Evaluación técnica económica de la producción e incorporación de hidrógeno verde proveniente de centrales eólicas y fotovoltáicas en líneas de gas natural en la Octava Región.
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Date
2025
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Universidad de Concepción
Abstract
Chile se ha comprometido con la acción climática de manera decidida y ambiciosa, comprometiéndose a ser carbono-neutral al 2050. El hidrógeno verde es una solución energética que conecta a distintos sistemas energéticos y presenta una oportunidad particularmente importante para sectores difíciles de descarbonizar, mientras que los costos de electricidad renovable se han reducido drásticamente, tendencia que está acelerando. La región del Biobío reúne condiciones privilegiadas para generar una demanda local de H2V debido a su gran actividad industrial, además de contar con recursos competitivos para generación de energías renovables, por lo que se busca evaluar la factibilidad de la producción e incorporación de H2V en las líneas de gas natural. Para el presente estudio, se lleva a cabo el análisis de dos casos de inyección, para el caso 1 se realiza la inyección de H2 en Recinto y PSR (Planta Satélite de Regasificación), y para el caso 2 en las estaciones de transferencia de la red de gas. Se analizan concentraciones de hidrógeno del 5%, 10%, 15% y 20% para distintos caudales, obteniendo los parámetros de producción para cada uno de los casos. Se realiza un análisis de cada criterio a considerar que tienen un impacto en la viabilidad del proyecto, como los recursos solares, eólicos e hídricos disponibles, así como la infraestructura de transporte y los principales consumos potenciales de hidrógeno. Para ello se identifican las zonas de mayor potencial de producción de Energías renovables, tanto solar como eólica, así como la disponibilidad de recurso hídrico según la geografía de la región y la ubicación de la línea principal y laterales del gasoducto. Analizando los criterios en conjunto se determinan 4 potenciales ubicaciones para la planta de producción de hidrógeno verde: Pemuco, Talcahuano, Nacimiento y Arauco. Mediante el análisis económico se determinan costos nivelados de producción de 4,8 a 6,7 USD/kg dependiendo del caso de estudio, donde los menores corresponden al caudal de 4.500.000 Sm3/d con un 20% de hidrógeno, con el cual el proyecto resulta viable y rentable a precio costo. Para otras condiciones se deben establecer precios mayores al costo de producción para generar rentabilidad en el proyecto. Se obtienen menores costos de producción para el caso 2 de inyección. Para un proyecto rentable, se obtienen precios de venta del hidrógeno de 6,27 a 8,78 USD/kg, los cuales generan un aumento de 7,45% a 34,28% en el precio final de gas de venta, dependiendo del caso.
Chile has committed to climate action in a determined and ambitious way, aiming to become carbonneutral by 2050. Green hydrogen is an energy solution that connects different energy systems and presents a particularly important opportunity for hard-to-decarbonize sectors, while renewable electricity costs have drastically decreased—a trend that continues to accelerate. The Biobío region has favorable conditions for generating local demand for green hydrogen (H₂V) due to its significant industrial activity and access to competitive renewable energy resources. Therefore, the feasibility of producing and incorporating H₂V into natural gas pipelines is being evaluated. In this study, two injection cases are analyzed. In Case 1, H₂ is injected at “Recinto” station and “PSR” (satellite regasification plant), while in Case 2, it is injected at transfer stations of the gas network. Hydrogen concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% are analyzed for different flow rates, and production parameters are obtained for each case. A detailed analysis is conducted for each criterion that impacts the project’s feasibility, including available solar, wind, and hydro resources, transportation infrastructure, and major potential hydrogen consumers. Areas with the highest renewable energy production potential—both solar and wind—are identified, along with water resource availability based on regional geography and the location of the main and lateral gas pipeline lines. Based on a combined analysis of these criteria, four potential locations for the green hydrogen production plant are determined: Pemuco, Talcahuano, Nacimiento, and Arauco. The economic analysis shows levelized production costs ranging from 4.8 to 6.7 USD/kg, depending on the case study. The lowest costs correspond to a flow rate of 4,500,000 Sm³/d with 20% hydrogen, under which the project is viable and profitable at cost price. For other conditions, hydrogen sale prices must exceed production costs to ensure project profitability. Lower production costs are obtained for Case 2 (injection at transfer stations). For a profitable project, hydrogen sale prices between 6.27 and 8.78 USD/kg are estimated, which would lead to an increase of 7.45% to 34.28% in the final gas sale price, depending on the case.
Chile has committed to climate action in a determined and ambitious way, aiming to become carbonneutral by 2050. Green hydrogen is an energy solution that connects different energy systems and presents a particularly important opportunity for hard-to-decarbonize sectors, while renewable electricity costs have drastically decreased—a trend that continues to accelerate. The Biobío region has favorable conditions for generating local demand for green hydrogen (H₂V) due to its significant industrial activity and access to competitive renewable energy resources. Therefore, the feasibility of producing and incorporating H₂V into natural gas pipelines is being evaluated. In this study, two injection cases are analyzed. In Case 1, H₂ is injected at “Recinto” station and “PSR” (satellite regasification plant), while in Case 2, it is injected at transfer stations of the gas network. Hydrogen concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% are analyzed for different flow rates, and production parameters are obtained for each case. A detailed analysis is conducted for each criterion that impacts the project’s feasibility, including available solar, wind, and hydro resources, transportation infrastructure, and major potential hydrogen consumers. Areas with the highest renewable energy production potential—both solar and wind—are identified, along with water resource availability based on regional geography and the location of the main and lateral gas pipeline lines. Based on a combined analysis of these criteria, four potential locations for the green hydrogen production plant are determined: Pemuco, Talcahuano, Nacimiento, and Arauco. The economic analysis shows levelized production costs ranging from 4.8 to 6.7 USD/kg, depending on the case study. The lowest costs correspond to a flow rate of 4,500,000 Sm³/d with 20% hydrogen, under which the project is viable and profitable at cost price. For other conditions, hydrogen sale prices must exceed production costs to ensure project profitability. Lower production costs are obtained for Case 2 (injection at transfer stations). For a profitable project, hydrogen sale prices between 6.27 and 8.78 USD/kg are estimated, which would lead to an increase of 7.45% to 34.28% in the final gas sale price, depending on the case.
Description
Tesis presentada para optar al título de Ingeniero/a en Civil Químico/a.
Keywords
Recursos energéticos renovables, Hidrógeno, Gas natural, Energía eólica, Energía solar