Long-term hydrogen storage approach for 5MW micro-power generator using wind turbines

Wind energy is difficult to use due to its stochastic variability, whereas energy storage can reduce the variability to allow it to match energy demand. In this procedure, energy storage can play an important role in balancing the difference between wind generation and energy demand to maximize the utilization of wind power. This paper tries to shift energy from windier times to less windy times throughout an entire year to make wind generation completely match the load in the whole year with the assistance of energy storage. In order to achieve this target, this research did the following major tasks: i) Develop a time dependant model of energy losses considering the initial efficiency of three energy storage approaches, i.e. Flywheels, sodium-sulfur (NaS) batteries, and Hydrogen storage; ii) Chose an appropriate storage approach for this study in terms of energy loss; iii) Investigate the dynamics and cycle time of the chosen energy storage and recovery mechanism; iv) Improve the efficiency and reduce the costs of the chosen storage method by introducing hydrogen-fuelled combined-cycle gas turbine (H2-CCGT). The proposed approach was demonstrated and tested on a small local distribution system taken from the UK's distribution system. The results illustrate that in the long-term Hydrogen storage is the most efficient method for balancing the wind energy and demand.