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The energy transition for a net-zero future will require deep decarbonisation that hydrogen is uniquely positioned to facilitate. This technoeconomic study considers renewable hydrogen production, transmission and storage for energy networks using the National Electricity Market (NEM) region of Eastern Australia as a case study. Plausible growth projections are developed to meet domestic demands for gas out to 2040 based on industry commitments and scalable technology deployment. Analysis using the discounted cash flow technique is performed to determine possible levelised cost figures for key processes out to 2050. Variables include geographic limitations, growth rates and capacity factors to minimise abatement costs compared to business-as-usual natural gas forecasts. The study provides an optimistic outlook considering renewable power-to-X opportunities for blending, replacement and gas-to-power to show viable pathways for the gas transition to green hydrogen. Blending is achievable with modest (3%) green premiums this decade, and substitution for natural gas combustion in the long-term is likely to represent an abatement cost of AUD 18/tCO2-e including transmission and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Replacement of PEM water electrolysis with diverse degradation rate was considered. • Cash flow diagram was drawn considering degradation rate of PEM water electrolyzer. • Uncertainty analysis was performed considering renewable energy resources. • Environment impact assessment was carried out in terms of CO 2 emission. • Quantified economic results for H 2 from PEM water electrolysis were provided. An environmental issue such as global warming causing series of disasters has been considered as a serious matter, which asks global cooperation, leading the Paris Agreement. As a result, considerable attention has been paid to H 2 due to utilization and storage of renewable electricity expected to increase as time passes. A polymer membrane electrolyte (PEM) water electrolysis using renewable electricity generating from bioenergy, geothermal, onshore wind, etc., has been introduced to store electricity in form of H 2. For preparing successful H 2 society, an economic analysis was conducted considering PEM water electrolyzer cell replacement and renewable electricity resources to figure out economic feasibility. In this study, profitability analysis by drawing discounted cash flow diagram and uncertainty analysis using Monte-Carlo simulation based on itemized cost estimation result were carried out. The results presented that replacement preferred to occur at 2.20 V of max voltage of the PEM water electrolysis cell if electricity price is low and degradation rate is high. Furthermore, H 2 selling price has been more influential factor to a net present value (NPV) than renewable electricity price and hydro and onshore wind energies are regarded as promising renewable electricity resources to achieve goal of H 2 production cost. Moreover, CO 2 footprint analysis was conducted to provide guidelines on the replacement of PEM water electrolysis in terms of environmental aspect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]