A cost-optimal design of power-to-hydrogen (PtH) systems is crucial to produce hydrogen at the lowest specific cost. New challenges arise when it comes to ensuring a reliable and cost-effective hydrogen supply in the presence of variable renewable energy sources. In this context, the aim of this analysis is to investigate the optimal design of PV-based grid-connected hydrogen production systems under different scenarios. To this end, an optimisation framework based on the mixed integer linear programming (MILP) technique is developed. Results are presented by employing a set of techno-economic and environmental indicators to provide general guidance on how to optimally size PtH systems, going beyond the analysis of a specific case study. The analysis is applied to Italy and particular attention is paid to exploring the impact of the price of grid electricity. The results indicate that the price of grid electricity strongly affects the optimal design of PtH systems. Specifically, in scenarios with high electricity prices, it is economically convenient to significantly oversize the PV plant and the electrolyser. The optimal PV ratio, representing the ratio between the PV size and the electrolyser size, increases from 1.6 to 2.7 as the electricity price rises from 50 to 300 euro/MWh. Additionally, when electricity prices exceed approximately 120 euro/MWh, the optimal electrolyser size (in terms of hydrogen production under rated conditions) becomes almost three times larger than the average hydrogen demand. By comparing gridconnected and off-grid scenarios, the importance of the electrical grid is also highlighted: even when poorly used, it plays a crucial role in limiting the size of the hydrogen storage. The levelised cost of hydrogen for the optimal PtH configuration falls within the range of 3.5-7 euro/kg (depending on the price of grid electricity) and increases to 8.2 euro/kg when the system operates off-grid. Finally, the hydrogen carbon footprint, quantified as kgCO2,e/kgH2, is also explored. Considering the current price and carbon intensity of grid electricity, th

Optimal design of PV-based grid-connected hydrogen production systems / Marocco, P.; Gandiglio, M.; Santarelli, M.. - In: JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION. - ISSN 0959-6526. - 434:(2024). [10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.140007]

Optimal design of PV-based grid-connected hydrogen production systems

Marocco P.;Gandiglio M.;Santarelli M.
2024

Abstract

A cost-optimal design of power-to-hydrogen (PtH) systems is crucial to produce hydrogen at the lowest specific cost. New challenges arise when it comes to ensuring a reliable and cost-effective hydrogen supply in the presence of variable renewable energy sources. In this context, the aim of this analysis is to investigate the optimal design of PV-based grid-connected hydrogen production systems under different scenarios. To this end, an optimisation framework based on the mixed integer linear programming (MILP) technique is developed. Results are presented by employing a set of techno-economic and environmental indicators to provide general guidance on how to optimally size PtH systems, going beyond the analysis of a specific case study. The analysis is applied to Italy and particular attention is paid to exploring the impact of the price of grid electricity. The results indicate that the price of grid electricity strongly affects the optimal design of PtH systems. Specifically, in scenarios with high electricity prices, it is economically convenient to significantly oversize the PV plant and the electrolyser. The optimal PV ratio, representing the ratio between the PV size and the electrolyser size, increases from 1.6 to 2.7 as the electricity price rises from 50 to 300 euro/MWh. Additionally, when electricity prices exceed approximately 120 euro/MWh, the optimal electrolyser size (in terms of hydrogen production under rated conditions) becomes almost three times larger than the average hydrogen demand. By comparing gridconnected and off-grid scenarios, the importance of the electrical grid is also highlighted: even when poorly used, it plays a crucial role in limiting the size of the hydrogen storage. The levelised cost of hydrogen for the optimal PtH configuration falls within the range of 3.5-7 euro/kg (depending on the price of grid electricity) and increases to 8.2 euro/kg when the system operates off-grid. Finally, the hydrogen carbon footprint, quantified as kgCO2,e/kgH2, is also explored. Considering the current price and carbon intensity of grid electricity, th
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
1-s2.0-S0959652623041653-main.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: 2a Post-print versione editoriale / Version of Record
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 4.55 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
4.55 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11583/2989061