IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v393y2025ics0306261925007986.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Data-driven optimal control of fuel cells for frequency regulation: Simulation and experimental validation

Author

Listed:
  • Lee, Gi-Ho
  • Kim, Young-Jin

Abstract

Fuel cells (FCs) have attracted significant attention as a promising technology for enhancing sector coupling and improving grid power balancing in the pursuit of a low-carbon energy system. This paper presents a comprehensive experimental investigation into the operational characteristics of an FC system, including stack temperature, voltage, current, and power. The findings confirm the potential of FC systems to effectively support real-time frequency regulation (FR). An experimental setup was implemented to analyze the dynamic responses of FC systems, and a data-driven model predictive control (MPC) strategy was proposed to optimize power sharing between FC systems and distributed generators (DGs). The MPC strategy enables FC systems to mitigate power supply-and-demand imbalances, while DGs compensate for the remaining imbalances. Small-signal analysis was conducted to assess the contribution and sensitivity of the proposed FR strategy. Comparative experimental case studies further validate the accuracy of the developed FC model and the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach significantly reduces frequency deviations under various grid conditions, including varying net load demands, plug-and-play operations, communication time delays, and various control parameters.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee, Gi-Ho & Kim, Young-Jin, 2025. "Data-driven optimal control of fuel cells for frequency regulation: Simulation and experimental validation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 393(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:393:y:2025:i:c:s0306261925007986
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126068
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261925007986
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126068?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Petrollese, Mario & Valverde, Luis & Cocco, Daniele & Cau, Giorgio & Guerra, José, 2016. "Real-time integration of optimal generation scheduling with MPC for the energy management of a renewable hydrogen-based microgrid," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 96-106.
    2. Parra, David & Valverde, Luis & Pino, F. Javier & Patel, Martin K., 2019. "A review on the role, cost and value of hydrogen energy systems for deep decarbonisation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 279-294.
    3. Tao, Jianjian & Zhang, Yihan & Wei, Xuezhe & Jiang, Shangfeng & Dai, Haifeng, 2024. "Optimization of fast cold start strategy for PEM fuel cell stack," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 362(C).
    4. Yue, Meiling & Lambert, Hugo & Pahon, Elodie & Roche, Robin & Jemei, Samir & Hissel, Daniel, 2021. "Hydrogen energy systems: A critical review of technologies, applications, trends and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    5. Zhong, Cheng & Zhao, Hailong & Liu, Yudong & Liu, Chuang, 2024. "Model predictive secondary frequency control of island microgrid based on two-layer moving-horizon estimation observer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 372(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Song, Hongqing & Lao, Junming & Zhang, Liyuan & Xie, Chiyu & Wang, Yuhe, 2023. "Underground hydrogen storage in reservoirs: pore-scale mechanisms and optimization of storage capacity and efficiency," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 337(C).
    2. Fabio Serra & Marialaura Lucariello & Mario Petrollese & Giorgio Cau, 2020. "Optimal Integration of Hydrogen-Based Energy Storage Systems in Photovoltaic Microgrids: A Techno-Economic Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-18, August.
    3. Genovese, M. & Piraino, F. & Fragiacomo, P., 2024. "3E analysis of a virtual hydrogen valley supported by railway-based H2 delivery for multi-transportation service," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    4. Yassuda Yamashita, Daniela & Vechiu, Ionel & Gaubert, Jean-Paul, 2021. "Two-level hierarchical model predictive control with an optimised cost function for energy management in building microgrids," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    5. Kourougianni, Fanourios & Arsalis, Alexandros & Olympios, Andreas V. & Yiasoumas, Georgios & Konstantinou, Charalampos & Papanastasiou, Panos & Georghiou, George E., 2024. "A comprehensive review of green hydrogen energy systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    6. Huang, Chunjun & Strbac, Goran & Zong, Yi & You, Shi & Træholt, Chresten & Brandon, Nigel & Wang, Jiawei & Ameli, Hossein, 2024. "Modeling and optimal operation of reversible solid oxide cells considering heat recovery and mode switching dynamics in microgrids," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    7. Gi-Ho Lee & Young-Jin Kim, 2022. "Frequency Regulation of an Islanded Microgrid Using Hydrogen Energy Storage Systems: A Data-Driven Control Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-13, November.
    8. Knorr, L. & Buchenau, N. & Schlosser, F. & Divkovic, D. & Prina, M.G. & Meschede, H., 2025. "Electrification and flexibility of process heat in energy system modelling: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    9. Li, Yanfei & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad, 2022. "The economic feasibility of green hydrogen and fuel cell electric vehicles for road transport in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    10. Engstam, Linus & Janke, Leandro & Sundberg, Cecilia & Nordberg, Åke, 2025. "Optimising power-to-gas integration with wastewater treatment and biogas: A techno-economic assessment of CO2 and by-product utilisation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PB).
    11. Zhang, Huaiwen & Yao, Yiqing & Deng, Jun & Zhang, Jian-Li & Qiu, Yaojing & Li, Guofu & Liu, Jian, 2022. "Hydrogen production via anaerobic digestion of coal modified by white-rot fungi and its application benefits analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    12. Lan, Penghang & Chen, She & Li, Qihang & Li, Kelin & Wang, Feng & Zhao, Yaoxun, 2024. "Intelligent hydrogen-ammonia combined energy storage system with deep reinforcement learning," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PB).
    13. A.M. Shakorfow & A.H. Mohamed, 2024. "Cogeneration Via Solid Oxide Fuel Cells," Acta Chemica Malaysia (ACMY), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 8(2), pages 97-106, August.
    14. Junior Diamant Ngando Ebba & Mamadou Baïlo Camara & Mamadou Lamine Doumbia & Brayima Dakyo & Joseph Song-Manguelle, 2023. "Large-Scale Hydrogen Production Systems Using Marine Renewable Energies: State-of-the-Art," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-23, December.
    15. Richard P. van Leeuwen & Annelies E. Boerman & Edmund W. Schaefer & Gerwin Hoogsteen & Yashar S. Hajimolana, 2022. "Model Supported Business Case Scenario Analysis for Decentral Hydrogen Conversion, Storage and Consumption within Energy Hubs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-22, March.
    16. Lidia Gawlik & Eugeniusz Mokrzycki, 2021. "Analysis of the Polish Hydrogen Strategy in the Context of the EU’s Strategic Documents on Hydrogen," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-15, October.
    17. Shao, Tianming & Pan, Xunzhang & Li, Xiang & Zhou, Sheng & Zhang, Shu & Chen, Wenying, 2022. "China's industrial decarbonization in the context of carbon neutrality: A sub-sectoral analysis based on integrated modelling," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    18. Yinhui Wang & Yugang He & Xiaodan Gao, 2025. "Synergizing Renewable Energy and Circular Economy Strategies: Pioneering Pathways to Environmental Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-22, February.
    19. Meloni, Eugenio & Martino, Marco & Palma, Vincenzo, 2022. "Microwave assisted steam reforming in a high efficiency catalytic reactor," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 893-901.
    20. Wu, Xiong & Qi, Shixiong & Wang, Zhao & Duan, Chao & Wang, Xiuli & Li, Furong, 2019. "Optimal scheduling for microgrids with hydrogen fueling stations considering uncertainty using data-driven approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:393:y:2025:i:c:s0306261925007986. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.