Hybrid Life Cycle Assessment of Large Scale Hydrogen Production Facilities

Abstract

An environmental assessment of three designs for a large-scale hydrogen production facility is performed using a Hybrid Life Cycle Assesment approach. The operational adaption of the hybrid framework for this case is shown in detail. The inventory establishment and assembly is explained. The impact assessment is performed by applying midpoint environmental theme indicators. The resulting impact potentials and their origins are presented and discussed for all three cases and for each impact category. It is shown through this comprehensive, life cycle assessment, that carbon emissions can be reduced by the introduction of carbon deposition and use of the produced hydrogen to generate process heat. This benefit, however, comes at the cost of increased impacts in other categories. These environmental repercussions are quantified and discussed.