Solar enabled pathway to large-scale green hydrogen production and storage: A framework for Oman’s advancing renewable energy goals
The utilisation of renewable energy sources for hydrogen production is increasingly vital for ensuring the long-term sustainability of global energy systems. Currently, the Sultanate of Oman is actively integrating renewable energy, particularly through the deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) syst...
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| author | Amer Al Rasbi Shanza Neda Hussain Aritra Ghosh |
| author_facet | Amer Al Rasbi Shanza Neda Hussain Aritra Ghosh |
| author_sort | Amer Al Rasbi |
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| description | The utilisation of renewable energy sources for hydrogen production is increasingly vital for ensuring the long-term sustainability of global energy systems. Currently, the Sultanate of Oman is actively integrating renewable energy, particularly through the deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, as part of its ambitious targets for the forthcoming decades. Also, Oman has target to achieve 1 million tonnes of green-H2 production annually. Leveraging Oman's abundant solar resources to produce green hydrogen and promote the clean transportation industry could significantly boost the country's sustainable energy sector. This paper outlines a standalone bifacial solar-powered system designed for large-scale green hydrogen (H2) production and storage to operate both a hydrogen refuelling station and an electric vehicle charging station in Sohar, Oman. Using HOMER software, three scenarios: PV/Hydrogen/Battery, PV/Hydrogen, PV/Battery systems were compared from a techno-economic perspective. Also, the night-time operation (Battery/Hydrogen) was investigated. Varying cost of electricity were obtained depending on the system from $3.91/kWh to $0.0000565 kWh while the bifacial PV/Hydrogen/Battery system emerged as the most efficient option, boasting a unit cost of electricity (COE) of $3.91/kWh and a levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) value of $6.63/kg with net present cost 199M. This system aligns well with Oman's 2030 objectives, with the capacity to generate 1 million tonnes of green-H2 annually. Additionally, the findings show that the surplus electricity from the system could potentially cover over 30% of Oman's total energy consumption, with zero harmful emissions. The implementation of this system promises to enhance Oman's economic and transportation industries by promoting the adoption of electric and fuel cell vehicles while reducing reliance on traditional energy sources. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f4904b31af004c55b5add6b9b04d9c6a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-1230 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Results in Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-f4904b31af004c55b5add6b9b04d9c6a2025-08-24T05:14:22ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-09-012710684310.1016/j.rineng.2025.106843Solar enabled pathway to large-scale green hydrogen production and storage: A framework for Oman’s advancing renewable energy goalsAmer Al Rasbi0Shanza Neda Hussain1Aritra Ghosh2Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (ESE), Renewable Energy, Electric and Electronic Engineering, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UKFaculty of Environment, Science and Economy (ESE), Renewable Energy, Electric and Electronic Engineering, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UKCorresponding author.; Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (ESE), Renewable Energy, Electric and Electronic Engineering, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UKThe utilisation of renewable energy sources for hydrogen production is increasingly vital for ensuring the long-term sustainability of global energy systems. Currently, the Sultanate of Oman is actively integrating renewable energy, particularly through the deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, as part of its ambitious targets for the forthcoming decades. Also, Oman has target to achieve 1 million tonnes of green-H2 production annually. Leveraging Oman's abundant solar resources to produce green hydrogen and promote the clean transportation industry could significantly boost the country's sustainable energy sector. This paper outlines a standalone bifacial solar-powered system designed for large-scale green hydrogen (H2) production and storage to operate both a hydrogen refuelling station and an electric vehicle charging station in Sohar, Oman. Using HOMER software, three scenarios: PV/Hydrogen/Battery, PV/Hydrogen, PV/Battery systems were compared from a techno-economic perspective. Also, the night-time operation (Battery/Hydrogen) was investigated. Varying cost of electricity were obtained depending on the system from $3.91/kWh to $0.0000565 kWh while the bifacial PV/Hydrogen/Battery system emerged as the most efficient option, boasting a unit cost of electricity (COE) of $3.91/kWh and a levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) value of $6.63/kg with net present cost 199M. This system aligns well with Oman's 2030 objectives, with the capacity to generate 1 million tonnes of green-H2 annually. Additionally, the findings show that the surplus electricity from the system could potentially cover over 30% of Oman's total energy consumption, with zero harmful emissions. The implementation of this system promises to enhance Oman's economic and transportation industries by promoting the adoption of electric and fuel cell vehicles while reducing reliance on traditional energy sources.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302502907XBatteryElectric vehicleGreen hydrogenLevelized costOmanPhotovoltaic, VRFB |
| spellingShingle | Amer Al Rasbi Shanza Neda Hussain Aritra Ghosh Solar enabled pathway to large-scale green hydrogen production and storage: A framework for Oman’s advancing renewable energy goals Results in Engineering Battery Electric vehicle Green hydrogen Levelized cost Oman Photovoltaic, VRFB |
| title | Solar enabled pathway to large-scale green hydrogen production and storage: A framework for Oman’s advancing renewable energy goals |
| title_full | Solar enabled pathway to large-scale green hydrogen production and storage: A framework for Oman’s advancing renewable energy goals |
| title_fullStr | Solar enabled pathway to large-scale green hydrogen production and storage: A framework for Oman’s advancing renewable energy goals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Solar enabled pathway to large-scale green hydrogen production and storage: A framework for Oman’s advancing renewable energy goals |
| title_short | Solar enabled pathway to large-scale green hydrogen production and storage: A framework for Oman’s advancing renewable energy goals |
| title_sort | solar enabled pathway to large scale green hydrogen production and storage a framework for oman s advancing renewable energy goals |
| topic | Battery Electric vehicle Green hydrogen Levelized cost Oman Photovoltaic, VRFB |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302502907X |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ameralrasbi solarenabledpathwaytolargescalegreenhydrogenproductionandstorageaframeworkforomansadvancingrenewableenergygoals AT shanzanedahussain solarenabledpathwaytolargescalegreenhydrogenproductionandstorageaframeworkforomansadvancingrenewableenergygoals AT aritraghosh solarenabledpathwaytolargescalegreenhydrogenproductionandstorageaframeworkforomansadvancingrenewableenergygoals |