Modelling and simulation tool for off-grid PV-hydrogen energy system

Abstract

This paper introduces a user-oriented software tool for simulation of a solar energy-based hydrogen production system. The developed tool goes beyond the realm of electric load and includes a hydrogen cooking load facility, as an efficient means of utilising the hydrogen produced. A model rural household in Nigeria has been used to evaluate the tool. It was found that a 2.42 kW solar photovoltaic module, 0.6 kW electrolyser and 3.7 kWh battery would be enough to provide steady 24-h power for a modest daily energy demand of 2.2 kWh. In the results, the excess energy realised was used in a H2-cooker to partly meet the estimated 1.9 kWh/day cooking demand of the household over a simulated year period.