The roles of hydrogen energy in ports: Comparative life-cycle analysis based on hydrogen utilization strategies

Hydrogen energy is a promising solution for prompting low-carbon port development. This study introduces two hydrogen utilization strategies: hydrogen consumption-driven strategy (HCDS) and hydrogen storage-driven strategy (HSDS). Using data from a real port and a life-cycle assessment approach, a case study is conducted to compare their economic and ecological performances. The results show that HCDS enhances economic benefits, with an annualized cost of 66.1 million CNY, which is 11% lower than HSDS. Additionally, HCDS is sensitive to electricity prices and grid carbon emission factor. In contrast, HSDS offers superior ecological benefits, with an annualized carbon footprint of 31,300 tons of CO₂, which is 12% lower than HCDS, and is mainly sensitive to purchase prices and emission factors of electricity and hydrogen. This study provides critical insights into the trade-offs between economic and ecological performance under different hydrogen utilization strategies, offering practical guidance for implementing hydrogen energy system applications in ports.