Technoeconomic analysis of hydrogen versus natural gas considering safety hazards and energy efficiency indicators

Hydrogen (H-2) is emerging as a key alternative to fossil fuels in the global energy transition. This study presents a comparative techno-economic analysis of H-2 and natural gas (NG), focusing on safety hazards, energy output, CO2 emissions, and cost-effectiveness aspects. Our analysis showed that, compared to NG and other highly flammable gases like acetylene (C2H2) and propane (C3H8), H2has a higher hazard potential due to factors such as its wide flammability range, low ignition energy, and high flame speed. In terms of energy output, 1 kg of NG produces 48.60 MJ, while conversion to liquefied natural gas (LNG), grey H-2, and blue H-2 reduces energy output to 45.96 MJ, 35.45 MJ, and 31.21 MJ, respectively. Similarly, while unconverted NG emits 2.72 kg of CO2 per kg, emissions increase to 3.12 kg for LNG and 3.32 kg for grey H-2. However, blue H-2 significantly reduces CO(2)emissions to 1.05 kg per kg due to carbon capture and storage. From an economic perspective, producing 1 kg of NG yields a profit of $0.011. Converting NG to grey H-2 is most profitable, yielding a net profit of $0.609 per kg of NG, while blue H-2, despite higher production costs, remains viable with a profit of $0.390 per kg of NG. LNG conversion also shows profitability with $0.061 per kg of NG. This analysis highlights the trade-offs between energy efficiency, environmental impact, and economic viability, providing valuable insights for stakeholders formulating hydrogen and LNG implementation strategies.