Simulation of PEM Electrolyzer Power Management with Renewable Generation in Owerri, Nigeria
Proton exchange membrane electrolyzers are an attractive technology for hydrogen production due to their high efficiency, low maintenance cost, and scalability. To receive these benefits, however, electrolyzers require high power reliability and have relatively high demand. Due to their intermittent...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/1/208 |
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| author | MacMatthew C. Ahaotu Chisom E. Ogbogu Jesse Thornburg Isdore Onyema Akwukwaegbu |
| author_facet | MacMatthew C. Ahaotu Chisom E. Ogbogu Jesse Thornburg Isdore Onyema Akwukwaegbu |
| author_sort | MacMatthew C. Ahaotu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Proton exchange membrane electrolyzers are an attractive technology for hydrogen production due to their high efficiency, low maintenance cost, and scalability. To receive these benefits, however, electrolyzers require high power reliability and have relatively high demand. Due to their intermittent nature, integrating renewable energy sources like solar and wind has traditionally resulted in a supply too sporadic to consistently power a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer. This study develops an electrolyzer model operating with renewable energy sources at a highly instrumented university site. The simulation uses dynamic models of photovoltaic solar and wind systems to develop models capable of responding to changing climatic and seasonal conditions. The aim therefore is to observe the feasibility of operating a proton exchange membrane system fuel cell year-round at optimal efficiency. To address the problem of feasibility with dynamic renewable generation, a case study demonstrates the proposed energy management system. A site with a river onsite is chosen to ensure sufficient wind resources. Aside from assessing the feasibility of pairing renewable generation with proton exchange membrane systems, this project shows a reduction in the intermittency plaguing previous designs. Finally, the study quantifies the performance and effectiveness of the PEM energy management system design. Overall, this study highlights the potential of proton exchange membrane electrolysis as a critical technology for sustainable hydrogen production and the importance of modeling and simulation techniques in achieving its full potential. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f757f987a7be48f7a614d6fcf977a876 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-f757f987a7be48f7a614d6fcf977a8762025-01-10T13:17:25ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-01-0118120810.3390/en18010208Simulation of PEM Electrolyzer Power Management with Renewable Generation in Owerri, NigeriaMacMatthew C. Ahaotu0Chisom E. Ogbogu1Jesse Thornburg2Isdore Onyema Akwukwaegbu3Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Electrical Systems and Engineering Technology, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Owerri PMB 1526, NigeriaCollege of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University Africa, Kigali BP 6150, RwandaCollege of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University Africa, Kigali BP 6150, RwandaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, School of Electrical Systems and Engineering Technology, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Owerri PMB 1526, NigeriaProton exchange membrane electrolyzers are an attractive technology for hydrogen production due to their high efficiency, low maintenance cost, and scalability. To receive these benefits, however, electrolyzers require high power reliability and have relatively high demand. Due to their intermittent nature, integrating renewable energy sources like solar and wind has traditionally resulted in a supply too sporadic to consistently power a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer. This study develops an electrolyzer model operating with renewable energy sources at a highly instrumented university site. The simulation uses dynamic models of photovoltaic solar and wind systems to develop models capable of responding to changing climatic and seasonal conditions. The aim therefore is to observe the feasibility of operating a proton exchange membrane system fuel cell year-round at optimal efficiency. To address the problem of feasibility with dynamic renewable generation, a case study demonstrates the proposed energy management system. A site with a river onsite is chosen to ensure sufficient wind resources. Aside from assessing the feasibility of pairing renewable generation with proton exchange membrane systems, this project shows a reduction in the intermittency plaguing previous designs. Finally, the study quantifies the performance and effectiveness of the PEM energy management system design. Overall, this study highlights the potential of proton exchange membrane electrolysis as a critical technology for sustainable hydrogen production and the importance of modeling and simulation techniques in achieving its full potential.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/1/208PEM electrolysiselectrolyzerfuel cellhydrogenrenewable energyproton exchange membrane |
| spellingShingle | MacMatthew C. Ahaotu Chisom E. Ogbogu Jesse Thornburg Isdore Onyema Akwukwaegbu Simulation of PEM Electrolyzer Power Management with Renewable Generation in Owerri, Nigeria Energies PEM electrolysis electrolyzer fuel cell hydrogen renewable energy proton exchange membrane |
| title | Simulation of PEM Electrolyzer Power Management with Renewable Generation in Owerri, Nigeria |
| title_full | Simulation of PEM Electrolyzer Power Management with Renewable Generation in Owerri, Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | Simulation of PEM Electrolyzer Power Management with Renewable Generation in Owerri, Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simulation of PEM Electrolyzer Power Management with Renewable Generation in Owerri, Nigeria |
| title_short | Simulation of PEM Electrolyzer Power Management with Renewable Generation in Owerri, Nigeria |
| title_sort | simulation of pem electrolyzer power management with renewable generation in owerri nigeria |
| topic | PEM electrolysis electrolyzer fuel cell hydrogen renewable energy proton exchange membrane |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/1/208 |
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