Hybrid renewable energy systems for seawater-based green hydrogen in Egyptian coastal zones: A case study

As the world accelerates its transition toward net-zero emissions, green hydrogen production via seawater electrolysis presents a promising and innovative pathway for clean energy generation and ensuring long-term energy sustainability. This study investigates the feasibility of green hydrogen production through seawater electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources in four Egyptian coastal cities: New Alamein, El Tor, New Port Said (Salam), and Suez. A hybrid system comprising photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, batteries, a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer, hydrogen storage tanks, and diesel generators is proposed and evaluated under four distinct scenarios. Both stand-alone and grid-connected configurations are evaluated using HOMER Pro software to optimize system design based on techno-economic and environmental criteria. Multiple scenarios, incorporating varying numbers of wind turbines (15, 20, and 50), are assessed for each location. The results are compared depending on energy generation, hydrogen production, storage capacity, excess electricity, and key financial indicators, including net present cost, levelized cost of energy, and levelized cost of hydrogen. The findings indicate that Scenario Four, which achieves the lowest hydrogen production cost of 0.177 $/kg, demonstrates the most cost-effective performance. This result remains consistent across all studied locations and operating conditions, thereby highlighting the robustness and adaptability of the proposed hybrid system. This research demonstrates the technical viability of integrating renewable energy with seawater electrolysis for sustainable hydrogen production, contributing to Egypt's transition toward a low-carbon energy system and supporting the objectives of its national hydrogen strategy.