Technical and Environmental Assessment of Green Hydrogen Production Using Advanced Electrolysers Powered by Solar Energy: Middle Asia Case Study

Decarbonizing industry and accelerating the deployment of clean energy technologies are increasingly important priorities across Central Asia as countries pursue long-term strategies to reduce emissions and enhance energy security. Uzbekistan, with its high solar potential and rising energy demand, provides a relevant case for evaluating the role of low-carbon hydrogen in supporting this transition. In this study, green hydrogen is produced using an alkaline water electrolyser enhanced with metal–organic framework (MOF) materials (MOF–WAE) and powered entirely by solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity. The MOFs are integrated into the electrolyser electrode structure to improve electrochemical performance and hydrogen production efficiency. The system is modeled at an industrially relevant scale, consisting of a 40 MW alkaline electrolysis plant operating at 85% annual capacity factor, resulting in an annual hydrogen production of approximately 5,100 tonnes. The environmental performance of the proposed system is evaluated using a life-cycle assessment (LCA) implemented in SimaPro, covering the full hydrogen pathway from solar electricity generation to hydrogen utilization. Results show that the MOF–WAE configuration achieves a life-cycle global warming potential of approximately 1.97 kg CO₂ per kg of hydrogen produced. When compared with a conventional steam methane reforming (SMR) reference pathway, this corresponds to an annual reduction of about 13,340 tonnes of CO₂, representing an overall reduction of nearly 80% in global warming potential. The remaining impacts are largely driven by electricity-related processes, underlining the importance of clean and reliable renewable power supply for large-scale hydrogen deployment. The advantages of renewable hydrogen are also evident in transport applications. Fuel-cell vehicles powered by solar-based hydrogen can emit up to 89% less CO₂ per 100 km than diesel vehicles, and approximately 83% less CO₂ than vehicles using SMR-derived hydrogen. Overall, the findings indicate that solar-powered, MOF-enhanced alkaline electrolysis is technically feasible and capable of delivering substantial environmental benefits, making it a promising pathway for Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries pursuing resilient, low-carbon energy systems.