A TECHNO-ECONOMIC STUDY OF WIND-COUPLED HYDROGEN PRODUCTION, GEOLOGIC STORAGE, DISTRIBUTION, AND REFUELING INFRASTRUCTURE WITH OPTIMIZED SITING FOR HEAVY DUTY TRUCKING IN COLORADO

Abstract

This thesis presents a comprehensive techno-economic analysis and spatial optimization of a wind-coupled green hydrogen supply chain designed for heavy-duty intra-state trucking along Colorado’s Front Range. A multi-objective optimization framework using the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) was developed to evaluate optimal refueling station configurations, balancing trade-offs between maximizing fleet coverage, minimizing the total number of stations, and minimizing real estate procurement costs across gaseous tube-trailer, liquid tanker, and pipeline delivery pathways.Upstream supply chain components including production, bulk storage, and distribution were modeled to evaluate the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) and total capital expenditure (CAPEX) for a network capacity of 100,000 kg/day, equivalent to roughly 1,400 trucks per day at a full 70-kilogram fill. Production was modeled via centralized electrolysis powered by the Cheyenne Ridge and Rush Creek wind complexes, the largest wind facilities in the state. To buffer seasonal wind variations and prevent supply deficits, subsurface geologic storage with 10-million-kilogram storage capacity was evaluated. Depleted gas reservoirs (DGR) emerged as the lowest-CAPEX storage option, while lined rock caverns (LRC) offered the greatest geographical flexibility. Across multiple technology pathways, the total supply chain LCOH ranged from $8 to $10/kg, requiring a total capital investment of $2 billion to $4 billion. This framework highlights the need for strategic policy and electricity-pricing interventions to bridge the economic gap between hydrogen and diesel, offering an introductory feasibility study for heavy-duty transportation electrification in Colorado.