Case Study of a Greenfield Blue Hydrogen Plant: A Comparative Analysis of Production Methods

Blue hydrogen is a key pathway for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while utilizing natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS). This study conducts a techno-economic and environmental analysis of a greenfield blue hydrogen plant in Saskatchewan, Canada, integrating both SMR and ATR technolog...

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Main Authors: Mohammad Sajjadi, Hussameldin Ibrahim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3272
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author Mohammad Sajjadi
Hussameldin Ibrahim
author_facet Mohammad Sajjadi
Hussameldin Ibrahim
author_sort Mohammad Sajjadi
collection DOAJ
description Blue hydrogen is a key pathway for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while utilizing natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS). This study conducts a techno-economic and environmental analysis of a greenfield blue hydrogen plant in Saskatchewan, Canada, integrating both SMR and ATR technologies. Unlike previous studies that focus mainly on production units, this research includes all process and utility systems such as H<sub>2</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub> compression, air separation, refrigeration, co-generation, and gas dehydration. Aspen HYSYS simulations revealed ATR’s energy demand is 10% lower than that of SMR. The hydrogen production cost was USD 3.28/kg for ATR and USD 3.33/kg for SMR, while a separate study estimated a USD 2.2/kg cost for design without utilities, highlighting the impact of indirect costs. Environmental analysis showed ATR’s lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) compared to SMR, reducing its carbon footprint. The results signified the role of utility integration, site conditions, and process selection in optimizing energy efficiency, costs, and sustainability.
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spelling doaj-art-1b2171b6cefb4babb3f23f84743c20c62025-08-20T03:50:16ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-06-011813327210.3390/en18133272Case Study of a Greenfield Blue Hydrogen Plant: A Comparative Analysis of Production MethodsMohammad Sajjadi0Hussameldin Ibrahim1Clean Energy Technologies Research Institute (CETRI), Process Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, CanadaClean Energy Technologies Research Institute (CETRI), Process Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, CanadaBlue hydrogen is a key pathway for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while utilizing natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS). This study conducts a techno-economic and environmental analysis of a greenfield blue hydrogen plant in Saskatchewan, Canada, integrating both SMR and ATR technologies. Unlike previous studies that focus mainly on production units, this research includes all process and utility systems such as H<sub>2</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub> compression, air separation, refrigeration, co-generation, and gas dehydration. Aspen HYSYS simulations revealed ATR’s energy demand is 10% lower than that of SMR. The hydrogen production cost was USD 3.28/kg for ATR and USD 3.33/kg for SMR, while a separate study estimated a USD 2.2/kg cost for design without utilities, highlighting the impact of indirect costs. Environmental analysis showed ATR’s lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) compared to SMR, reducing its carbon footprint. The results signified the role of utility integration, site conditions, and process selection in optimizing energy efficiency, costs, and sustainability.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3272hydrogencarbon capturegreenfield plant designprocess simulationTEA
spellingShingle Mohammad Sajjadi
Hussameldin Ibrahim
Case Study of a Greenfield Blue Hydrogen Plant: A Comparative Analysis of Production Methods
Energies
hydrogen
carbon capture
greenfield plant design
process simulation
TEA
title Case Study of a Greenfield Blue Hydrogen Plant: A Comparative Analysis of Production Methods
title_full Case Study of a Greenfield Blue Hydrogen Plant: A Comparative Analysis of Production Methods
title_fullStr Case Study of a Greenfield Blue Hydrogen Plant: A Comparative Analysis of Production Methods
title_full_unstemmed Case Study of a Greenfield Blue Hydrogen Plant: A Comparative Analysis of Production Methods
title_short Case Study of a Greenfield Blue Hydrogen Plant: A Comparative Analysis of Production Methods
title_sort case study of a greenfield blue hydrogen plant a comparative analysis of production methods
topic hydrogen
carbon capture
greenfield plant design
process simulation
TEA
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3272
work_keys_str_mv AT mohammadsajjadi casestudyofagreenfieldbluehydrogenplantacomparativeanalysisofproductionmethods
AT hussameldinibrahim casestudyofagreenfieldbluehydrogenplantacomparativeanalysisofproductionmethods