Modeling and optimization of an energy generation island based on renewable technologies and hydrogen storage systems

The widespread use of renewable energy sources is hindered by their intermittent and unpredictable nature. This problem can be overcome with a storage system which manages the time mismatch between energy production and load requirements.The aim of this work is to develop a simulation tool for evaluating energy and economic performance of renewable energy islands, including various electricity generation technologies (photovoltaic modules, wind turbines and micro-hydroelectric plants), integrated with a hydrogen storage system, comprising an electrolyzer, a hydrogen storage tank and a fuel cell. After a brief description of the simulation tool structure, the attention is focused on energy and economic models of system components. Then an innovative approach for optimizing the energy island is proposed; it is based on a hybrid genetic-simulated annealing algorithm and aims to minimize the unit cost of electricity. Finally a generation island that provides electricity and hydrogen to a farm in central Italy is designed and optimized, comparing configurations based on different renewable technologies.

► We develop energy-economic models for renewable energy islands with hydrogen storage. ► An innovative approach is used for the objective function and minimization algorithm. ► The unit cost of energy can be evaluated for grid-connected and stand-alone systems. ► A hybrid genetic-simulated annealing algorithm is used for system optimization. ► A renewable island is optimized for providing electricity and hydrogen to a farm.