Sustainability of hydrogen production considering alternative technologies towards a neutral carbon society.

Hydrogen can be produced from several feedstocks and technologies, making it an important partner in the energy transition to neutral carbon societies. Hydrogen production can be based on renewable feedstocks, such as agricultural residues, which are highly available and economical. However, a comprehensive analysis of all available hydrogen production technologies must be done. Therefore, this work focused on developing a comparative analysis of the sustainability of the main hydrogen production technologies. Technologies with the greatest opportunity for development were simulated and evaluated from a sustainability perspective. Techno-energetic, economic, environmental, and social indicators were used to calculate a comprehensive sustainability index (S Id). Steam biomethane reforming (SBMR) and electrolysis (EL) were the schemes with the highest S Id based on the techno-energetic and environmental dimensions. However, the S Id decreased substantially when the economic dimension was considered because SBMR presented high capital and operating costs, and EL had low technical performance. On the other hand, thermochemical and biological technologies require further research to decrease the environmental burden and improve the mass yield of the process. Therefore, each production scheme involves different disadvantages that must be resolved to increase the opportunities for hydrogen development. [Display omitted] • The sustainability index made it possible to establish the development opportunity presented by each technology considering different dimensions of analysis. • Steam biomethane reforming and gasification processes are more efficient and economically viable than electrolytic and biological technologies. • The cost of hydrogen production in electrolytic processes is highly dependent on the primary source of electricity. • Hydrogen production by biological processes requires more research on improving yields and production costs. • The scheme with the highest sustainability indexes was the steam biomethane reforming scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]