@article{27024,
  author = {Roger Sathre and Corinne D Scown and William R Morrow III and John C Stevens and Ian D Sharp and Joel W Ager and Karl Walczak and Frances A Houle and Jeffery B Greenblatt},
  title = {Life-cycle net energy assessment of large-scale hydrogen production via photoelectrochemical water splitting},
  abstract = {<p>Here we report a prospective life-cycle net energy assessment of a hypothetical large-scale photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen production facility with energy output equivalent to 1 GW continuous annual average (1 GW HHV = 610 metric tons of H<small><sub>2</sub></small> per day). We determine essential mass and energy flows based on fundamental principles, and use heuristic methods to conduct a preliminary engineering design of the facility. We then develop and apply a parametric model describing system-wide energy flows associated with the production, utilization, and decommissioning of the facility. Based on these flows, we calculate and interpret life-cycle net energy metrics for the facility. We find that under base-case conditions the energy payback time is 8.1 years, the energy return on energy invested (EROEI) is 1.7, and the life-cycle primary energy balance over the 40 years projected service life of the facility is +500 PJ. The most important model parameters affecting the net energy metrics are the solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency and the life span of the PEC cells; parameters associated with the balance of systems (BOS), including construction and operation of the liquid and gas handling infrastructure, play a much smaller role.</p>},
  year = {2014},
  journal = {Energy Environ. Sci.},
  volume = {7},
  pages = {3264 - 3278},
  month = {06/2014},
  issn = {1754-5692},
  doi = {10.1039/C4EE01019A},
}