Comparative Techno-Economic Modelling of Large-Scale Thermochemical Biohydrogen Production Technologies to Fuel Public Buses: A Case Study of West Midlands Region of England

This work presents techno-economic modelling of four thermochemical technologies that could produce nearly 20,500 tonnes hydrogen per year from biomass for public bus transport. These included fluidised bed (FB) steam gasification, fast pyrolysis-FB pyrolysis-steam reforming, and reforming biogas anaerobic digestion (AD). Each plant was modelled on ASPEN plus with without carbon capture storage (CCS), their process flow diagrams, mass energy balances used economic modelling. Payback periods ranged 6.7 to 7 years. For operations CCS, in which the captured CO 2 sold, FB gasification gave lowest minimum selling price $2.84/kg. followed by AD-biogas ($3.67/kg), while pyrolysis-reforming pyrolysis-gasification giving $6.58/kg $7.49/kg, respectively. Hydrogen prices were sensitive raw material costs internal rates return, revenue very important make biohydrogen production cost competitive. CCS deliver at less than $4/kg when sold above $75/tonne. study showed cheaper extend current use electrolytic hydrogen-fuelled buses Birmingham wider West Midlands region.