Impact of Component Capacity on the Performance of a Hybrid Photovoltaic System
Abstract
This study investigates a stand-alone hybrid photovoltaic system consisting of photovoltaic (PV) panels, a small wind turbine, a lead-acid battery bank, and a hydrogen subsystem with a PEM electrolyzer, hydrogen compressor, storage tank, and PEM fuel cell. For reliable analysis of system performance under constant load profile, hourly meteorological data over several years is used. Energy management strategies using standard energy balance and double hysteresis control were compared. The temporal evolution of capacity degradation in critical components is intrinsically governed by the system’s operational regime, while these degradation phenomena simultaneously exert a coupled influence on the overall system efficiency and performance stability. Emphasis was placed on modeling the dynamic capacity loss in the battery, PEM electrolyzer, and PEM fuel cell, showing how these losses affect system reliability and operational strategy. Results show that double hysteresis extends battery life, but shifts the operational load to the hydrogen subsystem, directly affecting its longevity and long-term system reliability.
Keywords
hybrid energy system, photovoltaic, hydrogen subsystem, energy management, capacity