Challenges and Opportunities in Green Hydrogen Supply Chain through Metaheuristic Optimisation

A comprehensive analysis of the green hydrogen supply chain is presented in this paper, encompassing production, storage, transportation, and consumption, with a focus on the application of metaheuristic optimization. The challenges associated with each stage are highlighted, and the potential of metaheuristic optimization methods to address these challenges is discussed. The primary method of green hydrogen production, water electrolysis through renewable energy, is outlined along with the importance of its optimization. Various storage methods, such as compressed gas, liquid hydrogen, and material-based storage, are covered with an emphasis on the need for optimization to improve safety, capacity, and performance. Different transportation options, including pipelines, trucks, and ships, are explored, and factors influencing the choice of transportation methods in different regions are identified. Various hydrogen consumption methods and their associated challenges, such as fuel cell performance optimization, hydrogen-based heating systems design, and energy conversion technology choice, are also discussed. The paper further investigates multi-objective approaches for the optimization of problems in this domain. The significant potential of metaheuristic optimization techniques is highlighted as a key to addressing these challenges and improving overall efficiency and sustainability with respect to future trends in this rapidly advancing area.