Modelling Methodologies to Design and Control Renewables and Hydrogen-Based Telecom Towers Power Supply Systems

Paolo Aliberti, Marco Sorrentino (), Marco Califano, Cesare Pianese, Luca Capozucca, Laura Cristiani, Gianpiero Lops and Roberto Mancini
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Paolo Aliberti: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Salerno, Italy
Marco Sorrentino: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Salerno, Italy
Marco Califano: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Salerno, Italy
Cesare Pianese: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Salerno, Italy
Luca Capozucca: Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane S.p.A. Largo Donegani n. 2, 20121 Milano, Italy
Laura Cristiani: Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane S.p.A. Largo Donegani n. 2, 20121 Milano, Italy
Gianpiero Lops: Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane S.p.A. Largo Donegani n. 2, 20121 Milano, Italy
Roberto Mancini: Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane S.p.A. Largo Donegani n. 2, 20121 Milano, Italy

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-19

Abstract: Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFCS) and electrolyser (PEMELS) systems, together with a hydrogen storage tank (HST), are suitable to be integrated with renewable microgrids to cover intermittency and fully exploit the excess of electrical energy. Such an integration perfectly fits telecom tower power supply needs, both in off-grid and grid-connected sites. In this framework, a model-based tool enabling both optimal sizing and proper year-through energy management of both the above applications is proposed. Respectively, the islanded optimisation is performed considering two economic indices, i.e., simple payback (SPB) and levelised cost of energy (LCOE), together with two strategies of hydrogen tank management, charge sustaining and depleting, and also accounting for the impact of grid extension distance. On the other hand, the grid connection is addressed through the dynamic programming method, while downsizing PEMELS and HST sizes to improve techno-economic effectiveness, thanks to grid contribution towards renewables curtailment issues mitigation. For both the above introduced HST management strategies, a reduction of more than 70% of the nominal PEMELS power and 90% of the HST size, which will in turn lead to SPB and LCOE being reduced by 80% and 60% in comparison to the islanded case, respectively, is achieved. Furthermore, the charge depleting strategy, relying on possible hydrogen purchase, interestingly provides an SPB and LCOE of 9% and 7% lower than the charge sustaining one.

Keywords: remote and on-grid telecom towers power supply; hydrogen PEM fuel cell and electrolyser; codesign strategies; dynamic programming; energy management; optimal sizing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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