Utilisation of alkaline electrolysers in existing distribution networks to increase the amount of integrated wind capacity

Abstract

Hydrogen could become a significant fuel in the future especially within the transportation sector. Alkaline electrolysers supplied with power from renewable energy sources could be utilised to provide carbon free hydrogen for future hydrogen filling stations supplying Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (HFCV), or Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) modified to burn hydrogen. However, there is a need to develop and use appropriate strategies such that the technology delivers greater economic and environmental benefits.

In this work, the use of alkaline electrolysers to increase the capacity of integrated wind power in existing radial distribution networks is explored. A novel optimisation approach for sizing, placement and controlling electrolysers has been introduced, and its performance is assessed through modelling using a United Kingdom Generic Distribution System (UKGDS) case study. The controller objective is to dispatch alkaline electrolysers appropriately to maximise the total amount of profit from selling hydrogen and reduce the losses within the network while considering the realistic characteristics of pressurised alkaline electrolysis plants and satisfying the power system constraints. The impacts of increasing wind power capacity or the initial size of hydrogen filling stations on the results have been investigated and discussed.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Mahdi Kiaee: orcid.org/0000-0002-4169-7188

ORCID for Andrew Cruden: orcid.org/0000-0003-3236-2535

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