Material and energy requirements of solar hydrogen plants

Abstract The material and energy requirements for the construction of a hypothetical photovoltaic solar hydrogen plant have been determined. The plant is located in northern Africa and produces electrolytic hydrogen with an energy content equal to 4% of today's final energy consumption of the F.R.G. It turns out that present raw material and economic resources are sufficient to satisfy the total as well as the annual demand for materials. This is true also if several such plants are constructed. The energy payback time will be about two years. The results are compared with the material and energy requirements of solar thermal power generation. Implications with regard to future research activities are discussed.