass with 45% of agricultural waste, 30% of firewood, and 25% of other sources. Besides, some primary factors hindering the broad application of biomass for hydrogen production were indicated. Finally, some solutions for implementing the hydrogenization strategy in Vietnam have also been discussed. • Hydrogen production from steam gasification of plant-originated biomass is reviewed. • Various steam gasifier configurations for hydrogen production are detailed. • Key parameters affecting the produced hydrogen yield are scrutinised. • Chances, barriers, and solutions for the hydrogen economy in Vietnam are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen production from water splitting is considered one of the most environmentally friendly processes for replacing fossil fuels. Among the various technologies to produce hydrogen from water splitting, thermochemical cycles using chemical reagents have the advantage of scale up compared to other specific facilities or geological conditions required. According to thermochemical processes using chemical redox reactions, 2-, 3-, 4-step thermochemical water splitting cycles can generate hydrogen more efficiently due to reducing temperatures. Increasing the number of cycles or steps of thermochemical hydrogen production could reduce the required maximum temperature of the facility. In addition, recently developed hybrid thermochemical processes combined with electricity or solar energy have been studied on a large scale because of the reduced cost of hydrogen production. Additionally, hybrid thermochemical water splitting combined with renewable energy can result in not only reducing the cost, but also increasing hydrogen production efficiency in terms of energy. As for a green energy, hydrogen production from water splitting using sustainable and renewable energy is significant to protect biological environment and human health. Additionally, hybrid thermochemical water splitting is conducive to large scale hydrogen production. This paper reviews the multi-step and highly developed hybrid thermochemical technologies to produce hydrogen from water splitting based on recently published literature to understand current research achievements. • Thermochemical hydrogen production from water splitting is viable on a large scale. • The multi-step thermochemical method can be an energy-saving process. • Hybrid methods are plausible in terms of cost and efficiency. • Renewable energy combined system is conducive to hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the use of renewable energy sources is one of the keys to achieve the sustainable development of societies. The intensive use of fossil fuels has caused effects in the environment and the human health. Greenhouse gas emissions and the carcinogenic effect of diesel are widely demonstrated. The production of clean energy based on renewable sources and the use of hydrogen as an energy vector in general and as an alternative fuel in particular represent a technically feasible reality. However, it is necessary to study the economic variables of centralized or distributed production of hydrogen as an alternative fuel. The aim of this paper is to analyze the technical and economic viability of a centralized generation hydrogen plant for mobility use. It was performed a sensitivity analysis of main parameters such as size of hydrogen production plant, operating hours of the plant, investment costs of the main equipment and electricity price. A NPV of 1,272,692 and a 9-year pay-back were obtained for a centralized hydrogen production plant of 2 MW, considering commercial values of the main evaluation parameters. The sensitivity analysis determines that the main variables affecting the NPV are the price of electricity and the operating hours of the plant. With 95% of confidence, the NPV will be positive with an 80.19% of certainty. Therefore, centralized hydrogen production represents a technically viable, environmentally friendly and economically attractive process that can rapidly position hydrogen as an alternative fuel for mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]