Techno-economic-environmental design and assessment of proton exchange membrane electrolyzers for optimal off-grid wind power hydrogen production

The rapid development of renewable energy has increased challenges related to intermittent generation and fluctuations. Hydrogen production via water electrolysis is a crucial approach to maximizing renewable energy use and stabilizing grid operation. Present endeavors concentrate on enhancing the manufacturing process of electrolyzers and enhancing control techniques. However, existing control methods face issues like low hydrogen production efficiency and short equipment lifespan. This paper proposes a rolling optimization control strategy to minimize operational costs for off-grid wind power hydrogen systems. First, a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer model is developed, incorporating start-stop characteristics and economic operation features, and costs for operation, maintenance, wind curtailment, and overload loss are analyzed. Subsequently, power allocation and operational details are determined using real wind farm data. Finally, a comprehensive evaluation system balancing technical, economic, and environmental benefits is established. Simulation results show that compared to simple start-stop and rotation strategies, the proposed strategy reduces annual operation cost by 34.77 %, increases hydrogen production by 1.02 % and 1.80 %, and reduces switching actions by 17.36 % and 39.64 %, respectively. This study enhances energy conversion efficiency, equipment lifespan, and system costs, offering an optimized control strategy for off-grid wind hydrogen production, with significant theoretical and practical value for sustainable development.