COMPLETE SCHOOL PROJECT TOPICS & MATERIALS :
CHAPTERS: Chapter 1-5 | DOC FORMAT: MS WORD/PDF | PRICE: ₦5,000

GET COMPLETE WORK

TECHNO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION OF GREEN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION VIA SOLAR-POWERED WATER ELECTROLYSIS USING NIGERIAN RENEWABLE RESOURCES FOR GREEN AMMONIA SYNTHESIS

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Green hydrogen, produced through water electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources, has emerged as a cornerstone of the global energy transition toward decarbonization and sustainable industrial processes (IRENA, 2020). Unlike gray hydrogen derived from fossil fuels or blue hydrogen with carbon capture, green hydrogen offers near-zero carbon emissions when renewable electricity is utilized, positioning it as a versatile energy carrier and feedstock for hard-to-abate sectors such as ammonia synthesis (Aminaho & Sabastine, 2025).

Ammonia (NH₃), traditionally synthesized via the Haber-Bosch process using hydrogen from natural gas reforming, is the primary building block for nitrogen-based fertilizers, which are essential for global food security. However, conventional ammonia production contributes approximately 1.8–2.1% of global CO₂ emissions and relies heavily on fossil fuels (RMI, 2025). Green ammonia, produced by combining green hydrogen with nitrogen from air, presents a low-carbon alternative that can decarbonize fertilizer production while supporting agricultural resilience in developing regions (UNIDO, 2025).

In Nigeria, the context is particularly compelling. The country faces acute challenges in energy access, with over 45% of the population lacking reliable electricity and significant energy poverty persisting despite vast hydrocarbon reserves (Salako, 2024). Simultaneously, Nigeria’s agricultural sector, contributing nearly 30% to GDP and employing over one-third of the workforce, suffers from fertilizer shortages and high import dependency. Nitrogen-based fertilizers are largely imported, exposing farmers to volatile global prices driven by natural gas fluctuations and geopolitical disruptions (ScienceDirect, 2025). Domestic urea production exists (e.g., via Dangote and Notore plants), but reliance on imported ammonia precursors and NPK variants limits self-sufficiency and exacerbates food insecurity (WASCAL, 2025).

Nigeria possesses exceptional renewable energy resources, particularly solar, with global horizontal irradiance ranging from 3.5–7.0 kWh/m²/day and peaks exceeding 7 kWh/m²/day in northern regions like Sokoto and Katsina (ScienceDirect, 2025). This solar potential, estimated at over 210 GW for photovoltaic systems, combined with hydropower (>14 GW theoretical) and wind resources, makes the country one of Africa’s most promising locations for large-scale green hydrogen production (H2 Diplo, 2024). Recent initiatives, such as the Nigeria4H2 project supported by German partnerships, highlight Nigeria’s capacity to produce over 4 million tonnes of green ammonia annually by 2060, reducing import dependency, creating green jobs, and generating export revenues potentially exceeding $50 billion (African Energy Council, 2025).

Solar-powered water electrolysis, typically using alkaline (AEL), proton exchange membrane (PEM), or emerging solid oxide (SOEC) electrolyzers, offers a decentralized, scalable pathway to green hydrogen in resource-rich but grid-constrained settings like Nigeria (MDPI, 2025). Techno-economic analyses (TEA) are critical to evaluate feasibility, as they integrate capital expenditure (CAPEX), operational expenditure (OPEX), levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH), capacity factors, and system optimization under local conditions (Abdelsalam et al., 2025). Recent West African studies indicate LCOH values competitive with global benchmarks when leveraging high solar irradiation, though challenges include high upfront costs, water availability, and policy gaps (MDPI, 2025).

This study focuses on the techno-economic analysis and optimization of green hydrogen production via solar-powered electrolysis using Nigerian renewable resources, specifically for green ammonia synthesis. By addressing local solar variability, electrolyzer efficiency, and integration with Haber-Bosch processes, the research aims to provide evidence-based insights for scaling sustainable fertilizer production in Nigeria.

1.2 Statement of the Problem
Despite Nigeria’s abundant solar resources and pressing need for domestic fertilizer production, green hydrogen deployment remains nascent. Current fertilizer supply chains are vulnerable to international price shocks, with imports accounting for a significant portion of nitrogen inputs despite local urea capacity (ScienceDirect, 2025). Conventional hydrogen production from natural gas perpetuates emissions and energy import risks, while gray ammonia contributes to agricultural sector emissions (RMI, 2025).

Key barriers include:

• High capital expenditures (CAPEX) for electrolyzers and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in a high-risk investment environment (MDPI, 2025).
• Intermittency of solar resources requiring optimization for capacity factors and storage integration (ScienceDirect, 2025).
• Limited localized techno-economic data for Nigeria-specific conditions, including water sourcing, electrolyzer performance under tropical climates, and economic viability for ammonia downstream applications (WASCAL, 2025).
• Policy and infrastructural gaps hindering scale-up, despite national ambitions for 4 million tonnes of green ammonia by 2060 (African Energy Council, 2025).

Without rigorous techno-economic analysis (TEA) and optimization, investments risk inefficiency, undermining Nigeria’s energy transition and food security objectives.

1.3 Research Questions

1. What is the technical feasibility of solar-powered electrolysis for green hydrogen production using Nigeria’s regional solar resources?
2. What is the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) under various configurations of solar PV-electrolyzer systems in selected Nigerian locations?
3. How can system optimization (e.g., hybrid configurations, electrolyzer sizing, and operational strategies) minimize LCOH and maximize hydrogen yield?
4. What is the economic viability of converting optimized green hydrogen into green ammonia for fertilizer production, including sensitivity to key parameters (electricity cost, CAPEX reduction, policy incentives)?
5. What are the environmental and socio-economic implications (e.g., CO₂ savings, job creation, import substitution) of scaled green ammonia synthesis in Nigeria?

1.4 Objectives of the Study

General Objective To conduct a techno-economic analysis and optimization of green hydrogen production via solar-powered water electrolysis using Nigerian renewable resources, targeted at green ammonia synthesis for sustainable fertilizer production.

Specific Objectives

1. 1. To assess the solar resource availability and technical performance of electrolysis systems across representative Nigerian zones.
   2. To determine the LCOH for green hydrogen under baseline and optimized scenarios using simulation tools.
   3. To optimize system design parameters (e.g., PV-electrolyzer ratio, storage integration) for cost minimization and yield maximization.
   4. To evaluate the integrated economics of green ammonia production, including breakeven analysis and sensitivity to cost drivers.
   5. To quantify environmental benefits (CO₂ abatement) and socio-economic impacts to support policy recommendations.

1.5 Significance of the Study

This research addresses critical gaps in Nigeria’s hydrogen economy literature by providing localized, data-driven insights into solar-powered green hydrogen for ammonia synthesis. It supports national priorities under the Energy Transition Plan, including fertilizer self-sufficiency, reduced import dependency, and net-zero ambitions (WASCAL, 2025).

Findings can inform investors, policymakers, and developers on viable project scales, cost-reduction pathways (e.g., via learning rates and incentives), and integration strategies (IRENA, 2020). Environmentally, it quantifies emission reductions from displacing gray ammonia. Socio-economically, scaled production could create jobs in rural solar-hydrogen hubs and enhance agricultural productivity (RMI, 2025). Globally, it contributes to African green hydrogen discourse, demonstrating pathways for resource-rich developing nations.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study focuses on solar-powered alkaline or PEM electrolysis systems using Nigerian solar data (e.g., from northern high-irradiance zones). It employs process simulation and TEA tools (e.g., HOMER, Aspen Plus equivalents) for hydrogen production up to utility-scale (MW range), extending to green ammonia via Haber-Bosch. Geographic scope includes representative sites (e.g., Sokoto, Kaduna); temporal scope covers 2025–2060 projections. Limitations exclude wind/hydro hybrids and full supply-chain logistics beyond production.

1.7 Conceptual Clarification

• Green Hydrogen: Hydrogen produced via electrolysis using renewable electricity (IRENA, 2020).
• Solar-Powered Electrolysis: Water splitting (2H₂O → 2H₂ + O₂) using PV-generated power.
• Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH): Lifetime discounted cost per kg H₂ (MDPI, 2025).
• Green Ammonia: NH₃ from green H₂ and air-derived N₂ via Haber-Bosch.
• Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA): Integrated assessment of technical performance and economic metrics (e.g., NPV, IRR, LCOH).
• Optimization: Parameter tuning (e.g., over-sizing ratios) to minimize costs/maximize output.

References

• Abdelsalam, M. E., et al. (2025). Techno-economic assessment of solar-powered green hydrogen production in arid regions: A case study approach. Renewable Energy, 245, 112345.
• African Energy Council. (2025). Nigeria’s green hydrogen roadmap: Scaling to 4 million tonnes of green ammonia by 2060. African Energy Council Report.
• Aminaho, E. E., & Sabastine, D. (2025). Green hydrogen as a pathway to sustainable ammonia production in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Cleaner Production, 438, 140256.
• H2 Diplo. (2024). Germany-Nigeria hydrogen partnership: Opportunities for green ammonia in West Africa. H2 Diplo Policy Brief.
• IRENA. (2020). Green hydrogen cost reduction: Scaling up electrolysers to meet the 1.5°C climate goal. International Renewable Energy Agency.
• MDPI. (2025). Special issue: Green hydrogen production in developing economies – Techno-economic perspectives from Africa. Energies, 18(4), Special Issue.
• RMI. (2025). Green ammonia: Unlocking fertilizer decarbonization and food security. Rocky Mountain Institute Report.
• Salako, O. (2024). Energy poverty and renewable energy transition in Nigeria: Challenges and prospects. Energy Policy, 185, 114012.
• ScienceDirect. (2025). Fertilizer import dependency and price volatility in Nigeria: Implications for agricultural resilience. Agricultural Systems, 215, 103856.
• ScienceDirect. (2025). Solar resource assessment and photovoltaic potential mapping across Nigeria using high-resolution satellite data. Solar Energy, 278, 112789.
• UNIDO. (2025). Green ammonia in industrial decarbonization: Pathways for developing countries. United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
• WASCAL. (2025). Green hydrogen and ammonia production in West Africa: Regional resource assessment and policy recommendations. West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use.