Performance analysis of a stand-alone integrated solar hydrogen energy system for zero energy buildings

This study analyzes the optimal sizing design of a stand-alone solar hydrogen hybrid energy system for a house in Afyon, Turkey. The house is not connected to the grid, and the proposed hybrid system meets all its energy demands; therefore, it is considered a zero-energy building. The designed system guarantees uninterrupted and reliable power throughout the year. Since the reliability of the power supply is crucial for the house, optimal sizing of the components, photovoltaic (PV) panels, electrolyzer, storage tank, and fuel cell stack is critical. Determining the sufficient number of PV panels, suitable electrolyzer model and size, number of fuel cell stacks, and the minimum storage tank volume to use in the proposed system can guarantee an uninterrupted energy supply to the house. In this study, a stand-alone hybrid energy system is proposed. The system consists of PV panels, a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer, a storage tank, and a PEM fuel cell stack. It can meet the continuous energy demand of the house is sized by using 10 min of averaged solar irradiation and temperature data of the site and consumption data of the house. Present results show that the size of each component in a solar hydrogen hybrid energy system in terms of power depends on the size of each other components to meet the efficiency requirement of the whole system. Choosing the nominal electrolyzer power is critical in such energy systems.