Hydrogen as a Long-Term Large-Scale Energy Storage Solution to Support Renewables

Subodh Kharel and Bahman Shabani
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Subodh Kharel: School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne 3083, Australia
Bahman Shabani: School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne 3083, Australia

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: This paper presents a case study of using hydrogen for large-scale long-term storage application to support the current electricity generation mix of South Australia state in Australia, which primarily includes gas, wind and solar. For this purpose two cases of battery energy storage and hybrid battery-hydrogen storage systems to support solar and wind energy inputs were compared from a techno-economical point of view. Hybrid battery-hydrogen storage system was found to be more cost competitive with unit cost of electricity at $0.626/kWh (US dollar) compared to battery-only energy storage systems with a $2.68/kWh unit cost of electricity. This research also found that the excess stored hydrogen can be further utilised to generate extra electricity. Further utilisation of generated electricity can be incorporated to meet the load demand by either decreasing the base load supply from gas in the present scenario or exporting it to neighbouring states to enhance economic viability of the system. The use of excess stored hydrogen to generate extra electricity further reduced the cost to $0.494/kWh.

Keywords: renewable energy; solar and wind; battery storage; hydrogen-based energy storage; hybrid energy systems; South Australia (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: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (34)

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