Performance assessment of green hydrogen generation using concentrated system of photovoltaic panel with compound parabolic concentrator

Abstract

Theoretical work for concentrated solar-operated green hydrogen production system using compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) integrated with solar photovoltaic (PV) cells driving proton membrane electrolysis (PME) was developed, analysed, and evaluated under winter and summer conditions. Mathematical models for the system components, including the CPC-PV integrated unit and the electrolyzer, were developed and solved. Key system performance parameters were also evaluated. The system of equations was solved using MATLAB. Results of the mathematical model show that for 1 m² of the PV panel, the hydrogen production flowrate reaches a peak on 0.0175 kg/h in summer and 0.0144 kg/h in winter, while the CPC-PV system power output can reach up to 607 W in summer and 590 W in winter. The PV efficiency in the CPC-PV system increases to about 14.75 % in both seasons. Additionally, the overall system shows a summer and winter efficiency of nearly 13 % with a slight variation between both seasons. The minimum achieved cost of hydrogen production of the system during summer and winter is $0.17/kg and $0.271/kg, respectively at concentration ratio of 5. The system shows promising performance under operation of different concentration ratios provided by CPC-PV system, highlighting the system ability to enhance the production of green hydrogen gas cost effectively.