Investment costs dominate almost completely the cost of generating electrical power and the subsequent product X (e.g., hydrogen) based on renewable energy. Duration load curves (DLC) of power generation are needed to compare the economics of different process chains for power generation and utilization. A method for photovoltaic plants has been developed to compare them with the published DLC of wind power plants. The hydrogen product costs as well as the power generation costs have been calculated for two models each. In Germany, onshore wind power plants provide the most cost competitive hydrogen. Even if the power generated by the largest wind power and PV plants in Germany would be completely used for hydrogen production, it could only over a small fraction of the expected hydrogen demand.