Abstract
As the world strengthens its commitment in response to climate change while decreasing its dependence on fossil
fuels, green hydrogen has the potential to be one of the primary enablers in the global transition. Solar hydrogen
production through electrolysis is one of the most promising approaches for harnessing green hydrogen and reducing
carbon dioxide emissions. While previous studies have explored renewable energy integration, few have focussed
on addressing the efficiency challenges of standalone green hydrogen systems for rural settings, especially those
with energy resource constraints. This study focuses on the techno-economic optimisation and performance modelling
of a solar-powered hydrogen production system in Limpopo by comparing four photovoltaic-electrolyser
configurations. To find the lowest Net Present Cost (NPC) and Levelised Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH), HOMER software
was employed to model the system, integrating solar irradiance data, system component characteristics, and economic
parameters. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the impact of factors such as electrolyser efficiency,
costs, and components costs for load variation. The results obtained with the monocrystalline solar panel and alkaline
electrolyser provided the lowest LCOH, of 37.50 ZAR/kg (2.12 USD/kg) with an NPC of ZAR 68 million (USD 3.65 million),
which is the second lowest. Furthermore, the study identifies opportunities to make the technology even more
affordable, such as improving electrolyser efficiency and reducing the cost of both solar panels and electrolysers. As
the costs were decreased, the LCOH of the system showed a decrease of almost 50%. This work establishes the potential
for solar-powered hydrogen systems to play an essential role in shifting to renewable energy. The findings contribute
valuable insights for participants targeting investing in and developing green hydrogen infrastructure, supporting
broader goals of energy security, transition and sustainability.