Work

Frequency support from PEM hydrogen electrolysers using Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop validation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Maintaining frequency stability is one of the biggest challenges facing future power systems, due to the increasing penetration levels of inverter-based renewable resources. This investigation experimentally validates the frequency provision capabilities of a real Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) hydrogen electrolyser (HE) using a power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) setup. The PHIL consists of a custom 3-level interleaved buck converter and a hardware platform for real-time control of the converter and conducting grid simulation, associated with the modelling of the future Iberian Peninsula (IP) and Continental Europe (CE) systems. The investigation had the aim of validating earlier simulation work and testing new responses from the electrolyser when providing different frequency services at different provision volumes. The experimental results corroborate earlier simulation results and capture extra electrolyser dynamics as the double-layer capacitance effect, which was absent in the simulations. Frequency Containment Reserve (FCR) and Fast Frequency Response (FFR) were provided successfully from the HE at different provision percentages, enhancing the nadir and the rate of change of frequency (RoCoF) in the power system when facing a large disturbance compared to conventional support only. The results verify that HE can surely contribute to frequency services, paving the way for future grid support studies beyond simulations. • Electrolysers integration in future power systems. • Frequency support provision capabilities of electrolysers. • Power converters chain and controllers design and implementation. • Power hardware in the loop setup with a real PEM electrolyser. • Experimental testing and validation.

Source: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.151203

Authors: Abdelrahman M. Elhawash, Rui Esteves Araújo, João A. Peças Lopes

Institutions: Universidade do Porto, INESC TEC

Language: English

Topic: Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems

Subfield: Energy Engineering and Power Technology

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,730