Systems Analysis

NLR's hydrogen systems analysis activities aim to provide direction, insight, and support for the development, scale-up, and commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and infrastructure.

Analysis focuses on hydrogen production, storage, and delivery systems for a variety of applications including transportation, stationary and backup power, energy storage, and chemical production.

Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Data and Tools

Find models and tools for techno-economic, financial, and supply chain analyses of hydrogen systems.

The Scenario Evaluation and Regionalization Analysis (SERA) model integrates detailed geographic data, hydrogen infrastructure and supply chain costs, metrics, and financial analyses within an optimization framework.

NLR's hydrogen systems analysts evaluate R&D goals and perform resource assessments, techno-economic comparisons, market-potential projections, and financial modeling of stakeholder decisions and investment risks. Analysts also develop least-cost scenarios for hydrogen infrastructure rollout for transportation and non-transportation applications.

NLR engages with stakeholders through workshops, webinars, and meetings to increase coordination among decision makers, raise awareness, develop strategic thinking, and provide input to improve analysis modeling activities.

Webinars

The following webinars from the U.S. Department of Energy include presentations by NLR systems analysis staff.

Pipeline Blending CRADA Techno-Economic Analysis BlendPATH Webinar (January 2024). This webinar included a demonstration on how BlendPATH is used to conduct a case-by-case techno-economic analysis of preparing natural gas transmission pipeline to blend hydrogen.

H2IQ Hour HyBlend Initiative (October 2023). This webinar included an overview of hydrogen blending materials and analysis research conducted under the Department of Energy's HyBlend initiative.

H2IQ Hour Hydrogen Analysis Lite Production (H2A-Lite) and Hydrogen Financial Analysis Scenario Tool (H2FAST) Model Overview and Demonstration (November 2022). This webinar included an overview and demonstration of H2A-Lite and H2FAST and how they provide, respectively, high-level techno-economic views of different hydrogen production technologies and convenient, in-depth financial analysis of hydrogen systems.

Publications

The following technical reports, workshop proceedings, journal articles, conference papers, and presentations provide more information about NLR's hydrogen and fuel cell system analysis activities and findings.

Search the NLR publications database to access our full library of hydrogen systems analysis publications.

An Overview of Potential Future Aviation Energy Carriers, NLR Technical Report (2026)

Cost Analysis of Heavy-Duty Vehicle Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Stationary Power Plants, NLR Technical Report (2026)

Assessment of Heavy-Duty Fueling Methods and Components-Modeling and Analysis, NLR Technical Report (2025)

Capital Structure for Techno-Economic Analysis of Hydrogen Projects, NLR Technical Report (2024)

Levelized Cost of Dispensed Hydrogen for Heavy-Duty Vehicles, NLR Technical Report (2024)

Techno-Economic Analysis of Repurposing Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline Networks To Accommodate Hydrogen Blends, Energy & Environmental Science (2026)

Hydrogen Applications in Airport Operations: A Review Using the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as an Illustrative Airport System, Sustainable Energy & Fuels (2026)

Hydrogen Technology for Maritime Applications: A Review of Challenges, Opportunities, and Lessons From the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews(2025)

Hydrogen Infrastructure Analysis for Port Applications, NLR Presentation (2024)

Heavy-Duty Hydrogen Fueling Station Corridors, NLR Presentation (2024)

Electrolyzer Supply Chain Readiness Level, NLR Presentation (2024)