A Life Cycle Assessment of a green hydrogen production plant via electrolysis

Hydrogen, being a versatile and environmentally friendly energy carrier, has become a crucial solution to face the increasing global demand for clean and sustainable energy sources nowadays. With its production becoming widely spread around the world, the importance of analyzing its environmental impacts is a necessity for informed decision making and policy development. This thesis presents a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment of a green Hydrogen production plant via electrolysis, evaluating its environmental sustainability and resource efficiency. The LCA software tool SimaPro was used in this study to evaluate this hydrogen production via electrolysis. Data on the system inputs, operation and disposal stages are collected and analyzed using a systematic framework covering the complete life cycle of the hydrogen production plant. To provide a comprehensive view of the sustainability of this system, important environmental variables such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, water use, and land occupation, are carefully examined. The result of this work offers comprehensive information about the environmental performance of this hydrogen technology as well as a discussion on the possibility for process improvement and the incorporation of clean energy sources. In conclusion, this thesis offers an in-depth LCA framework that uses SimaPro software to evaluate the environmental impact of a hydrogen production plant via electrolysis, providing a solid knowledge base for the ongoing transition to a low-carbon and sustainable hydrogen economy. The results and methodology discussed here can help guide future studies, the development of policies and financial decisions, leading the worldwide initiative to lower greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable energy resources.