Sizing and Operation of Wind-Hydrogen Energy Systems

Abstract

The topic of this thesis is the combination of wind power plants with hydrogen storage systems. Wind is a non-storable energy resource with high variations and low predictability. Moreover the best wind energy resources are often found in remote areas with limited access to electric power transmission. Hydrogen can be produced from electricity through water electrolysis, and stored e.g. as compressed gas. The stored hydrogen can be supplied to an external load, e.g. clean fuel for transportation, or a fuel cell/internal combustion engine for generation of electricity back to the grid. Combining local hydrogen production with wind power in remote areas can increase the wind penetration without violating grid constraints. Hydrogen production can increase the value of wind power in electricity markets by time-shifting energy delivery and reducing penalties caused by uncertainty in wind forecasts. In stand-alone wind-diesel systems, hydrogen storage can utilize surplus wind energy that otherwise would have been discarded, thereby further increasing the wind penetration and lowering the diesel fuel consumption. Mathematical models of various wind-hydrogen energy systems have been developed, and the viability and performance of such systems have been identified through several case studies