ELECTROLYSIS SYSTEM OPERATION STRATEGIES FOR A HYDROGEN REFUELING STATION USING RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Abstract

Hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) to supply hydrogen to fuel cell electric vehicles have been constructed, and 101 stations are in operation as of May 2018 in Japan. Hydrogen production by renewable energy resources contributes to the mitigation of CO2 emission. We have been developed a mid-scale polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis system (EL-Plant) using photovoltaics (PV) cooperated with a HRS. The outlines including a system configuration of the EL-Plant connected with a PV system and power grid are presented. A concept on operational strategies of the PV-based EL-Plant, power leveling by a threshold by grid electricity, is proposed, and its effects were evaluated by a simulation.