Hydrogen from wind power: Comparative assessment of scheduling strategies and capacity design for electrolysis systems

This paper investigates the techno-economic performance of a grid-connected wind-to-hydrogen system employing alkaline electrolysis in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It builds on existing research by examining the way continuous and discrete scheduling strategies affect the optimal electrolyser-to-turbine capacity ratio. Four energy management approaches, including rule-based and sequential quadratic programming (SQP) methods are investigated for enhancing electrolyser operation. The methodology integrates wind resource modelling, electrolyser dynamics, and a revenue-maximizing optimization framework. The results indicate that continuous SQP scheduling at a capacity ratio of 0.75 offers an optimal trade-off between hydrogen production and cost efficiency, yielding 2.9 million kg of hydrogen annually at a levelized cost of 6.1 CAD/kg. Sensitivity analysis reveals a critical grid electricity price threshold near 80.5 CAD/MWh, beyond which the optimal capacity ratio shifts sharply from 1.0 to approximately 0.4. This shift signals a fundamental change in system design strategy. By linking scheduling strategy, capacity optimization, and economic thresholds, this paper provides new insights for designing cost-effective green hydrogen systems in wind-rich regions with variable grid constraints.