300 MW Solar Energy – Hydrogen Production Plant – Chile
Challenge
Efuelution embarks on a pioneering project to harness the formidable solar energy potential of Chile’s desert through a 300 MW photovoltaic (PV) park, aimed at producing green hydrogen. The primary challenges encompass efficiently converting abundant solar power into hydrogen while navigating the economic viability and operational hurdles posed by the desert’s extreme conditions. These include managing the variability of solar energy, ensuring system durability against harsh environmental conditions, and aligning project outcomes with financial objectives.
Solution
To navigate these complexities, a thorough feasibility study incorporating financial, operational, and technical simulations is conducted:
Financial Simulations:
Utilizing detailed financial models, the study assesses the project’s economic feasibility, exploring capital expenditures, operational costs, potential revenues, and the impact of fluctuating energy prices. These simulations also evaluate the financial implications of government incentives and the competitive landscape for green hydrogen, providing a robust framework for investment decision-making.
Operational Simulations:
A digital twin of the hydrogen production facility, integrated with the PV park, forms the basis of operational simulations. These simulations are critical for planning electrolyzer operations to match solar power generation patterns, ensuring consistent hydrogen output. The models account for the diurnal cycle and seasonal variability of solar irradiance, testing energy storage and management strategies to mitigate operational risks.
Technical Simulations:
Addressing the technical feasibility, simulations explore the optimal configuration of PV arrays and electrolyzers to maximize energy conversion efficiency. Given the desert setting, these simulations also assess system resilience to sand, heat, and other environmental stressors, ensuring long-term reliability and performance. The scalability of the technology is evaluated to accommodate future expansion and adapt to evolving market demands.
Project Description
This ambitious initiative proposes the creation of a cutting-edge green hydrogen production plant, leveraging Chile’s solar-rich desert landscape. The 300 MW PV park represents a strategic endeavor to transform solar energy into a viable, sustainable hydrogen fuel source. Efuelution’s comprehensive feasibility study, underpinned by rigorous simulations, aims to ensure the project’s success from financial, operational, and technical perspectives. By overcoming the challenges of the desert environment and aligning with economic targets, the project aspires to contribute significantly to Chile’s renewable energy portfolio and the global green hydrogen market. This venture not only underscores the potential of integrating renewable solar power with hydrogen production in challenging terrains but also sets a precedent for similar developments worldwide.
Project data
Client
Confidential
Systeem
Hydrogen Production Plant
Power Source
Onshore PV Park
Power Capacity
300 MW
Product Produced
eFuel Hydrogen
Periode
2023
Duration
3 months
Location
Chile
Fase
Power to X – Project Simulation
Step
Step 1 Concept and Feasebility
