Abstract:

Green hydrogen is emerging as a key component of the global energy system’s rapid decarbonization, which calls for clean, adaptable, and scalable energy carriers.  Green hydrogen, which is created by electrolysing water with renewable power, is a sustainable substitute for hydrogen obtained from fossil fuels and has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions in transportation, industry, and energy storage. The two main renewable methods for producing hydrogen—solar-powered electrolysis and wind-powered electrolysis—are compared in this paper. The basics of electrolysis technologies and their energy needs are first described, followed by an examination of how solar photovoltaics and wind turbines can be integrated with electrolysers, emphasising new developments in technology, efficiency standards, and demonstration projects. The study highlights the unique advantages and disadvantages of each pathway: wind-driven systems, especially offshore, offer higher capacity factors and larger-scale deployment potential but are limited by infrastructure demands, wind resource variability, and higher capital costs. In contrast, solar-driven systems enjoy the advantages of rapidly declining photovoltaic costs and wide geographic applicability, but they also face challenges of intermittency, land intensity, and diurnal variability. Hybrid solar-wind systems that increase stability and utilisation are discussed in addition to a head-to-head comparison of efficiency, cost, scalability, and environmental impact. In order to determine future research objectives and position green hydrogen from solar and wind electrolysis as complementary options essential to reaching net-zero climate targets, the assessment concludes by looking at policy, economic, and commercial aspects.