I presented my paper; A Financial Worksheet for Computing the Cost (US$/kWh) of Electricity Generated at a Grid Connected Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Generating Plant, on Wednesday, March 5, 2003 at the National Hydrogen Association's 14th  Annual US Hydrogen Meeting: Security Through  Hydrogen, in Washington, DC. 

Abstract

This paper discusses the technical, financial and economic principles underlying the levelized cost method of computing the cost of hydrogen fuel cell (FC) generated electricity. Topics include FC technology, global warming and FC greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, hydrogen (H₂) fuel availability, levelized cost method,  FC power plant capacity (kW, MW),  FC capacity cost (US$/kW), physical life of a FC plant-yr, plant availability (%), electric energy generated per year (kW/yr), primary fuel (natural gas [NG], H₂) cost (US$/mmBtu, e/GJ), FC efficiency, depreciation, cost of capital-%, fixed and variable non-fuel operating and maintenance (O & M) costs and taxes.

The paper includes the worksheet, “Levelized Cost (US˘/kWh) Worksheet for a Model 1 kW Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Generating Plant” with benchmark values for a model plant located in Chicago, IL.

The paper discusses these benchmark values as it analyzes the worksheet’s algorithm, constants, (capacity-1 kW,  0.003412 mmBtu/kWh), independent variables (capital cost, cost of capital, physical life, availability factor, FC efficiency-%, primary fuel cost, fixed and variable non-fuel O & M cost) and dependent variables (capital amortization cost, electric energy generated [kWh/yr], levelized cost of FC electricity [US˘/kWh]).

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If you did not have not have time to meet with me in DC or if you did not attend the 14th Annual US Hydrogen Meeting Conference in DC, you can arrange an appointment at my office in Chicago.

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I am a fee based consulting energy economist in private practice.