Solid-State Transformers for Large-Scale H2 Electrolyzers

Abstract

The increasing urgency of global decarbonization has accelerated the transition renewable-based energy systems. Among various technological pathways, green hydrogen has emerged as a critical energy vector due to its potential for large-scale storage and carbon-neutral applications. However, the current production of hydrogen remains largely dependent on fossil fuels, which undermines its environmental benefits and long-term sustainability. To fully realize the promise of green hydrogen, scalable and efficient power conversion systems are needed to interface renewable energy sources with electrolyzer systems.
In particular, large-scale onshore hydrogen production requires power conversion systems that are compact, modular, and capable of operating at medium to high voltage levels. Solid-state transformers (SSTs), which employ medium-/high-frequency galvanic isolation and integrated power electronic converters, provide a promising solution to meet these requirements. Compared to conventional line-frequency transformers, SSTs enable reduced volume and weight and enhanced controllability. This thesis investigates the optimal design, control strategy development, and loss modeling of solid-state transformers tailored for hydrogen electrolyzer systems, addressing key challenges in topology selection, loss estimation, and system performance optimization....