Integration of Blue and Green Hydrogen Supply Chains for Road Mobility: Utilization of Byproduct Oxygen for Efficient Operation Through Optimization

Hydrogen is a key energy carrier in the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon future. Among hydrogen production methods, blue and green hydrogen are prominent, derived from non-renewable and renewable sources, respectively. This study explores the potential integration of these two supply chains to support hydrogen use in road mobility. First, a literature review is conducted to understand the characteristics of each supply chain. Then, a mono-objective, static and deterministic Mixed-Integer Linear Program (MILP) designs a supply chain network based on two cases to fulfill future road mobility demand in Qatar, although the model itself can be applied outside Qatar as well. In the first case, only blue hydrogen can be produced, and Auto-Thermal Reforming (ATR) pathway is selected. In the second case, the model can incorporate both green and blue pathways, with the green pathway chosen. Through literature review, it was also highlighted that Air-Separation Units (ASUs) represent a major capital cost in ATR plants, whereas oxygen from electrolysis is typically vented. This opens the possibility of using this electrolytic by-product oxygen in ATR, suggesting that integrating blue and green hydrogen supply chains could reduce overall network costs which warrants further study.