Hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources can contribute to decarbonizing both the energy sector and industrial processes. Among available options, hydropower-based hydrogen production represents a promising pathway due to the stability and low emissions of hydropower generation. This study develops a mixed-integer linear programming framework to assess the integration of hydrogen production into run-of-river hydropower plants. The model maximizes net profit while accounting for electricity balance, techno-economic constraints, electrolyzer degradation, minimum up-time requirements, storage and compressor costs, and hydrogen delivery contracts with non-compliance penalties. The framework captures trade-offs between electricity sales, hydrogen production, and oxygen valorization under dynamic market conditions. It is applied to a real mid-sized RoR hydropower plant in Southern Switzerland using ENTSO-E electricity price data and HYDRIX hydrogen market prices. Results show that integrating electrolysis can generate additional revenues for hydropower operators. Oxygen commercialization emerges as a key economic driver, exceeding hydrogen revenues under the analyzed scenarios.
