Herein, a novel methodology to perform optimal sizing of AC-linked solar PV-PEM systems is proposed. The novelty of this work is the proposition of the solar plant to electrolyzer capacity ratio (AC/AC ratio) as optimization variable. The impact of this AC/AC ratio on the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) and the deviation of the solar DC/AC ratio when opti-mized specifically for hydrogen production are quantified. Case studies covering a Global Horizontal Irradiation (GHI) range of 1400-2600 kWh/m(2)-year are assessed. The obtained LCOHs range between 5.9 and 11.3 USD/kgH(2) depending on sizing and location. The AC/AC ratio is found to strongly affect cost, production and LCOH optimality while the optimal solar DC/AC ratio varies up to 54% when optimized to minimize the cost of hydrogen instead of the cost of energy only. Larger oversizing is required for low GHI locations; however, H-2 production is more sensitive to sizing ratios for high GHI locations. (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC.
Assessing sizing optimality of OFF-GRID AC-linked solar PV-PEM systems for hydrogen production
Comodi, G;
2022-01-01
Abstract
Herein, a novel methodology to perform optimal sizing of AC-linked solar PV-PEM systems is proposed. The novelty of this work is the proposition of the solar plant to electrolyzer capacity ratio (AC/AC ratio) as optimization variable. The impact of this AC/AC ratio on the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) and the deviation of the solar DC/AC ratio when opti-mized specifically for hydrogen production are quantified. Case studies covering a Global Horizontal Irradiation (GHI) range of 1400-2600 kWh/m(2)-year are assessed. The obtained LCOHs range between 5.9 and 11.3 USD/kgH(2) depending on sizing and location. The AC/AC ratio is found to strongly affect cost, production and LCOH optimality while the optimal solar DC/AC ratio varies up to 54% when optimized to minimize the cost of hydrogen instead of the cost of energy only. Larger oversizing is required for low GHI locations; however, H-2 production is more sensitive to sizing ratios for high GHI locations. (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
