Optimal design and management for hydrogen and renewables based hybrid storage micro-grids

In an energy sustainability perspective, the renewables penetration is expected to importantly increase over the next decade, requiring modifications in the current electric system in terms of flexibility and reliability. In this respect, storage systems will play a central role and the production of green hydrogen is seen as a promising solution for both short-term and seasonal storage. In this context, the aim of this paper is the development of a methodology for the optimal design of hybrid storage micro-grids based on renewables and hydrogen and the definition of an optimal management strategy in a perspective of hydrogen employment as seasonal storage. In detail, an optimization code - based on mathematical models for each component and on specifically developed optimization strategies for the management of the components interaction - will be presented and applied to a case study. The code optimizes the sizes of the integrated electrolyzer and fuel cell, based on an objective function that maximizes the storage efficiency. It has been applied to the S.A.P.I.E.N.T.E. micro-grid installed at the ENEA Research Centre near Rome (Italy) - composed of photovoltaic panels, batteries, heat pump and thermal storage systems - obtaining the optimal design of the hydrogen section to be integrated as seasonal storage strategy. Furthermore, a parametric analysis on the battery size has been performed. The application of the developed optimization routine resulted in the introduction of a 3.7 kW electrolyzer and 4 kW fuel cell coupled with 36 kWh of battery capacity, enabling a total hydrogen production of about 87.5 kg (corresponding to 1159 kWh of electricity produced during the thermal year). & COPY; 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This paper aims to develop a methodology for the optimal design of hybrid storage micro-grids based on renewables and hydrogen, and to define an optimal management strategy in a perspective of hydrogen employment as seasonal storage. An optimization code is applied to a case study and determines the optimal sizes of the integrated electrolyzer and fuel cell, maximizing the storage efficiency. The developed optimization routine resulted in the introduction of specific components for the hydrogen section, enabling a significant production of hydrogen for seasonal storage.