Power-Grid-Friendly Placement of Large-Scale Hydrogen Production Facilities in the Northwest German High Voltage Grid

Abstract

This thesis presents a novel method for determining a strategic distribution of new large-scale Green Hydrogen (GH2) production plants across nodes of interest within the northwest German high voltage power grid. The research conducted in this thesis establishes a framework for gainfully connecting GH2 production plants to power grid nodes, with an emphasis on maintaining grid voltage stability and leveraging the advantages of large-scale GH2 facilities. The applied methodology uses a novel developed algorithm to determine the maximum GH2 plant size that can be connected to each node while keeping the secure steady state power system operation. Through the utilization of Voltage-Power (V-P) characteristic analysis, this thesis successfully identifies connection points that can provide large amounts of power without causing voltage collapse, permitting the incorporation of GH2 loads of up to 7700 MW at an individual node, while maintaining reliable power system operation. This process involves constrained and optimal power flow calculations, facilitating the allocation of power to generators of different energy sources according to electricity generation costs. Open-source data was utilized to develop a simulation model of the northwest German power grid, achieving the implementation of two different grid states: the current situation (scenario “Status Quo”) and a future grid state (scenario “NEP2035”). Moreover, diverse operative conditions were applied to these grid scenarios, achieving a total of sixteen cases for steady state simulation and analysis. The obtained results indicate that the northwest German high voltage grid can accommodate new large-scale GH2 plants under various operating conditions. The thesis concludes by acknowledging the importance of additional factors, such as gas infrastructure, storage capacity, and environmental regulations in determining the definitive distribution of GH2 plants, which could be incorporated in future extension to this work. However, even though further research is necessary, this thesis serves as a significant component in the identification of power capacity and optimal placement of new large-scale hydrogen production facilities in Germany, marking it an essential step toward a more sustainable future.