Comparative Analysis of the Economic Efficiency of Various Methods of Delivering Commercial Hydrogen from NPPs*

Modern system and market conditions dictate the requirement for forced unloading of nuclear power plants during periods of reduced energy consumption. Technologically, nuclear power plants are capable of following a planned load schedule during certain periods of the fuel cycle, with unloading during periods of reduced electricity demand, but this can reduce their economic efficiency and competitiveness. One way to maintain the economic efficiency of nuclear power plants is to produce commercial hydrogen using the unused electricity from the power plant's power unit. The cost of transporting hydrogen to the final consumer accounts for a significant portion of the overall cost of hydrogen production. This article analyzes the impact of different methods of transporting hydrogen on its cost. It has been established that the most expedient method for large daily hydrogen consumption is the use of a redesigned pipeline, with an average cost of approximately 2.029 $/kg for a distance of 100-400 km. For relatively low hydrogen consumption (up to 61.6 tons/day), it is advisable to transport it using vehicles with a capacity of 700 kg, with an average cost of approximately 2.24 $/kg. These results indicate the feasibility of implementing a commercial hydrogen production complex at a nuclear power plant. Centralized hydrogen production at a nuclear power plant has a number of positive effects on both the plant itself and the hydrogen consumer.

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