Navigating Algeria towards a sustainable green hydrogen future to empower North Africa and Europe’s clean hydrogen transition

Bachir  Tiar; Sulaiman Fadlallah; Djamal Eddine Benhadji Serradj; Philip Graham; Hamza Aagela

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.02.328

Navigating Algeria towards a sustainable green hydrogen future to empower North Africa and Europe’s clean hydrogen transition

Bachir Tiar, Sulaiman Fadlallah, Djamal Eddine Benhadji Serradj, Philip Graham , Hamza Aagela

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

39 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Algeria, richly-endowed with renewable resources, is well-positioned to become a vital green hydrogen provider to Europe. Aiming to aid policymakers, stakeholders, and energy sector participants, this study embodies the first effort in literature to investigate the viability and cost-effectiveness of implementing green hydrogen production projects destined for exports to Europe via existing pipelines. A land suitability analysis utilizing multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) coupled with geographical information system (GIS) identified that over 43.55% of Algeria is highly-suitable for hydrogen production. Five optimal locations were investigated utilizing Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Electric Renewables (HOMER), with solar-hydrogen proving the most cost-effective option. Wind-based production, offering higher output volumes reaching 968 kg/h, requires turbine cost reductions of 17.50% (Ain Salah) to 54.50% (Djanet) to achieve a competitive levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of $3.85/kg with PV systems. A techno-economic sensitivity analysis was conducted, identifying Djanet as the most promising location for a 100 MW solar-hydrogen plant, with a competitive LCOH ranging from $1.96/kg to $4.85/kg.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	783-802
Number of pages	20
Journal	International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume	61
Early online date	5 Mar 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.02.328
Publication status	Published - 3 Apr 2024

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

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10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.02.328Licence: CC BY

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title = "Navigating Algeria towards a sustainable green hydrogen future to empower North Africa and Europe{\textquoteright}s clean hydrogen transition",

abstract = "Algeria, richly-endowed with renewable resources, is well-positioned to become a vital green hydrogen provider to Europe. Aiming to aid policymakers, stakeholders, and energy sector participants, this study embodies the first effort in literature to investigate the viability and cost-effectiveness of implementing green hydrogen production projects destined for exports to Europe via existing pipelines. A land suitability analysis utilizing multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) coupled with geographical information system (GIS) identified that over 43.55\% of Algeria is highly-suitable for hydrogen production. Five optimal locations were investigated utilizing Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Electric Renewables (HOMER), with solar-hydrogen proving the most cost-effective option. Wind-based production, offering higher output volumes reaching 968 kg/h, requires turbine cost reductions of 17.50\% (Ain Salah) to 54.50\% (Djanet) to achieve a competitive levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of \$3.85/kg with PV systems. A techno-economic sensitivity analysis was conducted, identifying Djanet as the most promising location for a 100 MW solar-hydrogen plant, with a competitive LCOH ranging from \$1.96/kg to \$4.85/kg.",

keywords = "Hydrogen production, Techno-economic, HOMER pro, LCOH, AHP-GIS, Algeria",

author = "Bachir Tiar and Sulaiman Fadlallah and \{Benhadji Serradj\}, \{Djamal Eddine\} and Philip Graham and Hamza Aagela",

note = "Funding Information: In the subsequent analysis, the techno-economic evaluation of hydrogen plants will focus on five selected locations. Considering the water-intensive nature of electrolysis for hydrogen production and acknowledging water scarcity and groundwater renewability in Algeria, a detailed investigation into water availability at the chosen sites has been conducted, with the results presented in Table 10. The findings indicate that, across all five regions, water can be accessed at depths of less than 250 m. Furthermore, the quantity of available water in these locations is a crucial factor. For instance, in Bechar, although the water quantity may be considered modest compared to other locations, the underground reservoir spanning an area of over 2600 km2 allows for a potential withdrawal of more than 26 BCM of water. However, conducting in-depth investigations into the geological structure and the radius of influence of this underground water is essential to determine the optimal number of wells and their spacing. Furthermore, considering the potential economic benefits for the Algerian government, resulting revenues from exporting the country's produced green hydrogen to Europe could be directed towards enhancing the water infrastructure in the country's southern regions, potentially supporting the use of desalination water in the long term. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 The Authors",

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doi = "10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.02.328",

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AU - Fadlallah, Sulaiman

AU - Benhadji Serradj, Djamal Eddine

AU - Graham , Philip

AU - Aagela, Hamza

N1 - Funding Information: In the subsequent analysis, the techno-economic evaluation of hydrogen plants will focus on five selected locations. Considering the water-intensive nature of electrolysis for hydrogen production and acknowledging water scarcity and groundwater renewability in Algeria, a detailed investigation into water availability at the chosen sites has been conducted, with the results presented in Table 10. The findings indicate that, across all five regions, water can be accessed at depths of less than 250 m. Furthermore, the quantity of available water in these locations is a crucial factor. For instance, in Bechar, although the water quantity may be considered modest compared to other locations, the underground reservoir spanning an area of over 2600 km2 allows for a potential withdrawal of more than 26 BCM of water. However, conducting in-depth investigations into the geological structure and the radius of influence of this underground water is essential to determine the optimal number of wells and their spacing. Furthermore, considering the potential economic benefits for the Algerian government, resulting revenues from exporting the country's produced green hydrogen to Europe could be directed towards enhancing the water infrastructure in the country's southern regions, potentially supporting the use of desalination water in the long term. Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors

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N2 - Algeria, richly-endowed with renewable resources, is well-positioned to become a vital green hydrogen provider to Europe. Aiming to aid policymakers, stakeholders, and energy sector participants, this study embodies the first effort in literature to investigate the viability and cost-effectiveness of implementing green hydrogen production projects destined for exports to Europe via existing pipelines. A land suitability analysis utilizing multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) coupled with geographical information system (GIS) identified that over 43.55% of Algeria is highly-suitable for hydrogen production. Five optimal locations were investigated utilizing Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Electric Renewables (HOMER), with solar-hydrogen proving the most cost-effective option. Wind-based production, offering higher output volumes reaching 968 kg/h, requires turbine cost reductions of 17.50% (Ain Salah) to 54.50% (Djanet) to achieve a competitive levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of $3.85/kg with PV systems. A techno-economic sensitivity analysis was conducted, identifying Djanet as the most promising location for a 100 MW solar-hydrogen plant, with a competitive LCOH ranging from $1.96/kg to $4.85/kg.

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DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.02.328

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EP - 802

JO - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

JF - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

ER -

Navigating Algeria towards a sustainable green hydrogen future to empower North Africa and Europe’s clean hydrogen transition

Abstract

UN SDGs

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