Optimal dispatch model for grid-connected wind-electrolysis plants.

Electrolyzers are expected to play a pivotal role in future renewable energy plants by facilitating the penetration of renewable sources and improving the economic viability of these systems. However, ensuring reliable and profit-optimizing dispatch strategies presents challenges, especially under fluctuating renewable generation and variable electricity prices. In this context, the present study formulates an optimization framework focused on establishing a detailed scheduling model for PEM electrolyzer systems, with the goal of maximizing the profit of a wind-electrolysis plant. The detailed electrolyzer model accounts for its non-linear hydrogen production performance and multi-state operation. Besides, the time resolution of 15-min is specified in the simulation to enhance the robustness of the model by allowing consideration of also some aspects of state transitions (i.e., cold startup). The analysis is applied to selected typical days in 2019 for Germany (DE) and Austria (AT). Results indicate that the electrolyzer adapts to variable energy scenarios in an efficient way. In particular, standby state is crucial at moderate average electricity price (e.g., 33.49 EUR/MWh) to avoid the need for a cold startup. This state offers an alternative to off state, thereby increasing the economic performance of the wind-electrolysis plant. Additionally, it is shown that the overall profit of the plant in the AT case exceeds the DE case due to the yearly average wind capacity factor in the AT case being 0.37, compared to the lower value of 0.31 in the DE case. In both countries, electricity sales constitute the main source of the total profit, particularly on typical days with high probability of occurrence. However, hydrogen sales also provide a notable contribution to the plant's total profit, accounting for over 50% in some cases. Finally, a sensitivity analysis on electricity prices and wind capacity factors is conducted to explore energy scenarios where producing hydrogen becomes economically attractive. [Display omitted] • MILP-based tool for the optimal dispatch of wind-electrolysis plants. • The standby state is key to avoiding cold startups at medium electricity prices. • The plant's profit in the Austria case exceeds the Germany case. • Hydrogen sales provide a notable contribution to the plant's total profit. • The electricity price strongly affects the optimal dispatch of electrolyzers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]