620
M. Chen et al.
Keywords Hydrogen · FC (fuel cell) · EC (electrolysis cell) · Techno-economic
analysis · Variable renewable energy (VRE) · Power to gas (P2G) · Photovoltaic
(PV)
41.1 Introduction
Variable renewable energy (VRE) such as photovoltaic (PV) power has been rapidly
introduced to Japan since 2012 thanks to the Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) system. However,
due to the expansion of VRE, it is expected that growing surplus power from solar
power may outpace the grid’s power adjustment ability. To achieve a low carbon
society, it is essential to expand VRE capacity beyond the current stabilized power
supply system via energy storage (using batteries or hydrogen) or peak shaving.
Hydrogen-based energy storage technology is attracting attention because it offers
more scale and longevity compared to batteries. Hydrogen can be used as a secondary
energy source in mobile applications, as well as other applications such as hydrogen
co-firing in gas fired power. In order to clarify the possibilities and challenges of
hydrogen energy, we undertook a techno-economic assessment of hydrogen in both
macro (i.e. co-firing in a power mix) and micro (i.e., P2G in a building with EC, FC,
storage, and PV) views.
We have significant advances from previous research, e.g. The International
Renewable Energy Agency’s review report on hydrogen (International Renewable
Energy Agency (IRENA) 2018). In Japan, Komiyama et al. (2014) wrote a review
of the optimal power supply for hydrogen storage from surplus power under strict
constraints on CO 2 emission. However, they targeted mainly wind power generation in Hokkaido, where wind resources are abundant. Aziz et al. (2017) developed
an optimal power planning model enabling techno-economic analysis on hydrogen
in both production and storage from surplus VRE in a power mix. However, they
did not use actual PV data and instead use an estimate based on aggregated solar
radiation data from the Japan Meteorological Agency. Additionally, as their focus
was on power mix, they did not consider distributed energy including consumer-side
hydrogen technologies.
These previous researches are either focused on single technology system operation (micro side) or on energy mixing but simplified calculations by using the
estimated value of specific technologies (macro side). Thus, it is essential to analyze
P2G technology from both macro and micro views, using actual data and establishing analysis models suitable for different implementation sizes and component
technologies.
We conducted a study assuming an introduction date of 2030 of P2G technology
from both macro and micro views. We used the following data: surplus power from
solar power generation, EC, hydrogen tank, hydrogen FC (micro side, building
level), co-fire (macro side, area level), and power demand as shown in Fig. 41.1.
Sections 41.2 and 41.3 covers the macro and micro views, respectively. Moreover,
we show the interlinking research between macro and micro sides in Sect. 41.4.
M. Chen et al.
Keywords Hydrogen · FC (fuel cell) · EC (electrolysis cell) · Techno-economic
analysis · Variable renewable energy (VRE) · Power to gas (P2G) · Photovoltaic
(PV)
41.1 Introduction
Variable renewable energy (VRE) such as photovoltaic (PV) power has been rapidly
introduced to Japan since 2012 thanks to the Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) system. However,
due to the expansion of VRE, it is expected that growing surplus power from solar
power may outpace the grid’s power adjustment ability. To achieve a low carbon
society, it is essential to expand VRE capacity beyond the current stabilized power
supply system via energy storage (using batteries or hydrogen) or peak shaving.
Hydrogen-based energy storage technology is attracting attention because it offers
more scale and longevity compared to batteries. Hydrogen can be used as a secondary
energy source in mobile applications, as well as other applications such as hydrogen
co-firing in gas fired power. In order to clarify the possibilities and challenges of
hydrogen energy, we undertook a techno-economic assessment of hydrogen in both
macro (i.e. co-firing in a power mix) and micro (i.e., P2G in a building with EC, FC,
storage, and PV) views.
We have significant advances from previous research, e.g. The International
Renewable Energy Agency’s review report on hydrogen (International Renewable
Energy Agency (IRENA) 2018). In Japan, Komiyama et al. (2014) wrote a review
of the optimal power supply for hydrogen storage from surplus power under strict
constraints on CO 2 emission. However, they targeted mainly wind power generation in Hokkaido, where wind resources are abundant. Aziz et al. (2017) developed
an optimal power planning model enabling techno-economic analysis on hydrogen
in both production and storage from surplus VRE in a power mix. However, they
did not use actual PV data and instead use an estimate based on aggregated solar
radiation data from the Japan Meteorological Agency. Additionally, as their focus
was on power mix, they did not consider distributed energy including consumer-side
hydrogen technologies.
These previous researches are either focused on single technology system operation (micro side) or on energy mixing but simplified calculations by using the
estimated value of specific technologies (macro side). Thus, it is essential to analyze
P2G technology from both macro and micro views, using actual data and establishing analysis models suitable for different implementation sizes and component
technologies.
We conducted a study assuming an introduction date of 2030 of P2G technology
from both macro and micro views. We used the following data: surplus power from
solar power generation, EC, hydrogen tank, hydrogen FC (micro side, building
level), co-fire (macro side, area level), and power demand as shown in Fig. 41.1.
Sections 41.2 and 41.3 covers the macro and micro views, respectively. Moreover,
we show the interlinking research between macro and micro sides in Sect. 41.4.