Session: 12-03: Hydrogen Energy, Alternative Fuels, Bioenergy, and Biofuels

Paper Number: 132193

132193 - Model-Based Design and Economic Assessment of a Clean Grid-Independent Hydrogen Supply Station for a Bus Fleet 

Abstract: 

In a global context where the goal of zero emissions has taken on crucial priority, the urban transportation sector emerges as a key player. This work aims to introduce a solution that not only contributes to emission reduction but is also economically sustainable for the renewal of bus fleets.

Considering a case study focused on the renewal of a fleet, requirements in terms of number of vehicles and annual mileage were defined, with a focus on 6 buses covering about 100,000 km per year. Several technological solutions were considered, with a comparison between diesel and fuel cell buses. To assess the cost-effectiveness of these proposals, a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis was conducted over a 6-year period, corresponding to the expected useful life of the propulsion systems used. The results indicate significant disadvantages for the fuel cell solution (2.99 million euros), mainly due to the high costs of purchasing buses and hydrogen compared to the diesel solution (1.96 million euros). In order to overcome these economic challenges and provide a sustainable solution, the design of a clean grid-independent hydrogen supply station to complement the fuel cell bus fleet for green hydrogen production is proposed. The microgrid design process, based on a previously developed optimization tool, aims to generate about 9,000 kg of hydrogen per year, meeting the needs of the bus fleet. The design aims at optimizing the size of the plant and efficient-year energy flow management by monitoring the state of charge of the hydrogen storage tank. Simple Payback Period (SPB) analysis was crucial in assessing the economic feasibility of the project, allowing validation of the design choices, through a literature comparison, and confirmation of the profitability of the investment with a payback time of less than 5 years. Subsequently, the comparison was extended by evaluating the TCO in the proposed combined solution of fuel cell bus fleet and grid-independent hydrogen supply station. Over a 6-year time frame, the TCO was found to be advantageous at 2.73 million compared to the solution with only fuel cell bus fleet. In addition, considering the possibility of a 50% tax deduction on the purchase of fuel cell buses, the TCO is further reduced to 1.65 million euros, being cost-effective even compared to the renewal of a diesel fleet.

This study aims to evaluate both the technical and economic aspects associated with the decision to renew a bus fleet through the adoption of fuel cell vehicles, combined with the design of a dedicated network for the production of green hydrogen, rather than resorting to the purchase of hydrogen from the external grid. The analysis also emphasizes the crucial role of institutions, which can play a crucial role by ensuring tax deductions for innovative solutions not only in terms of production facilities, but also extended to hydrogen-powered vehicles. In addition, this work provides a significant starting point for the implementation of a polygeneration plant, with the prospect of connecting to the grid for electricity sales, thus offering the possibility of expanding revenues. The option of extending energy use to a variety of contexts, including both electrical and thermal loads, is considered: this approach fits into a broader context of energy communities, paving the way for possible future developments.

Presenting Author: Giovanni Bove Università degli Studi di Salerno

Presenting Author Biography: Giovanni Bove is currently a dedicated PhD student at the University of Salerno, where his research focuses on advancing modeling procedures to evaluate the techno-economic feasibility of polygenerators leveraging fuel cells and hydrogen. In close collaboration with the University of Pisa, he actively contributes to the exploration of innovative solutions in the field.
Before embarking on his doctoral journey, Giovanni accumulated valuable professional experience at Stellantis, specializing in software validation and verification for both conventional and hybrid vehicle projects.

Authors:

Giovanni Bove Università degli Studi di Salerno
Marco Sorrentino Università degli Studi di Salerno
Umberto Desideri University of Pisa