Tools
Green Hydrogen Levelized Cost (LCOH) & Carbon Intensity Estimator
Hydrogen's price tag is really an electricity price tag. Pick a pathway, adjust the assumptions, and see what a kilogram actually costs — and emits.
Pathway & assumptions
Choosing a pathway loads its benchmark defaults; every value below stays editable.
| Pathway | LCOH ($/kg) | Carbon (kg CO₂/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| PEM electrolysis — green (renewable power) | $4.25 | 0.5 |
| Alkaline electrolysis — green (renewable power) | $3.70 | 0.5 |
| SMR — grey (unabated natural gas) | $1.30 | 11.0 |
| SMR + CCS — blue (90% capture) | $1.70 | 2.4 |
How it works
Electrolytic LCOH is computed per MW: annual hydrogen = capacity × capacity factor × 8,760 ÷ kWh per kg. Annualised capex uses the capital recovery factor at the discount rate and lifetime, plus fixed O&M and a stack replacement annualised simply as 20% of capex every 7 years. Electricity cost is annual output × kWh per kg × power price. SMR cost is gas use (0.15 MMBtu/kg) × gas price plus a benchmark non-fuel adder ($0.70/kg grey, $1.10/kg blue).
Assumptions & sources
- All defaults are IEA Global Hydrogen Review / DOE-benchmark estimates, editable above — not project quotes.
- Green hydrogen on dedicated renewables is shown at 0.5 kg CO₂/kg for embedded emissions; grid-powered hydrogen scales with grid intensity.
- SMR carbon = 9.5 × (1 − capture rate) + 1.5 kg upstream methane adder for gas production and transport; grey SMR is 9.5 + 1.5.
- Water, land, transport, storage and delivery costs are excluded; delivered hydrogen costs more than production cost.
- Estimates only — project-specific LCOH depends on site, offtake, financing and policy support.
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