Exergoeconomic Analysis of a Residential Hybrid PV‐Fuel Cell‐Battery System

Abstract

AbstractA residential photovoltaic (PV)‐based hydrogen fuel cell (FC) system is analyzed using exergoeconomic methods, and its monthly performance is investigated. Mathematical models for predicting the power outputs of the PV and FC systems are presented. The results reported include the PV output and the shares attributable to the battery and the SOFC in supplying the electrical demand. Moreover, to study the performance of the hybrid system in supplying the daily demand, results are presented for two typical days in summer and winter. An exergoeconomic analysis is performed to determine the electricity unit cost over the system lifetime. The PV‐electrolyzer system is not able to produce a sufficient amount of hydrogen during winter days, so seasonal hydrogen storage is required to feed the FC. Power penetrations of the PV and the battery systems are at maxima during the summer months, while the penetration of the FC system reaches 67% in January and December. Due to its low efficiency (16%), the maximum exergy destruction occurs in the PV modules (86%). The unit cost of electricity varies on a monthly basis, reaching a minimum of 0.26 $ kWh–1 in July and a maximum of 1.8 $ kWh–1 in January and December.