Session: 15-01-01: ASME International Undergraduate Research and Design Exposition

Paper Number: 150882

150882 - Echno-Economic Analysis of Offshore Wind and Hydrogen Integrated System in the Gulf of Mexico 

Hydrogen, a versatile energy carrier, is increasingly integrated into renewable energy systems due to its potential to store and supply energy when renewable sources like wind are intermittent.This comprehensive study aims to minimize the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) production by integrating offshore wind farms and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis in the Gulf of Mexico. Electrolysis, a green energy solution, involves splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen using positive and negative electrodes as a current passes through them. This is opposed to processes such as the widely used steam methane reforming (SMR), a chemical process that produces hydrogen using fossil fuels and a proven nonrenewable energy source. The HySupply Cost Tool was improved and adopted to analyze financial parameters and model the PEM electrolyzer wind farm system connected to the grid. Wind data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s System Advisor Model (SAM) software informed the modeling of wind farms with Siemens 3.6 MW, 2020 ATB NREL Reference 4 MW, and 2020 ATB NREL Reference 7 MW turbines. Results indicate that the combination of lower upfront costs and higher efficiencies of PEM electrolyzer and turbine installations significantly reduces hydrogen production costs.Turbine capacity factors were found to range between 33% and 45%, with higher capacities to be more preferable, as lower ranges create higher costs.The cost of hydrogen production was assessed considering various turbine installation and electrolyzer purchase costs. The hydrogen production costs varied from $14.14/kg to $20.05/kg. Plant capacity factors were also analyzed, revealing that the 3.6 MW turbines had lower capacity factors, while the 4 MW and 7 MW turbines performed within the expected higher capacity factor range. These findings underscore the economic viability and potential cost-effectiveness of leveraging offshore wind resources for hydrogen production in the Gulf of Mexico. Despite current high costs, scaling up renewable hydrogen production can significantly contribute to achieving the United States goal of 30 GW of wind energy by 2030, promoting cleaner energy solutions. Integrating offshore wind farms with PEM electrolysis in the Gulf of Mexico presents a promising pathway for cost-effective hydrogen production, leveraging the region's abundant wind resources and aligning with broader renewable energy goals. As the energy landscape shifts towards greener solutions, the role of hydrogen, supported by advancements in electrolysis technology and wind energy technology, while also lowering upfront costs, will be crucial in meeting future energy demands sustainably and reliably.

Presenting Author: Zaina Anarwala University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Presenting Author Biography: Zaina Anarwala is an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she is studying Systems engineering with a concentration in manufacturing. She conducted research as part of a Wind Energy Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at the University of Texas at Dallas. Her research interests include renewable energy systems and the integration of sustainable technologies into existing infrastructures.

Authors:

Zaina Anarwala University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Honglin Li University of Texas at Dallas
Jie Zhang University of Texas at Dallas