Comprehensive case study on the technical feasibility of Green hydrogen production from photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems

The growing demand for alternative energy sources to alleviate environmental impacts highlights the need to move from fossil fuels to renewable energy. This study demonstrated the technical feasibility of using a solar photovoltaic (PV) system for the production of green hydrogen. This research examined electrical and power data from a PV plant in Irecê, Bahia, using open data sources to provide insights into the production of green hydrogen from renewable sources. The system mainly depends on the use of a renewable source, PV solar energy, integrated with batteries, electrolyzers, and hydrogen tanks. Electrolyzer, battery, and hydrogen tank sizing analysis for optimal hydrogen production was effectively conducted using HOMER Energy software. The predicted system topology prioritizes a local DC network, optimizing efficiency for electrolyzers that have inherently low efficiency. The electrolyzer simulation involves initial Python-based sizing and comprehensive sizing with HOMER Energy software, ensuring accuracy within a 10% discrepancy limit. This highlights the importance of analytical calculations and optimization software for sizing more complex systems.