The technical design, dynamic simulation and analysis of a wind-powered hydrogen energy system

The technical design, dynamic simulation and analysis of a wind-powered hydrogen energy system: Case study: Hemweg 8

Croiset van Uchelen, Emma (TU Delft Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)

van Wijk, A.J.M. (mentor)
Scholten, D.J. (graduation committee)

Delft University of Technology

2019-11-29

To comply with the 2020 targets for reducing greenhouse gas GHG emissions, the government of the Netherlands ordered to close the coal-fired power plant at Hemweg 8 by the end of the year 2019 and Vattenfall aims to utilise this valuable location in the harbour of Amsterdam for production of green hydrogen and other renewable alternatives. The objective of this research project was to analyse multiple technical designs, using dynamic simulation, of a wind-powered energy system to produce hydrogen for mobility and industries at the Hemweg 8 location. The technical characteristics of hydrogen production, storage and transport were analysed in the case study of the Hemweg and a general evaluation of the issues that are relevant regarding the introduction of a windpowered energy system was conducted. The wind turbines located near the Hemweg were used as a renewable energy source. The present and future hydrogen demands were evaluated and a growing demand for hydrogen is expected. Thereafter, different demand scenarios were determined for the present time and in 2030. A system comparison was made to verify if a wind-powered hydrogen energy system is indeed a viable option for the Hemweg location. Therefore, 4 different system configurations have been evaluated: a hydrogen-energy system with an Alkaline electrolyser and a polymer electrolyte membrane PEM electrolyser, both at 1 MW and 2 MW. All systems have been evaluated for two moments in time: the present time and the year 2030. For the present time, technologies were used that are readily on the market. For the 2030 scenario, expected advancement in technologies were included. The energy demand is met using wind energy. In case the energy supply is too low, grid electricity is used to provide additional supply. The hydrogen is transported in compressed form and transported at 200 bar to different industries and to fuelling stations for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV ) and hydrogen-powered ships. The wind-powered hydrogen energy systems were modelled in MATLAB and SIMULINK to calculate the amount of hydrogen each electrolyser can produce and how much electricity of the wind turbine is used. When there is lower demand for hydrogen, the electrolysers do not work at nominal load all the time, leading to a higher efficiency. In order to include the change in efficiency, the Alkaline and the PEM electrolyser were both dynamically modelled in detail for each scenario. An economic analysis of each system-configuration was performed. Important factors that influence the amount of hydrogen output and the levelised cost of the hydrogen are: the running time, partial load performance, output pressure and the share of renewable energy used. The economic analysis and system comparison show that the Alkaline electrolyser with a size of 2 MW produces hydrogen at the lowest levelised cost for the present scenario. For the 2030 scenario, the PEM electrolyser at a 2 MW size is the lowest in levelised cost and is competitive with green hydrogen production prices found on the market. For the present scenario, the hydrogen production cost of the system is 3.8 e/kg and the dispensing price for FCEV is 6.7 e/kg, when working full-time at nominal load. The production cost and the dispensed hydrogen fuel cost price for the future scenario will reduce to 3.2 e/kg and 5.1 e/kg, respectively, which makes the hydrogen a competitive fuel in comparison to the fuel price of gasoline. From the research findings, it was concluded that the WACC and the cost of electricity supplied by the wind turbine have a large impact and the CAPEX of the electrolyser has a minor impact on the levelised cost of hydrogen. A hydrogen energy system at the Hemweg, powered by wind and grid electricity, is accessed as technological feasible and cost competitive.

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:5a3b9b58-b5f6-41a6-90e2-1c8fe27c61ca

2021-12-31

Student theses

master thesis

© 2019 Emma Croiset van Uchelen