Green Hydrogen Cost (LCOH)

Is your project viable? Calculate the production cost per kilogram of Green H2.

Production Parameters

Currency USD
Renewable Energy Cost 30 /MWh
Price of Solar/Wind power (0.03 /kWh)
Electrolyzer Efficiency 50 kWh/kg
Lower is better. PEM avg: 50-55 kWh/kg
CAPEX (System) 800 /kW
Cost of Electrolyzer stack + Balance of Plant
Capacity Factor (Usage) 40%
% of time the plant runs (Solar ~25%, Wind+Solar ~60%)
Discount Rate (WACC) 10%
Project Lifetime 20 years
Fixed O&M (CAPEX/yr) 2.0%
Advanced Assumptions
Availability 97%
Accounts for outages/maintenance (typical 95–99%).
Water & consumables 0.05 /kg
Demin water + chemicals (site-specific).
Variable O&M 0.00 /kg
Labor/maintenance that scales with output.
Stack replacement interval 7 years
Approx. effective major replacement cycle (simplified).
Replacement cost 30% of CAPEX
Fraction of installed CAPEX per replacement (simplified).

Levelized Cost

0.00
/ kg H2
Target: 2.00/kg (Not yet competitive)
Energy
0.00
CAPEX
0.00
OPEX
0.00
*Calculation assumes 10% Discount Rate (WACC) and 20-year lifetime.
[Image of hydrogen fuel cell]

The Race to $2.00/kg

Green Hydrogen is currently expensive ($3-$6/kg) compared to Grey Hydrogen made from gas ($1.5/kg). To unlock the hydrogen economy for steel, shipping, and heavy transport, the cost must drop below $2/kg.

The biggest factor? Electricity cost. As shown in the calculator, electricity typically accounts for 60-70% of the LCOH. Access to cheap renewable energy (below $20/MWh) is the key to winning this race.

Analyze the Future Fuel

Use this green hydrogen cost calculator to estimate LCOH ($/kg), break down energy vs CAPEX vs OPEX, and test sensitivity to utilization and financing assumptions.

LCOE Analysis

Ensure your renewable electricity source is competitively priced.

 Wind Power Estimator

Wind and Solar are often combined for H2 production—calculate wind output.

 H2 Future Guide

Read the full investment thesis for the hydrogen economy.