1.3 Methodological Framework for Cross-Border Hydrogen Corridor Evaluation
Evaluating the structural viability of cross-border hydrogen import corridors necessitates a systematic methodology that reconciles supply-side generation economics with downstream infrastructure absorption constraints. Traditional techno-economic assessments frequently prioritize static levelized production costs at the point of origin, thereby obscuring substantial cost escalations incurred across long-distance transport vectors and terminal facilities [2]. To overcome these analytical limitations, the methodological framework adopts a demand-driven whole-chain evaluation model that couples carrier conversion thermodynamics with multi-period capital investment planning [1]. Primary criteria include energy carrier densities, boil-off losses during marine transit, pipeline reconversion efficiencies, and terminal throughput utilization rates [2]. Furthermore, policy sensitivity is internalized through multi-period carbon pricing trajectories, allowing for the systematic examination of trade-offs between capital expenditure intensity and operational emissions abatement [1]. By incorporating infrastructure capital absorption at the end-user delivery interface, the model prevents the underestimation of delivered fuel costs and clarifies the capital distribution between upstream generation assets and midstream corridor logistics [2]. This integrated approach ensures a rigorous comparative appraisal of diverse maritime and overland import pathways, establishing clear boundary conditions for industrial fuel substitution in high-temperature manufacturing environments [1].