ESTIMATION OF THE LEVELIZED COST OF GREEN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION IN THE CHERKASY REGION OF UKRAINE

• Date: 2026
• Main Authors: Leshchenko , I., Nechaieva , T.
• Format: Article
• Language: Ukrainian
• Published: Institute of Renewable Energy National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 2026
• Subjects: decarbonization; electrolyzer; solar power plant; wind power plant; green hydrogen; levelized cost of hydrogen production; capacity ratio.
• Online Access: https://ve.org.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/641
• Journal Title: Vidnovluvana energetika

An analysis of the Ukrainian and European regulatory framework for the development of green hydrogen production was conducted. The world development of green hydrogen production technologies over the past five years was considered.   It was shown that the expected decrease in electrolyzer costs did not occur, but the total installed costs for solar and wind power plants decreased in Europe. The hourly electricity production by solar and wind power plants operating in the Cherkasy region of Ukraine in 2024 was analyzed. The initial parameter values for calculating the levelized cost of green hydrogen production using electricity generated by these power plants are determined by the results of this analysis and a literature review.  It is shown that the ratio between the installed capacity of the renewable energy source and the electrolyzer is debatable. The results of calculations of the levelized cost of green hydrogen production for different values of this ratio are presented. The inexpediency of using an electrolyzer with a capacity equal to the capacity of a renewable energy source is established. It is shown that there is an optimal value of this ratio, at which the lowest levelized cost of hydrogen production is ensured.  The possibility of reducing the cost of green hydrogen by selling oxygen formed during water electrolysis has been studied. It has been shown that this will reduce the cost by an average of 10%.  The electricity supply schedules from solar and wind power plants and their consumption by the electrolyzer throughout the day of each month were analyzed. This amount of electricity that is not used in the technological process, but can be sold on the day-ahead and intraday markets during morning and evening peak consumption periods, has been determined.  Such a sale will further reduce the cost of green hydrogen by an average of 18%.