Integrating life cycle assessment in multi-objective optimization of green hydrogen systems: a review of literature and methodological challenges

Abstract

As global demand for sustainable energy solutions intensifies, reducing the environmental impact of energy systems while maintaining cost-effectiveness has become imperative, particularly for emerging energy carriers like hydrogen. This article presents a comprehensive review of life cycle assessment (LCA) and multi-objective optimization (MOO) in the context of green hydrogen (H₂) systems, focusing on key contributions from 2019 to 2023. The review categorizes the literature into three areas: (i) Recent LCA studies on green H₂ production, (ii) MOO studies that include LCA of renewable energy systems, (iii) Research integrating environmental criteria into MOO for green H₂ systems. The review highlights significant gaps, particularly the limited depth of environmental detail in LCAs integrated into MOO, compared to standalone environmental LCAs. Additionally, the analysis reveals a lack of end-of-life considerations across all study categories. In terms of optimization, most research adopts a bi-objective framework, typically focusing on economic performance and a single environmental metric (often CO₂ emissions), thereby constraining the development of more comprehensive, sustainable systems. The article concludes by offering recommendations: future LCAs of hydrogen systems should incorporate advanced optimization algorithms, broaden their scope to cradle-to-grave assessments, and utilize prospective methods for better anticipation of future environmental impacts.