Techno-economic and dynamic assessment of green hydrogen production via PEM electrolysis at Benban Solar Park

Abstract
This paper presents a techno-economic and dynamic assessment of green hydrogen production using a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer integrated with the Benban Solar Park in Egypt. A dynamic model, spanning a 24-h cycle, evaluates the interactions among photovoltaic (PV) power generation, battery energy storage, and PEM electrolysis under real-world site conditions. The model accurately estimates the hydrogen production rate, specific energy consumption (SEC), and overall system efficiency. Simulation results indicate an average hydrogen production rate of 2.58 kg/h, yielding a total daily output of 62.01 kg, with a specific energy consumption of 52.2 kWh/kg H₂, aligning with IRENA benchmarks. An economic analysis based on the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) identifies electricity cost and electrolyzer efficiency as the dominant cost drivers. By optimizing the system's dynamic performance, the LCOH was reduced to a competitive 2.2 €/kgH₂. The results demonstrate the technical and economic viability of PV-driven PEM electrolysis at Benban and provide a robust quantitative basis for future large-scale green hydrogen deployment in Egypt.