Techno-economic assessment of MW-scale solid oxide electrolysis hydrogen production plant: integrating possibilities in Spain

Solid oxide electrolysis (SOE) is regarded as the most efficient green hydrogen production technology. However, the cost competitiveness of this technology for large-scale hydrogen production is at stake due to the complexity of operating at high temperatures. This study aims to estimate the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of a MWscale SOE system and its possible integration in Spain. The heat exchanger network of a SOE system has been optimized by a pinch analysis and the techno-economic feasibility of the system has been assessed. Even if initial LCOH estimations of >6 €⋅kg− 1 are obtained with the electricity and stack costs as the major contributors, optimistic scenarios indicate that LCOH can be reduced below 4 €⋅kg− 1 , or even further by coupling the systems to heat-intensive industries such as Spanish cement or steel factories.