Optimal Operation of Renewable Energy-Based Hydrogen Production Systems Considering Equipment Lifespan Degradation

The generation of renewable energy from sources such as wind and solar exhibits characteristics of volatility and intermittency. To address the issue of renewable energy integration and reduce the financial burden associated with the degradation of equipment lifespan caused by fluctuations in input power, this paper presents an operational optimization model for renewable energy-based hydrogen production systems that considers equipment lifespan degradation. A proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis system is constructed initially, comprising an electrolytic cell, a dryer, and a compressor. The piecewise linearization method is employed to linearize the relationship between the hydrogen production efficiency and the operating current of the system. Furthermore, an energy storage device is employed to reduce the curtailment of wind and solar energy. To reduce the cost of system lifespan degradation, a cost-sharing mechanism for lifespan degradation due to input power fluctuations is proposed, and its effectiveness is validated using a case study.