Uncovering the true cost of hydrogen production routes using life cycle monetisation

• Environmental externalities are crucial to sustainability assessments. Economical plus monetised LCA impacts provides an estimate of true cost hydrogen. Ten hydrogen production technologies were assessed and compared on monetary basis. At present, steam methane reforming with CCS emerged as the most promising option. Hydrogen has been identified a potential energy vector decarbonise transport chemical sectors achieve global greenhouse gas reduction targets. Despite ongoing efforts, often focusing their warming while overlooking other impacts, or at including additional metrics that not easily interpretable. Herein, wide range alternative have determine total by coupling life-cycle assessments economic evaluation environmental production. By values human health, ecosystem quality, resources top levelised production, estimation “real” was obtained transparently rank technologies. The study herein covers (SMR), coal biomass gasification, pyrolysis, electrolysis from renewable nuclear Monetised found represent significant percentage cost, ultimately altering standard ranking SMR coupled carbon capture storage emerges cheapest option, followed water wind nuclear. results identify ranges for (business usual) externalities, thereby helping pinpoint critical barriers emerging competing SMR.