IS PHOTOVOLTAIC HYDROGEN IN ITALY COMPETITIVE WITH TRADITIONAL FOSSIL-FUELS

We have performed an evaluation of the end-use price of photovoltaical ly produced hydrogen. Our evaluation is optimistic as current estimate s of photovoltaic energy costs by other authors generally correspond t o higher figures, and evaluations of process and transportation costs have usually taken into account only the main components. Hydrogen is considered to be tax-free. A more realistic evaluation should be based on a fractional tax reduction over the short term, followed by full t axation in later years. Under these conditions, photovoltaic hydrogen as a fuel has proved to be non-competitive except in the transport sec tor.