Spatio-temporal optimisation of hydrogen supply chains in the United Kingdom: An RTN-based assessment of infrastructure, cost, and deployment pathways

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive spatio-temporal optimisation framework for the design of a hydrogen supply chain in the United Kingdom, integrating production, transport, storage, and end-use allocation within a unified Resource–Task Network (RTN) formulation. The model captures spatial heterogeneity across industrial clusters and renewable resource zones, alongside temporal variability in demand and renewable generation. A mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) approach is employed to simultaneously optimise infrastructure investments and operational strategies, considering both green hydrogen via electrolysis and blue hydrogen via auto-thermal reforming with carbon capture and storage. Eight deployment scenarios are analysed to evaluate alternative configurations of hydrogen demand, production mix, and storage capacity. Results demonstrate that system cost is primarily driven by infrastructure topology rather than production scale alone. Scenarios requiring extensive hydrogen and CO 2 transmission networks exhibit disproportionately higher capital expenditure, revealing nonlinear cost escalation with system expansion. Renewable-dominant configurations show strong sensitivity to electricity costs, while blue hydrogen systems are influenced by natural gas and carbon management requirements. Cluster-based deployment strategies with co-located production, storage, and demand achieve lower levelised costs of hydrogen (LCOH) due to reduced transmission requirements. The findings highlight the critical role of coordinated infrastructure planning, particularly pipelines and storage, in achieving cost-effective hydrogen deployment. The study provides policy-relevant insights supporting phased, cluster-first hydrogen rollout aligned with the UK's net-zero targets.