Green hydrogen production from surplus hydroelectric power: A case study in Nepal

With the increasing global interest in green hydrogen as a clean energy carrier, Nepal's abundant hydropower resources present a unique opportunity for sustainable hydrogen production. Nepal has a significant hydroelectric potential, with an estimated techno-economic capacity of 42,000 MW. However, the country is facing challenges in managing surplus energy during monsoon seasons which leads to the curtailment of electricity. This study identifies the location of curtailment and investigates the potential for hydrogen production from curtailed hydroelectricity in Nepal, focusing on the Upper Trishuli 3A hydroelectric plant (UT3AHEP) as a case study. The research quantifies electricity curtailment during monsoon seasons and explores three different models for hydrogen production: only surplus utilization, a 30-15 MW hybrid approach, and a continuous 15 MW production model. Economic analyses are conducted to determine the optimal plant size and operational strategy for minimizing the levelized cost of hydrogen production (LCOPH). The study finds that the continuous 15 MW model yields the lowest LCOPH at $1.98/kg. The study also suggests that the plant factor is an important parameter to consider while sizing the hydrogen production plant.