cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/59615557

Includes 1% O&M costs, 5% financing "mortgage" fully paid back in 25 years.

Project Summary: Nebraska "Zero-Cost" 1 kW Baseload Datacenter

This model establishes a net-zero electricity cost for a 1 kW continuous datacenter load in Nebraska. It utilizes a Hybrid CapEx Strategy (Chinese hardware + 35% Western Premium) and is financed at a 5% interest rate.

1. Core System Configuration

• Solar Array: 53 kW DC - Sized to generate sufficient annual H2 revenue to offset all debt.
• LFP Battery: 150 kWh - Sized for 24-hour summer H2 operation (130 kWh nightly discharge).
• Electrolyzer: 12 kW - High-utilization unit for summer surplus conversion.
• Baseload Load: 1 kW - Constant 24/7/365 datacenter power requirement.

2. Financial & Cost Assumptions

• Financing: 5% annual interest rate over a 25-year amortization term.
• Western Premium: A 35% markup on all base Chinese hardware costs to cover logistics, U.S. import duties, and Nebraska-based labor and permitting.
• Hardware Base Pricing (Pre-Premium):
  • Solar Panels: $0.35/Watt
  • LFP Batteries: $80/kWh
  • Electrolyzer + BoS: $500/kW
• Annual O&M: 1% of total CapEx per year for maintenance and insurance.

3. Operational & Environmental Assumptions

• Location: Nebraska, USA (~41°N Latitude).
• Solar Yield: 1,400 kWh/year per 1 kW of installed solar.
• Peak Sun Hours (PSH):
  • Summer Max (June 21): 7.5 PSH.
  • Winter Average (Dec/Jan): 1.9 PSH.
• H2 Efficiency: 50 kWh per 1 kg of Hydrogen produced.
• Water Feedstock: ~9 litres of deionized water per 1 kg of H2.
• Byproducts: Oxygen (O2) is vented; no revenue or compression costs included.

4. Economic Performance (The "Zero-Cost" Result)

• Total System CapEx: $49,316
• Annual Expenses (Debt + O&M): $3,989
• Annual H2 Yield: ~2,000 kg
• Required H2 Sale Price: $2.00/kg to achieve breakeven.
• Net Cost of Electricity: $0.00 / kWh (fully subsidized by H2 sales).

5. Seasonal & Winter Analysis

Summer Max (June 21)

• System achieves 24-hour saturation of the 12 kW electrolyzer.
• Total Daily Production: ~397 kWh.

Winter Average (Dec/Jan)

• Average Daily Production: 100.7 kWh.
• Daily Baseload Demand: 24.0 kWh.
• Average Winter Surplus: 76.7 kWh/day (used for H2 or sold).

Resiliency (Dark Day Buffer)

• The 150 kWh battery can sustain the 1 kW load for ~6 days of 0% solar production.
• Deficit Strategy: Any deficit beyond 6 days is covered by Employee BEVs at a payout of 20¢/kWh.