Dynamic Model For Solar Hydrogen Via Alkaline Water Electrolyzer: A Real-Time Techno-economic Perspective With And Without Energy Storage System

Abstract

At current fossil fuels consumption rate, enormous challenges are associated, including global warming, environmental pollution, climate change, and, more importantly, scarcity of these resources shortly. To combat these challenges, renewable energy-based hydrogen production processes can provide substantial support in minimizing the ever-increasing global warming threat. Therefore, the implementation of renewable energy-based processes will significantly help mitigate CO2 emissions. Among various production pathways, alkaline water electrolysis stands out due to its proven commercial importance. In this study, integrated design for 4.5 MW alkaline water electrolyzer (AWE) and battery energy storage system (BESS) is presented to overcome the dynamic and fluctuating nature of renewable energy and thus provide a continuous green hydrogen production system. Furthermore, a cost analysis is performed for systems with and without BESS to explore the real economic potential of the proposed models. Minimum hydrogen selling price (MHSP) for AWE with BESS presents the lowest selling price of 3.97$/kg, whereas the system without BESS reports MHSP as 4.96 $//kg.