The need for storage of energy produced from renewable sources is increasing in the last decades, due to uneven energy production from these sources and to the need to run systems located in off grid areas. In this paper, two alternative integrated power systems were taken into account and compared: one based on photovoltaic and hydrogen technology (electrolyzer coupled with a fuel cell), the other based on photovoltaic and batteries. The two power systems, designed for off-grid applications, were sized on the basis of load curves created starting from possible appliances in use of a family house, and on the photovoltaic energy production in the area of Turin, Italy. They have to provide 3 kW maximum power, with an average daily consumption of 10.25 kWh in winter, 8.96 kWh in spring and autumn and 8.62 kWh in summer. The two systems were compared from a technical and economical point of view and a preliminary Life Cycle Assessment analysis (LCA) was performed, in order to describe the environmental impact of the systems. Being the fuel cell and the electrolyzer niche products from a commercial point of view, their costs are higher with respect to Li-ion batteries, therefore, power system based on the hydrogen technology results to be more expensive. However, from the environmental point of view the preliminary LCA results show that both electrolyzer plus fuel cell, and batteries have lower impacts with respect to other components, for example the solar panels. The paper contains new data on a comparison between two alternative integrated power systems: one based on photovoltaic and hydrogen technology (elctrolyzer coupled with fuel cells), the other based on photovoltaic and batteries. These systems were designed starting from the photovoltaic energy production in the area of Turin, Italy and load curves created from possible appliances in use of a family house in the same region. The two systems were compared from a technical and economical point of view and a preliminary Life Cycle Assessment analysis (LCA) was performed, in order to give an idea of the environmental impact of the systems. In the introduction it is more clearly stated the knowledge gap that can be filled with the present article, i.e. the lack of papers that compare the hydrogen technology and the battery as energy storage systems using three parameters (system's sizing, costs analysis and LCA). Moreover, a more complete survey of the literature was made, paying particular attention to papers published in Applied Energy and others top energy journals. Università degli Studi di TorinoI look forward to hear from you. Sincerely yours Paola RizziCover Letter Design and sizing of two power systems for off-grid applications in Turin area. Comparison of energy storage systems: electrolyzer coupled with fuel cell and battery Cost analysis show that power system based on hydrogen technology is more expensive LCA shows that electrolyzer + fuel cell has lower impact with respect to solar panels *Highlights (for review) 1 Energy storage from ren...

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Abstract:In this paper, hydrogen coupled with fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries are considered as alternative energy storage methods. Their application on a stationary system (i.e., energy storage for a family house) and a mobile system (i.e., an unmanned aerial vehicle) will be investigated. The stationary systems, designed for off-grid applications, were sized for photovoltaic energy production in the area of Turin, Italy, to provide daily energy of 10.25 kWh. The mobile systems, to be used for high crane inspection, were sized to have a flying range of 120 min, one being equipped with a Li-ion battery and the other with a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell. The systems were compared from an economical point of view and a life cycle assessment was performed to identify the main contributors to the environmental impact. From a commercial point of view, the fuel cell and the electrolyzer, being niche products, result in being more expensive with respect to the Li-ion batteries. On the other hand, the life cycle assessment (LCA) results show the lower burdens of both technologies.