Modelling and operation of a hydrogen microgrid with 700kW electrolyser

This project supports and provides a research context for the BE CRC demonstration project now underway to build a DC hydrogen microgrid in Hobart, based on a 700-kW electrolyser and incorporating photovoltaics, hydrogen storage and a hydrogen turbine to generate electricity, as well as offtake for fuel-cell buses.

The research will focus first on modelling the components of the microgrid and the entire energy system. Then the system model and physical microgrid will be employed to emulate operating scenarios relevant to industries in the Blue-Economy Zone, to explore approaches to managing energy flows within the microgrid under realistic conditions of variable energy input from solar and simulated wind, wave etc while satisfying the demand profile of a chosen industry-relevant energy system.