Abstract

Hydrogen technologies in transport are expanding, yet their growth remains significantly slower than that of battery‑electric vehicles due to supply‑ and demand‑side inertia. At low market penetration, the limited number of fuel‑cell vehicles restricts the development of a viable refueling network. A promising pathway is decentralized, on‑site hydrogen production, which avoids the high upfront investment of centralized systems. Feasibility can be enhanced by methane splitting (MS) using biomethane from existing biogas plants to supply stations along the Hungarian TEN‑T corridor and other major motorways. This study examines a representative node near Szarvas, adjacent to the M44 highway, where geothermal energy—via an ORC system—could provide over 1000 kW_el of electricity, with residual heat supporting district heating. The analysis applies a comprehensive material and energy balance to perform an LCOH calculation incorporating demand‑side hydrogen use, evaluating three scenarios supported by a simplified carbon‑intensity assessment.