Optimized size and schedule of the power-to-hydrogen system connected to a hydrogen refuelling station for waste transportation vehicles in Valle Camonica

Abstract

The aim of this work is the implementation of an optimization model for a hydrogen production facility connected to a refuelling station for heavy-duty vehicles, operating in the field of waste management and transportation. The model is composed by two subsequent mixed integer linear programming problems. The first problem addresses the problem of vehicle refuelling schedule and the second deals with the plant design and operation. The outputs of the model are the design and operation parameters of the plant and the vehicle refuelling schedule, allowing for the minimum levelized cost of hydrogen. Different possibilities for the electricity supply are investigated: grid electricity, solar photovoltaic and hydroelectric. The most profitable option is the installation of a 10 MW solar photovoltaic field, with a connected 3.3 MW Electrolyzer and 3700 kg storage. The resulting levelized cost of hydrogen is 10.24 €/kg. If no revenues from the sold electricity are considered, buying electricity from the grid becomes the most cost-effective option. The electrolyzer and storage size for this case are 760 kW and 405 kg, with a levelized cost of hydrogen of 13.75 €/kg. A sensitivity analysis, performed on the latter case, shows that the most sensible input parameters are the electrolyzer specific consumption and the cost of the electricity. A statistical analysis is also performed, considering a randomized failure distribution, obtaining the optimal values for the electrolyzer capacity of 700-800 kW and a hydrogen storage size of 1300-1400 kg. The costs, considering current electricity prices and no subsidies, are still high for hydrogen penetration in the energy market.