Research Publications

This capstone project evaluated the technical and economic feasibility of producing hydrogen for return-to-base trucking in Southeast Michigan. Two hydrogen production pathways were studied: green hydrogen produced via electrolysis powered by renewable energy, and gray hydrogen produced from natural gas via steam methane reforming (SMR). The Green hydrogen model was centered on a PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolyzer powered by a solar photovoltaics (PV) array located at the American Center for Mobility (ACM) in Ypsilanti. Gray hydrogen was analyzed as a potential near term strategy given its lower capital requirement and technological maturity. Two gray hydrogen scenarios were analyzed: production on-site at ACM using an SMR module and procurement from an external, existing SMR facility. For gray hydrogen modeling, the solar PV array and electrolyzer were excluded. All other components in the gray hydrogen ecosystem are identical to the green hydrogen ecosystem. 

The scope of the project includes the complete hydrogen supply chain: green hydrogen production via electrolysis from solar energy or gray hydrogen via SMR, compression, storage, delivery logistics, and refueling operations. Multiple system configurations were considered, including standalone solar, hybrid solar-grid supply, and battery integration, with a focus on ensuring reliable production of 500 kg H2 per day. The analysis also incorporated federal incentives, the 45V clean hydrogen production tax credit and the 48E investment tax credit, to evaluate their impact on project economics.