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Experimental and numerical study of a PV direct-coupled PEM electrolysis hydrogen production system

Author

Listed:
  • Weng, Xi
  • Jia, Zhen
  • He, Wei
  • Hu, Zhongting
  • Wang, Kesheng
  • Hu, Wei
  • Zhang, Lei
  • Chu, Wenfeng

Abstract

Electrolysis of water for hydrogen production is one of the important ways to produce hydrogen. This study investigates the direct coupling of a photovoltaic (PV) array with a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer, aiming to optimize the performance of a PV-driven PEM hydrogen production system. An experimental platform was established to evaluate system performance under real outdoor conditions. The impact of varying inlet water temperatures on the efficiency of the PEM electrolyzer was also analyzed. Experimental results demonstrate that system efficiency is primarily influenced by solar irradiance and the electrical characteristics of the PV array. Notably, variations in current, voltage, hydrogen production rate, and irradiance exhibit strong correlation, whereas both system efficiency and PV efficiency display a bimodal distribution. Furthermore, a detailed model of the PV–PEM system was developed using MATLAB/Simulink, incorporating experimental data to validate simulation accuracy. The modeling results showed strong agreement with empirical observations, confirming the reliability of the simulation approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Weng, Xi & Jia, Zhen & He, Wei & Hu, Zhongting & Wang, Kesheng & Hu, Wei & Zhang, Lei & Chu, Wenfeng, 2026. "Experimental and numerical study of a PV direct-coupled PEM electrolysis hydrogen production system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PD).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pd:s0960148125017975
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.124133
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    References listed on IDEAS

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