Hydrogen and Battery Based Energy Storage System (ESS) for Future DC Microgrids

TL;DR

This paper proposes a hybrid energy storage system combining hydrogen and batteries for future DC microgrids, demonstrating improved stability and extended energy supply through a simulated power electronics and fuel cell integration.

Contribution

It introduces a novel integrated hydrogen and battery ESS model with a focus on power electronics and fuel cell technology for renewable energy applications.

Findings

Hybrid system provides stable, long-term energy supply.

Simulation shows effective hydrogen production and fuel cell operation.

System can handle demand surges and renewable energy variability.

Abstract

In this paper, a hydrogen-based energy storage system (ESS) is proposed for DC microgrids, which can potentially be integrated with battery ESS to meet the needs of future grids with high renewable penetration. Hydrogen-based ESS can provide a stable energy supply for a long time but has a slower response than battery ESSs. However, a combination of battery and hydrogen storage provides stable energy for an extended period of time and can easily handle the sudden demands and surpluses of the microgrid. One of the main challenges in this system is the integration of power electronics with fuel cell technology to convert renewable energy into electricity seamlessly. This paper proposes a system that uses an isolated DC-DC converter to activate clean hydrogen production using an electrolyzer and then pressurize the hydrogen to store in a tank. The pressured hydrogen becomes an essential input to the fuel cell, which regulates and transforms it into electricity. The electricity produced is then transferred to the grid using a DC-DC boost converter. A Simulink model of the hybrid system with a 1 kV DC bus voltage is used to demonstrate the hydrogen production and fuel cell behavior based on the demand and surplus power of the loads. The proposed system simulates aspects of the power conversion, electrolyzer, storage tank, and fuel cell needed for the proposed hybrid ESS. Due to its economic feasibility, the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) is the primary technology considered for the electrolyzer and fuel cell.