Comparative Assessment of Dispatch Strategies for Optimizing Microgrid Operation for Hydrogen Production
Abstract
Hydrogen produced from renewable sources has been recognized as a key energy vector for the global energy transition. Various alternatives have been investigated to expand the use of green hydrogen and enhance the benefits associated with its production. In this context, Photovoltaic (PV) and battery-based microgrids have emerged as promising solutions for decentralized hydrogen production, where effective coordination of energy sources is essential to maximize renewable utilization, reduce grid dependence, and ensure system viability. Therefore, this paper presents a grid-connected microgrid designed for continuous hydrogen production using a 50 kW electrolyzer, a 350.9 kWp PV system and a 430 kWh battery energy storage system (BESS). Simulations were performed in HOMER Pro, comparing the native Load Following dispatch with a custom strategy implemented via MATLAB Link. Although total hydrogen production remained constant (7,884 kg/year), the custom strategy reduced grid electricity imports by 40% and solar exports by 36%, while enabling active BESS participation to supply stored PV energy. The Net Present Cost (NPC) decreased by 38 %, from R$ 11.25 million to R$ 7 million, demonstrating that dispatch control can significantly improve both energy performance and economic viability in renewable-based hydrogen microgrids.
Keywords
photovoltaic system, BESS, microgrid, hydrogen, performance