Avaliação comparativa de aspectos qualitativos e quantitativos de fontes de água para produção de hidrogênio verde

Abstract

The accentuated use of fossil fuels throughout history has generated a series of environmental effects, such as the emission of polluting gases that have led to the greenhouse effect and to the increase in global warming. Today, the use of fossil fuels is being reduced and replaced by renewable sources that have low or zero carbon emissions. In this context, green hydrogen emerges as a strong opportunity for the decarbonization of the economy, since it has a wide use, such as industry, mobility and energy. The production of green hydrogen occurs from the electrolysis of water with renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. In view of the points presented and the importance of green hydrogen for the future, this work aimed to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively in relation to different water sources - surface water and sea water - for the production of the input, based on factors defined in the study. The state of Ceará was defined as the location of the plant, due to the state's current progress in relation to the subject, with a green hydrogen HUB being formed in the Port of Pecém, privileged geographic location, efficient industrial workforce. Water source treatment plants were simulated using the Wave software, with ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and ion exchange steps in both water sources. At this work, it was presented pros and cons factors for each water source. Sea water favors water availability, competition with other water uses and the complexity of licensing and water use authorization. Surface water, in turn, is more viable in terms of ease of water collection, transport distance from the water source to the plant and acquisition, operation and maintenance costs. Due to the high costs related to the saline source, approximately R$ 950,000.00 for acquisition and R$ 75,000.00 per month for operation and maintenance, compared with values of approximately R$ 170,000.00 and R$ 40,000.00, respectively, for the surface water, the source of hydrographic basins was defined as having greater viability. However, advances in technologies for seawater desalination, as well as the prospect of drought in various parts of the world, point to an increase in the use of this source in the future.