An Innovatively Designed Community-based Hybrid Energy System to Generate its Needs of Electricity, Heat, Hot Water and Hydrogen in a Sustainable Manner

This study introduces an innovative nuclear-biomass integrated energy and cleaner production multigeneration system incorporating sonohydrogen technology and a desalination unit for the sustainable and efficient production of hydrogen, electricity, hot water and heat. A small modular nuclear reactor acts as the primary energy source, ensuring stable and low-carbon power generation while enhancing hydrogen yield through sonochemical processes. Biomass-derived biogas is strategically utilized for both electricity generation and hydrogen production via steam methane reforming. The heat wasted in the system is efficiently utilized. A high-performance multistage flash desalination unit converts some of the waste heat into desalinated seawater. In addition, a portion of the waste heat is utilized for heat production. The results of this study show that the overall energy and exergy efficiencies of the integrated system are 82.7 % and 68.3 %, respectively. Through detailed energy and exergy assessments, the study demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed system in enhancing energy conversion efficiency, improving waste heat utilization, and increasing sustainability. In addition, the results of the cost assessment show that the integrated energy system is economically viable in the long term, with hydrogen production driving substantial annual revenue and profitability projected within the first decade of operation. The findings highlight the system’s potential to contribute to cleaner energy production by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, maximizing resource efficiency, and advancing hydrogen and freshwater production technologies.