Optimization and integration of hybrid renewable energy hydrogen fuel cell energy systems – A critical review. (15th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eriksson, E.L.V.; Gray, E.MacA.
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 202(2017)
• Page Start: 348
• Page End: 364
• Publication Date: 2017-09-15
• Subjects: Renewable energy -- Design methodology -- Design constraints -- Hydrogen -- Electrolyser -- Fuel cell -- Hydrogen fuel cell energy systems -- Integration -- Microgrid -- Optimisation -- Genetic algorithm -- System integration -- Software tools; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.03.132
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Highlights: Critical assessment of currently common approaches to design and optimisation. Proposal for criteria addressing environmental and socio-political design goals. Detailed list of proposed parameters and variables. Survey of design studies incorporating fuel cells. Survey of optimisation software tools. Abstract: Electricity generation presents the biggest opportunity to lower CO2 emissions and it is foreseen that hydrogen energy technology will play an important role in realising the scenario to cap global warming at 2 °C through replacement of fossil fuels with renewables. The transition to electric power for transport in battery- and fuel-cell-electric vehicles will further increase the need for low-carbon electricity generation. For a successful transition to a renewable energy economy the traditional approach of designing energy systems to meet only goals related to the technology (capacity, availability, reliability) and economics (return on investment, cost to the consumer) must evolve to take on a more holistic viewpoint and be able to take into account other goals addressing environmental and social considerations. This paper reviews approaches for integrating hydrogen energy technology into hybrid energy systems, emphasising electricity generation using a hydrogen fuel cell. Integration of energy storage, sizing methodologies, energy flow management and their associated optimization algorithms and software implementation are addressed. Few published case studies go beyond technical considerations. This reality is discussed in the light of available software packages. A four-dimensional multi-objective meta-heuristic function is proposed with weighting of technical, economic, environmental and socio-political factors to suit the design goals for the energy system.