Cost evaluation for centralized hydrogen production

Nuclear energy can provide heat and electricity to produce hydrogen. Thermo-chemical and electrical decomposition of water have been studied as a hydrogen source. In this study, the cost of hydrogen supply for transportation usage was evaluated. The total cost for a centralized hydrogen production consisted of production cost, delivery cost, and station cost. The total cost for hydrogen production using nuclear energy can be at least comparable to that of steam-methane reforming, if the cost of carbon dioxide fixation was included. The delivery cost can be reduced by optimizing the size of hydrogen production and delivery distances. The hydrogen station cost was found out to be about 50% of the hydrogen supply cost. The optimum thermal power of nuclear power plants for hydrogen production was estimated based on the cost evaluation.