What explains the difference in hydrogen production costs when institutes use the same production case?
This question is at the heart of the RD20 Hydrogen Techno‑Economic Assessment (TEA) Taskforce, where Dr Sibimol Luke and Prof Paul Dodds, funded by UK‑HyRES, have contributed alongside leading research institutions across G20 countries and regions.
Hydrogen is a critical energy vector for achieving a net‑zero future. Yet even when institutions estimate hydrogen production costs using the same production case, results can still differ by around USD 4/kg. This variation highlights how differences in TEA methodologies and underlying assumptions can significantly influence cost outcomes.
The RD20 TEA Taskforce directly addresses this challenge. By evaluating hydrogen production costs under a common scenario, members are identifying where methodological divergences arise and which assumptions drive the largest cost gaps. Through this collaboration, we have developed links with the global hydrogen TEA community, and everyone has benefited greatly by understanding each other’s models.