Assessment of the Spatial Potential of the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia for Green Hydrogen Production

One of the challenges in the development of hydrogen energy, including the generation of green hydrogen through the use of wind and solar power, is spatial planning, particularly large-scale planning. Such planning allows, in the first instance, to assess the suitability of certain areas for the deployment of a particular type of energy, and as a consequence, enables the formulation of a more precise strategy, both economically and geopolitically. A key aspect of utilizing geospatial techniques in the siting of alternative energy facilities is the capacity for integrated planning. The study aims to determine the optimal location for the implementation of suitable technologies by utilizing data. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the spatial potential for wind and solar power development in 5 federal subjects within the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia, considering different factors. The study is divided into two parts: the first part assesses the suitability of the territories based on a complex set of parameters, while the second part provides a quantitative model for predicting potential hydrogen production using the Weibull distribution. In the first phase of the study, it was decided to utilize the Analytical Hierarchy Process method. It is an approach for solving complex problems that involves breaking down the latter into criteria and assigning weights to them based on pairwise comparisons. After obtaining the weights for the criteria, we unified their absolute values. To complete the task, we applied fuzzy logic. To calculate the degree of belonging of a criterion value to a fuzzy set, we utilized six different functions. Using multiple functions is justified due to the spatial variation of factors and the non-linear nature of their impact on desired final potential values. Boolean logic was used to categorize territories based on their suitability for the relevant economic activity. Territories were then classified into 2 types: where the economic activity under consideration is allowed and where it is prohibited. For the final calculation, a weighted linear combination method was applied. The study area was analyzed, and as a result, three datasets were obtained regarding the desired potential of the studied territory for the deployment of wind farms and solar energy systems (PV and CSP). In the second part of this study, an analysis was conducted to assess the potential for developing hydrogen energy based on wind power in the region. Calculations were based on empirical wind speed data collected from 21 weather stations in the study area in 10 years period. Weibull distribution function was used to predict wind speed potential. To determine the Weibull parameters, five different methods were employed: EMJ, EML, MLE, PDM and MQ. Calculations for the total potential electricity and hydrogen production were conducted based on the technical specifications of the Vestas V150-4.2 MW wind turbine.