Developing control strategies for variable hydrogen production from offshore wind: enabling power to X applications
The global shift toward renewable energy relies heavily on integrating offshore wind energy with Power-to-X (PtX) technologies, particularly green hydrogen production. This thesis aims to explore and develop optimal operational strategies for hybrid offshore wind power plants, focusing on the balanc...
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| Tipo de recurso: | tesis de maestría |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2024 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
| Repositorio: | UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/419785 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2117/419785 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Hydrogen as fuel Offshore wind power plants Offshore structures Hidrogen com a combustible Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Energia eòlica |
| Sumario: | The global shift toward renewable energy relies heavily on integrating offshore wind energy with Power-to-X (PtX) technologies, particularly green hydrogen production. This thesis aims to explore and develop optimal operational strategies for hybrid offshore wind power plants, focusing on the balance between hydrogen production and electricity market sales. By examining different electrolyzer operational strategies ON/OFF, ON/Standby, and ON/OFF/Standby—under varying operational models namely Grid integrated PtX, Standalone PtX and Electricity only model, the research evaluates how these operational strategies influence system flexibility, operational efficiency, and overall profitability. The objective is to find a dynamic control strategy that maximizes both hydrogen output and economic returns. The results show that the ON/OFF/Standby operational strategy delivers the highest revenue across the evaluated models (Grid-integrated PtX and Standalone PtX) by effectively balancing production during periods of low electricity prices and reducing operational costs using standby states. In comparison, the ON/OFF and ON/Standby strategies generated slightly lower revenues. The research also highlights how weekly hydrogen dispatch via ship introduces operational complexity, resulting in cyclical variations in hydrogen storage levels that must be managed carefully to prevent bottlenecks and optimize output. The study leverages Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) and Economic Model Predictive Control (EMPC) frameworks to optimize the balance between hydrogen production, electricity sales, and electrolyzer state transitions. By accounting for key factors such as electrolyzer degradation, desalination requirements, and dynamic operational shifts, the research provides a comprehensive understanding of the real-world challenges involved in running hybrid systems. Time frame analysis further enhances this understanding by examining how operational states switch over time, offering deeper insights into system behavior. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates that higher hydrogen prices can significantly boost total revenue, while also showing that electrolyzer operational strategies can be flexibly adapted to prioritize either electricity or hydrogen production, depending on the asset owner's objectives. These findings underscore the profitability potential of PtX systems under favorable market conditions and provide actionable insights for optimizing hybrid wind-hydrogen systems, contributing to the broader global transition toward a sustainable, decarbonized energy future. |
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