Testing protocols for water electrolysers providing electricity grid services

Abstract

The aim of the current document is the creation of a set of testing protocols for electrolysers performing electricity grid services in various EEA countries, based on a pre-existing document of the QualyGridS project. Updates and changes of regulations and requirements of European countries are assessed and incorporated in the document. Basic characterization tests for electrolysers are defined, as well as tests determining their suitability to perform one or more of the following grid services: Frequency Control Reserve (FCR), automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve (aFRR), manual Frequency Restoration Reserve (mFRR) and Replacement Reserve (RR). Key performance indicators are determined and are used as criteria of suitability of the electrolysers. Experimental results from a Hydrogenics electrolyser in the DLR are also taken into account and used as supplementary source of data in order to optimize the protocols. Aggregated versions of some of the protocols are also created to deal with the time-consuming aspect of the procedure.