Hybrid electrical energy generation from hydropower, solar photovoltaic and hydrogen

Lima, G.M., Belchior, F.N., Villena, J.E.N., Domingos, J.L., Freitas, M.A.V., & Hunt, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1840-7277 (2024). Hybrid electrical energy generation from hydropower, solar photovoltaic and hydrogen. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 53 602-612. 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.12.092.

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Abstract

The global concern to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the use of renewable sources has led Brazil to stand out as a promising nation in this context, with a large portion of its energy capacity coming from renewable sources. However, renewable sources have the disadvantage of intermittency and seasonality, which has prompted the search for solutions to these challenges. This study assesses the feasibility of integrating hydro and solar power with a Hydrogen-based Electrical Energy Storage System (H2EESS) at the Serra da Mesa hydroelectric Brazilian power plant. Hydrogen would be produced through water electrolysis, taking advantage of the available excess renewable energy, and subsequently converted back into electricity through fuel cells. The integration of hydro and solar power with H2EESS resulted in an increase of 11.10 % in the energy produced compared to conventional hydroelectric generation, with 36.06 % of this increase coming from H2EESS. Additionally, there was a 9.71 % increase in the utilization of substation capacity. These results highlight the feasibility and benefits of integrating hydro and solar power with H2EESS. This approach allows for maximizing renewable energy generation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and better utilizing available resources without the need for significant infrastructure investments.

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