A Hybrid Renewable Microgrid with Hydrogen Storage for Residential Applications: Techno-Economic Insights

This study explores the technical and economic viability of implementing a hydrogen-based Power-to-Gas-to-Power (P2G2P) system within a residential microgrid located in Nazipur, Naogaon, Bangladesh. The system integrates solar PV, wind turbines, fuel cells, an electrolyzer, hydrogen storage, a converter, and grid connectivity. Simulations were performed using HOMER Pro v3.14.2 to assess three different configurations. The results show a competitive cost of electricity (COE) of $0.0396/kWh and a promising levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of $3.32/kg. With an annual operating cost of $1100.07 and a net present cost (NPC) of $145,664.40, the system attains a renewable fraction (RF) of 93.2%. The proposed microgrid achieves substantial environmental benefits, reducing CO2, SO2, and NOx emissions by 95.8%, 95.8%, and 83.4% respectively, compared to the conventional base case. The study demonstrates the viability of seasonal energy storage, in which excess renewable energy produced in the winter is transformed into hydrogen and stored for use in fuel cells during times of high demand. These results suggest strong potential for hydrogen-based microgrids in enhancing energy resilience in Bangladesh.