Qualifying tests and economic analysis of electrolyzers for grid services

Kurzfassung

As part of the European project QualyGridS, drafts for standardized testing protocols for electrolyzers to perform electricity grid services are defined and elaborated. These protocols are designed to be used by alkaline and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers up to the Megawatt scale. The protocols are being submitted for standardisation. Testing results using these protocols on a state-of-the-art PEM electrolyzer system of 50 kW with 1500 cm2 area stack are presented with considerations of the influence of balance of plant (BOP) components. System behaviour of 50 kW and Megawatt PEM electrolyzers are compared to determine the influence of their scale in performance and response time. An economic analysis has been conducted in the scope of the project. Today’s situation has been analyzed in a first part: the objective was to identify the best way to combine H2 supply for a primary value stream and provision of grid services. A second part of the analysis studied the potential future evolutions that could change the current picture