High-resolution maps highlighting the cost competitiveness of China's green hydrogen production

Leveraging China's abundant renewable resources, green hydrogen via water electrolysis could be feasible for achieving carbon neutrality. A holistic techno-economic optimization model of renewable-based hydrogen production in high spatial-temporal resolution is developed herein. Considering natural and social constraints, the results reveal that the technical potential of wind and solar energy in China are 8.89 and 57.68 PWh, respectively. Despite China's vast renewable energy potential, using renewable electricity for hydrogen production is not an economically viable option today. However, projections indicate a promising trajectory, with green hydrogen expected to substitute traditional hydrogen in 0.30% of regions of China by 2030, and this proportion potentially scaling up to 17.49% by 2050. A multi-scenarios analysis is employed to explore the factors affecting the cost of green hydrogen production. For example, the complementary nature of wind and solar power yields a pronounced reduction of 8.38%/26.67% in average hybrid hydrogen production costs compared to standalone wind/PV-based hydrogen. The analysis also shows that the selection of hydrogen supply modes for different scenarios of downstream applications impacts on the levelized cost of hydrogen. The results of cost and sensitivity analysis imply that policymakers may consider grid connection in the early stage and develop electrolyzer technologies or use policy subsidies as effective pathways to accelerate the expansion of the green hydrogen industry.