NatLabRockies · johnjasa · Apr 15, 2026 · Apr 15, 2026 · Apr 15, 2026 · Apr 15, 2026
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # Changelog
 
 ## Unreleased
+- Updated README and docs intro page with expanded H2I description, reorganized sections, and streamlined installation instructions [PR 677](https://github.com/NatLabRockies/H2Integrate/pull/677)
 - Update energy conversion ratio in H2 SMR model [PR 606](https://github.com/NatLabRockies/H2Integrate/pull/606)
 - Update iron models and examples [PR 601](https://github.com/NatLabRockies/H2Integrate/pull/601)
   - Remove outdated iron files

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -4,18 +4,55 @@
 ![CI Tests](https://github.com/NatLabRockies/H2Integrate/actions/workflows/ci.yml/badge.svg)
 [![image](https://img.shields.io/pypi/pyversions/H2Integrate.svg)](https://pypi.python.org/pypi/H2Integrate)
 [![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-BSD%203--Clause-blue.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/BSD-3-Clause)
-[![DOI:10.5281/zenodo.17903150](https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.17903149.svg)](https://zenodo.org/records/17903149)
+[![DOI 10.5281/zenodo.17903150](https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.17903150.svg)](https://zenodo.org/records/17903150)
 
-[![DOI 10.1088/1742-6596/2767/8/082019](https://img.shields.io/badge/DOI-10.1088%2F1742--6596%2F2767%2F8%2F082019-brightgreen?link=[https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2767/8/082019](https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2767/8/082019))](https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/2767/8/082019/pdf)
-[![DOI 10.1088/1742-6596/2767/6/062017](https://img.shields.io/badge/DOI-10.1088%2F1742--6596%2F2767%2F6%2F062017-brightgreen?link=[https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2767/6/062017](https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2767/6/062017))](https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/2767/6/062017/pdf)
-[![DOI 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4326648/v1](https://img.shields.io/badge/DOI-10.21203%2Frs.3.rs--4326648%2Fv1-brightgreen?link=[https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4326648/v1](https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4326648/v1))](https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4326648/v1_covered_338a5071-b74b-4ecd-9d2a-859e8d988b5c.pdf?c=1716199726)
+H2Integrate (H2I) is an open-source Python package for hybrid energy systems engineering design and technoeconomic analysis.
+It models hybrid systems, especially hybrid energy plants that produce electricity, hydrogen, ammonia, steel, and other products, to perform optimization and scenario analysis.
 
-H2Integrate is an open-source Python package for modeling and designing hybrid energy systems producing electricity, hydrogen, ammonia, steel, and other products.
+## Installation
 
-Note: The current version of H2Integrate is under active development and may be missing features that existed previously. H2Integrate v0.2.0 is the last version that uses the prior framework.
+The recommended installation method is via pip from PyPI, which will install the latest stable release of H2Integrate and its dependencies:
+
+```bash
+pip install h2integrate
+```
+
+For installing from source, development setup, and additional installation options, see the [full installation instructions](https://h2integrate.readthedocs.io/en/latest/getting_started/install.html).
+
+## What H2Integrate Does
+
+H2Integrate is both a **hybrid systems engineering design tool** and a **technoeconomic analysis (TEA) tool**. It significantly expands beyond generalized tools by offering:
+
+- **Detailed equipment-level modeling** with a wide range of subsystem variation options
+- **High-resolution, location-specific resource data** for site-dependent performance modeling
+- **Cost inputs settable by the user** with examples based on the [Annual Technology Baseline (ATB)](https://atb.nlr.gov/)
+- **Optimization and scenario analysis** to explore design trade-offs across hybrid plant configurations
+
+### Available Technologies
+
+H2I includes models for a broad set of energy generation, conversion, and storage technologies.
+This is a non-exhaustive list, and the library of available technologies is actively expanding:
+
+- **Electricity generation**: solar PV, wind, wave, tidal, natural gas combined cycle (NGCC), natural gas combustion turbines (NGCT), nuclear, grid
+- **Hydrogen production**: PEM electrolysis, NG-SMR
+- **Energy storage**: Li-ion batteries, long-duration energy storage (LDES), pumped storage hydropower (PSH)
+- **Fuel cells**: H2 PEM fuel cells
+- **Industrial processes**: ammonia synthesis, iron ore reduction, steel production, and more
+
+## Getting Started
+
+See the [Getting Started guide](https://h2integrate.readthedocs.io/en/latest/intro.html) for an introduction to H2Integrate.
+The [Examples folder](./examples/) contain Jupyter notebooks, Python scripts, and sample YAML files for common usage scenarios.
+
+## Publications
+
+For a full list of publications, see the [Publications section in the documentation](https://h2integrate.readthedocs.io/en/latest/intro.html#publications).
+Note: H2Integrate was previously known as GreenHEART, and some publications may refer to it by that name.
-Note: H2Integrate was previously known as GreenHEART, and some publications may refer to it by that name.
+Note: H2Integrate was previously known as GreenHEART, and some publications refer to it by that name.
-Note: H2Integrate was previously known as GreenHEART, and some publications may refer to it by that name.
+Note: H2Integrate was previously known as GreenHEART, and some publications refer to it by that name.
 
 ## Software Citation
 
+If you use H2I or any of its components in your work, please cite this in your publications using the following BibTeX:
+
 ```bibtex
 @software{brunik_2025_17903150,
   author = {Brunik, Kaitlin and
@@ -50,197 +87,6 @@ Note: The current version of H2Integrate is under active development and may be
 }
 ```
 
-## Publications where H2Integrate has been used
-
-For more context about H2Integrate and to see analyses that have been performed using the tool, please see some of these publications.
-PDFs are available in the linked titles.
-
-### Nationwide techno-economic analysis of clean hydrogen production powered by a hybrid renewable energy plant for over 50,000 locations in the United States.
-
-The levelized cost of hydrogen is calculated for varying technology costs, and tax credits to
-explore cost sensitivities independent of plant design, performance, and site selection. Our
-findings suggest that strategies for cost reduction include selecting sites with abundant wind
-resources, complementary wind and solar resources, and optimizing the sizing of wind and solar
-assets to maximize the hybrid plant capacity factor.
-
-Grant, E., et al. "[Hybrid power plant design for low-carbon hydrogen in the United States.](https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/2767/8/082019/pdf)" Journal of Physics: Conference Series. Vol. 2767. No. 8. IOP Publishing, 2024.
-
-### Exploring the role of producing low-carbon hydrogen using water electrolysis powered by offshore wind in facilitating the United States’ transition to a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
-
-Conducting a regional techno-economic analysis at four U.S. coastal sites, the study evaluates two
-energy transmission configurations and examines associated costs for the years 2025, 2030, and 2035.
-The results highlight that locations using fixed-bottom technology may achieve cost-competitive
-water electrolysis hydrogen production by 2030 through leveraging geologic hydrogen storage and
-federal policy incentives.
-
-Brunik, K., et al. "[Potential for large-scale deployment of offshore wind-to-hydrogen systems in the United States.](https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/2767/6/062017/pdf)" Journal of Physics: Conference Series. Vol. 2767. No. 6. IOP Publishing, 2024.
-
-### Examining how tightly-coupled gigawatt-scale wind- and solar-sourced H2 depends on the ability to store and deliver otherwise-curtailed H2 during times of shortages.
-
-Modeling results suggest that the levelized cost of storage is highly spatially heterogeneous, with
-minor impact on the cost of H2 in the Midwest, and potentially significant impact in areas with
-emerging H2 economies such as Central California and the Southeast. While TOL/MCH may be the
-cheapest aboveground bulk storage solution evaluated, upfront capital costs, modest energy
-efficiency, reliance on critical materials, and greenhouse gas emissions from heating remain
-concerns.
-
-Breunig, Hanna, et al. "[Hydrogen Storage Materials Could Meet Requirements for GW-Scale Seasonal Storage and Green Steel.](https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4326648/v1_covered_338a5071-b74b-4ecd-9d2a-859e8d988b5c.pdf?c=1716199726)" (2024).
-
-### DOE Hydrogen Program review presentation of H2Integrate
-
-King, J. and Hammond, S. "[Integrated Modeling, TEA, and Reference Design for Renewable Hydrogen to Green Steel and Ammonia - GreenHEART](https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/docs/hydrogenprogramlibraries/pdfs/review24/sdi001_king_2024_o.pdf?sfvrsn=a800ca84_3)" (2024).
-
-## Software requirements
-
-- Python version 3.11, 3.12 64-bit
-- Other versions may still work, but have not been extensively tested at this time
-
-## Installing from Package Repositories
-
-```bash
-pip install h2integrate
-```
-
-> [!NOTE]
-> If using the Ard models `h2integrate[ard]`, see the source installation instructions (item 3) for
-> creating a conda environment with WISDEM installed through conda, not pip as it can cause issues
-> on some machines.
-
-## Installing from Source
-
-### Easiest approach (recommended)
-
-1. Using Git, navigate to a local target directory and clone repository:
-
-    ```bash
-    git clone https://github.com/NatLabRockies/H2Integrate.git
-    ```
-
-2. Navigate to `H2Integrate`
-
-    ```bash
-    cd H2Integrate
-    ```
-
-3. Create a conda environment and install H2Integrate and all its dependencies. Please read the
-   following two notes about modified installation steps.
-
-    1. If on a Unix machine, uncomment line 8 in `environment.yml` to install Cbc. Windows
-      users will need to manually install from <https://github.com/coin-or/Cbc>.
-    2. If you plan to use Ard, you may need to uncomment line 9 in `environment.yml` to ensure WISDEM (an Ard
-      dependency) is installed from conda to avoid installation issues with some systems.
-
-    ```bash
-    conda env create -f environment.yml
-    ```
-
-An additional step can be added if additional dependencies are required, or you plan to use this
-environment for development work.
-
-- Pass `-e` for an editable developer install
-- Use one of the extra flags as needed:
-  - `gis`: adds the iron mapping tools.
-  - `ard`: adds the Ard-based wind models.
-  - `extras`: installs all extra analysis tool dependencies, e.g., `ard` or `gis`.
-  - `develop`: adds developer and documentation tools.
-  - `examples`: allows you to use the Jupyter Notebooks and all examples (includes `ard` and `gis`).
-  - `all` simplifies adding all the dependencies.
-
-This looks like the following for a developer installation:
-
-```bash
-pip install -e ".[all]"
-```
-
-### Customizable
-
-1. Using Git, navigate to a local target directory and clone repository:
-
-    ```bash
-    git clone https://github.com/NatLabRockies/H2Integrate.git
-    ```
-
-2. Navigate to `H2Integrate`
-
-    ```bash
-    cd H2Integrate
-    ```
-
-3. Create a new virtual environment and change to it. Using Conda Python 3.11 (choose your favorite
-   supported version) and naming it 'h2integrate' (choose your desired name):
-
-    ```bash
-    conda create --name h2integrate python=3.11 -y
-    conda activate h2integrate
-    ```
-
-4. Install H2Integrate and its dependencies:
-
-    ```bash
-    conda install -y -c conda-forge glpk coin-or-cbc>=2.10.12
-    ```
-
-    - If you want to just use H2Integrate:
-
-       ```bash
-       pip install .
-       ```
-
-    - If you want to work with the examples:
-
-       ```bash
-       pip install ".[examples]"
-       ```
-
-    - If you also want development dependencies for running tests and building docs:
-
-       ```bash
-       pip install -e ".[develop]"
-       ```
-
-       Please be sure to also install the pre-commit hooks if contributing code back to the main
-       repository via the following. This enables a series of automated formatting and code linting
-       (style and correctness checking) to ensure the code is stylistically consistent.
-
-       ```bash
-       pre-commit install
-       ```
-
-       If a check (or multiple) fails (commit is blocked), and reformatting was done, then restage
-       (`git add`) your files and commit them again to see if all issues were resolved without user
-       intervention. If changes are required follow the suggested fix, or resolve the stated
-       issue(s). Restaging and committing may take multiple attempts steps if errors are unaddressed
-       or insufficiently addressed. Please see [pre-commit](https://pre-commit.com/),
-       [ruff](https://docs.astral.sh/ruff/), or [isort](https://pycqa.github.io/isort/) for more
-       information.
-
-    - In one step, all dependencies can be installed as:
-
-      ```bash
-      pip install -e ".[all]"
-      ```
-
-5. The functions which download resource data require an NLR API key. Obtain a key from:
-
-    [https://developer.nlr.gov/signup/](https://developer.nlr.gov/signup/)
-
-6. To set up the `NLR_API_KEY` and `NLR_API_EMAIL` required for resource downloads, follow the steps
-    outlined in [this doc page](https://h2integrate.readthedocs.io/en/latest/getting_started/environment_variables.html).
-
-7. Verify setup by running tests:
-
-    ```bash
-    pytest
-    ```
-
-## Getting Started
-
-The [Examples](./examples/) contain Jupyter notebooks and sample YAML files for common usage
-scenarios in H2Integrate. These are actively maintained and updated to demonstrate H2Integrate's
-capabilities. For full details on simulation options and other features, documentation is
-forthcoming.
-
 ## Contributing
 
-Interested in improving H2Integrate? Please see the [Contributor's Guide](./docs/CONTRIBUTING.md)
-section for more information.
+Interested in improving H2Integrate? Please see the [Contributor's Guide](./docs/CONTRIBUTING.md) for more information.
diff --git a/docs/getting_started/install.md b/docs/getting_started/install.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 ## Install H2Integrate via PyPI
 
-If you just want to use H2Integrate and aren't developing new models, you can install it from PyPI using pip:
+If you just want to use H2Integrate and aren't developing new models, you should install it from PyPI using pip:
 
 ```bash
 pip install h2integrate