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Grants to Dr. L. Reyes-Bozo from Universidad Autonoma de Chile (Apoyo a Eventos Cientificos Nacionales o Internacionales and Proyecto VRIP EI 04-2020 both from Vicerrectoria de Investigacion y Postgrado).

Analysis of institutional authors

Clemente-Jul, CAuthor

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Article

Sustainability of hydrogen refuelling stations for trains using electrolysers

Publicated to:International Journal Of Hydrogen Energy. 46 (26): 13748-13759 - 2021-04-14 46(26), DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.10.044

Authors: Guerra, Carlos Funez; Reyes-Bozo, Lorenzo; Vyhmeister, Eduardo; Salazar, Jose Luis; Caparros, Maria Jaen; Clemente-Jul, Carmen

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Abstract

Hydrogen has the potential to become a powerful energy vector with different applications in many sectors (industrial, residential, transportation and other applications) as it offers a clean, sustainable, and flexible alternative. Hydrogen trains use compressed hydrogen as fuel to generate electricity using a hybrid system (combining fuel cell and batteries) to power traction motors and auxiliaries. This hydrogen trains are fuelled with hydrogen at the central train depot, like diesel locomotives. The main goal of this paper is to perform a techno-economic analysis for a hydrogen refuelling stations using on-site production, based on PEM electrolyser technology in order to supply hydrogen to a 20 hydrogen-powered trains captive fleet. A sensitivity analysis on the main parameters will be performed as well, in order to acquire the knowledge required to take any decisions on implementation regarding electricity cost, hydrogen selling price, number of operation hours and number of trains for the captive fleet.The main methodology considers the evaluation of the project based on the Net Present Value calculation and the sensitivity analysis through standard method using Oracle Crystal Ball. The main result shows that the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel for trains is a sustainable and profitable solution from the economic, environmental and safety points of view.The economic analysis concludes with the need to negotiate an electricity cost lower than 50 (sic)/MWh, in order to be able to establish the hydrogen selling price at a rate higher than 4.5(sic)/kg. The number of operating hours should be higher than 4800 h per year, and the electrolyser system capacity (or hydrogen refuelling station capacity) should be greater than 3.5 MW in order to reach a Net Present Value of 7,115,391 V with a Return of Investment set to 9 years. The result of the multiparametric sensitivity analysis for the Net Present Value (NPV) shows an 85.6% certainty that the project will have a positive result (i.e. profitability) (NPV> 0). The two main variables with the largest impact on Net Present Value are the electrolyser capacity (or hydrogen refuelling station capacity) and the hydrogen selling price. Moreover, a margin of improvement (higher NPV) could be reached with the monetization of the heat, oxygen by-product and CO2 emission reduction. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Co2 emission reductionCompressed hydrogensCost benefit analysisCostsEconomic analysisEmission controlEnginesFleet operationsGenerate electricityHybrid systemsHydrogen refuelling stationHydrogen refuelling stationsHydrogen trainsInvestmentsMultiparametric sensitivity analysisMultiple units pem electrolyserPetroleum reservoir evaluationProfitabilityProton exchange membrane fuel cells (pemfc)Return of investmentsSalesSensitivity analysisSustainable developmentTechno-economic analysisThe net present value (npv)

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal International Journal Of Hydrogen Energy due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2021, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Condensed Matter Physics.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations from Scopus Elsevier, it yields a value for the Field-Weighted Citation Impact from the Scopus agency: 1.81, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-06-07, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 10
  • Scopus: 36
  • OpenCitations: 29

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-06-07:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 123 (PlumX).

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Chile; United Kingdom.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: Last Author (CLEMENTE JUL, M. DEL CARMEN).