Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/3433
Date of Award
8-2026
Degree Name
MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department/Program
Civil and Environmental Engineering
College
College of Engineering
Advisor
Derek Manheim
Advisor Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Advisor College
College of Engineering
Abstract
When produced with sufficiently low life-cycle emissions, hydrogen may support low-carbon, dispatchable electricity generation to realize statewide renewable energy regulatory objectives. This thesis develops a screening-level electrothermochemical process model of catalytic non-thermal plasma steam methane reforming (CNTP-SMR) and integrates it with techno-economic and life-cycle assessments. Biogas and natural gas fed CNTP-SMR scenarios are compared with conventional steam methane reforming to evaluate hydrogen production cost, global warming potential, and the effects of key operating parameters. Under the baseline assumptions, CNTP-SMR generated hydrogen at a higher levelized cost (baseline of $3.86/kg H2 and a range of $3.68 to $4.11) when compared to conventional reforming (baseline of $2.92/kg H2 and a range of $2.75 to $3.16), but reduced modeled global warming potential by approximately 70–85%, depending on the feedstock and electricity supply. Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses identified electricity price, biogas methane content, natural gas price, and plasma-reaction parameters as important drivers of levelized cost and environmental impacts.
These outcomes indicate that CNTP-SMR may offer climate benefits over conventional SMR, although its economic viability remains dependent on process scalability, availability of low-carbon electricity resources, and improved plasma conversion efficiencies.