Techno-Economic Analysis and Optimal Sizing of Hybrid PV-Wind Systems for Hydrogen Production by PEM Electrolysis in California and Germany

The aim of this study is to assess the economic potentials of power and hydrogen generation via solar and wind energy resources at locations in Northern Germany and California, both of these (geographical) regions beeing pioneers in terms of a sustainable energy transition. Based on extensive research and electrolyzer manufacturer interviews, green hydrogen generation plants are modeled in a MATLAB® environment. All relevant inputs and outputs of the systems studied (wind power plants, Photovoltaic power plants, and polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzers, among others) are considered for different locations and framework conditions. In contrast to the existing literature, special attention is paid to the part-load behavior of electrolysis systems, which becomes particularly relevant in their interplay with volatile renewables. Metrics such as the levelized costs of electricity (LCOE) of the wind and photovoltaic power plants and the resulting levelized costs of hydrogen (LCOHy) are determined. With the help of the developed model, dimensioning of a whole system’s components can be determined for different locations. A case study is conducted for a Northern German site and another one for a site in the Californian Mojave Desert. Both the optimal dimensioning of the renewable energy plants and the ratio of installed wind and photovoltaic power plant capacity are strongly location-dependent. In Northern Germany, for example, lower LCOHy can be generated at higher wind power plant capacity shares and, in the Mojave Desert, be produced at higher Photovoltaic power plant capacity shares. In general, with larger plants and correspondingly larger polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzers, LCOHy are lower due to scaling effects. Following this dimensioning recommendation, the LCOHy vary between 4.5 €/kg and 5.2 €/kg in the Northern German case study and between 4.6 US$/kg and 5.3 US$/kg in the Californian one. With costs of 1–2 €/kg, gray hydrogen is still economically superior.