Optimizing unit capacities for a wind-hydrogen power system of clustered wind farms

Abstract

Summary In general, wind power output of clustering wind farms must be massively transmitted. The wind power in each wind farm is correlated, intermittent, fluctuant, and cannot be accommodated all the time, causing the intractable decision of economical transmission capacity of a project transmitting wind power to a power grid. Furthermore, the drastic fluctuation of clustered wind power results in enormous challenges regarding the safety of a power system. For these reasons, the concept of a wind‐hydrogen power system for clustered wind farms is proposed. Next, a multiobjective model for optimizing the capacities, including the transmission project, hydrogen‐producing system, and fuel cells, is constructed based on the joint distributed character of wind speed, which consists of maximizing social benefit and the qualified rate of smoothing clustering wind power fluctuations. Finally, a case is analyzed in detail, accounting for the wind volatility, wind curtailment probability, and the costs of both hydrogen production and the fuel cells.

Value of hydro power flexibility for hydrogen production in constrained transmission grids

“…This creates areas with low-cost clean electric energy that is "trapped" due to it's location and insufficient transmission infrastructure such as western China [17], the North-Sea region [18] or western Texas [13]. Producing hydrogen in these areas can be a way to utilize these energy sources without building costly transmission lines [19,20,21]. However, there are still are significant costs associated with transporting hydrogen to consumers, but it can be done in a more flexible way in the form of gaseous hydrogen, liquefied hydrogen or ammonia on ships, trucks or in pipelines.…”