Research on integrated system of non-grid-connected wind power and water-electrolytic hydrogen production

Abstract

China has abundant wind energy resources. The total installed capacity of wind power has doubled every year in the past five consecutive years. By the end of 2009, the total installed capacity of wind power reached 26000 MW. However, there are over 9880 MW wind turbines that are not connected to the grid because of peak shaving restraint. Hydrogen has been recognized as the most promising future energy carrier. Currently, industrial hydrogen production processes are not being created out of traditional energy resources, which could easily cause secondary pollution. In this paper, based on research of wind power characteristics and water electrolytic techniques, the integrated system of non-grid-connected wind power and water-electrolytic hydrogen production is designed. At the independent supply of simulation wind power or the wind/grid complementary power supply, the hydrogen equipment all works properly; the large-scale change of current density has little impact on hydrogen-producing efficiency, current efficiency and gas quality, and only affects gas output, which indicates the coupling mechanism between wind power and water-electrolytic hydrogen production. The new system can save a large number of auxiliary equipment for wind power grid connection, increase the utilization rate of wind power, and break through the development bottlenecks of wind power, which will explore a diversified development method of large-scale wind power, creating hundred billions (Yuan) of the emerging strategic industry, and contributing to the development of green economy and low carbon economy in China.