Hydrogen-integrated Microgrids: A Comprehensive Review of Hydrogen Technologies and Energy Management Strategies

Abstract

With increasing concerns about carbon emissions, greenhouse gases, and energy costs, many sustainable development goals and related agreements have been introduced by governing bodies worldwide. As a result, hydrogen-based microgrids integrated with Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) have received significant attention. In such power systems, electrolysers convert excess renewable energy into hydrogen, which is stored and later utilized through fuel cells or hydrogen gas turbines. However, due to the intermittent nature of RES and the unexplored behavior of hydrogen generation, storage, and utilization systems, the combined operation of a power system consisting of both renewable sources and hydrogen energy poses significant challenges, including system stability, energy balancing, safety, and regulation issues. In such situations, Energy Management Systems (EMSs) are employed to achieve stable operation while obtaining various optimal operational solutions. This study presents a detailed illustration of microgrids and hydrogen systems, and provides a comprehensive breakdown of various EMSs for hydrogen technology-based microgrids. Unlike many existing review studies that discuss hydrogen technologies in general terms, this review specifically focuses on the integration and operational strategies of hydrogen techniques, comprising electrolysers, hydrogen storage systems, and fuel cells, within the EMS. By emphasizing the role of hydrogen components in EMS operation and optimization, this paper offers an application-oriented review uniquely focused on the operational integration of hydrogen technologies within EMS frameworks, a gap often overlooked in broader literature.