Optimal Control for a Wind-Hydrogen-Fuel Cell Multi-Vector Energy System

Efficient applications of renewable energy (e.g. wind, solar, bio-energy etc.) is high on the Chinese governmental agenda. Multi-vector energy system is one of the solutions to cope with this issue. Moreover, a safe and resilient operational method is required for such complicated energy systems. This paper proposes a multi-vector energy system including wind, hydrogen and fuel cells as a supplement part to the main grid. Electricity is firstly converted by wind energy while certain percent of electricity is used for water electrolysis where hydrogen as energy storage is generated. Fuel cells consume hydrogen when electrical energy demand peaks. To evaluate the performance of the energy system, an analytical model is developed to coordinate the operation of the system involving energy conversion between hydrogen, electrical and mechanical forms. Genetic Algorithm (GA) as optimal strategy is used to determine the operational scheme for the system. In the study, different load scenarios are used on the basis of real-world measurement data. The results have confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed methodology where wind energy is consumed in maximum locally. As a consequence, this study provides a demonstration of an integrated renewable energy system w can be widely that can be used in wind-rich rural areas.