Summary
The rapid expansion of the green hydrogen sector introduces a fundamental shift in power system planning and demands robust methods to guide and reduce the risk of large-scale investments. This paper presents a comprehensive techno-economic optimization framework for the design of least-cost, resilient, stand-alone renewable energy systems dedicated to industrial green hydrogen production. The work supports CIGRE Study Committee C1 objectives by addressing planning requirements for a new class of energy-intensive industrial loads while ensuring supply adequacy and operational reliability for a net-zero process.
Read more Read lessThe proposed approach is based on a MATLAB optimization model that determines the optimal capacity mix of solar photovoltaics, wind generation, and battery energy storage systems
(BESS). The objective is to minimize total annualized system cost, which is then used to compute the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH), a central indicator of economic feasibility.
System operation is simulated on an 8760-hour chronological basis to accurately capture the interaction between variable renewable generation and the continuous, high-utilization demand of electrolyzers. Reliability is treated as a significant constraint by prohibiting any loss of load, reflecting the uninterrupted operation required for industrial hydrogen facilities.
The methodology is demonstrated through a case study of a proposed 100 metric ton per day green hydrogen plant in the Gulf of Suez region of Egypt, an area with strong solar and wind resources. The analysis evaluates system performance under extended low-resource weather conditions to quantify additional capacity required to enhance resilience. A sensitivity analysis is also conducted to identify key drivers of LCOH, examining the effects of capital costs, discount rates, BESS efficiency, and component availability.
The results show optimal system sizing, dispatch strategies, and hydrogen production costs across scenarios. The study provides a quantitative planning framework to help developers, financiers, and policymakers design reliable and profitable renewable-powered hydrogen infrastructure.
Additional informations
| Publication type | Session Materials |
|---|---|
| Reference | C1_10169_2026 |
| Publication year | |
| Publisher | CIGRE |
| Country | Egypt |
| Study committees | |
| File size | 906 KB |
| Price for non member | 30 € |
| Price for member | 30 € |
Authors
SAMY Mohamed - Department of Electrical Engineering, Beni-Suef University Egypt; ELMORSHEDY Ahdab - Dept. of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Cairo Egypt; BARAKAT Shimaa - Department of Electrical Engineering, Beni-Suef University Egypt
