Feasibility study of a renewable energy community development using hydrogen

The analysis of energy communities is an important area of current power system research. In this feasibility study, energy data was gathered for an industrial site with an annual electricity consumption of around 300 MWh, plus an additional 300 MWh for transportation. A time-series energy model was proposed for analysis, encompassing solar energy production, electricity usage, hydrogen production via electrolysis, storage, and its application in transportation. Specific system components and cost-benefit analyses for a potential pilot site were examined. The model allowed for up to 600 kWpof solar photovoltaic capacity, with estimations of energy potentials and constraints including electrolyser power limits, compression energy demands, storage technicalities, and operational profiles. The study's key contribution lies in establishing a time series model applicable not only to the studied site but also to similar energy communities. It enables scenario analysis for different configurations at various time scales, accounting for system losses. Results indicate the potential for three vehicle charges of 8 kg hydrogen per day, with annual hydrogen generation ranging from 776 kg to 8000 kg and storage capacity from 20m3to 180 m3. The study suggests potential cooperation between renewable energy communities, green mobility, and the distribution system, offering insights into mitigating local network congestions, and through that increasing the hosting capacity of power systems.