Researchers say electrolytic device positioning keys to reduce energy transfer costs

Researchers at the University of Leibniz Hanover (LUH) and the Solar Energy Institute (ISFH) at Hamelin have shown that efficient use of electrolyzers and battery storage systems have a critical impact on the costs of energy transitions.

This is because adapting to fluctuating supply of wind and solar energy is a key issue. When there is a large amount of wind and the sun, there is an oversupply of force. Other times, there are too few winds and suns, and sometimes there are even “dark doldrums” where the winds and suns do not exist at the same time.

So what do you do when the wind is strong or when the sun is brighter than it was in the day? Some of the excess power can be stored in a battery or converted to hydrogen. These technologies allow you to reuse power when needed. Hydrogen can also be used outside of power systems, for example, in the industry.

The research team at LUH and ISFH have optimized the German energy system and developed a model in which electrolytics and battery storage systems contribute to the success of energy system conversion. This allows us to demonstrate potential cost savings and how we can leverage otherwise unused electricity.

In the optimized scenario proposed in this study, the electrolyzer is primarily used to produce green hydrogen in northern Germany. Electrical agents are always operating when available electricity exceeds current demand. In contrast, in this scenario, battery storage systems are distributed throughout Germany, concentrated in the south, with more power from solar systems than in the north.

“Our research shows that in 2050, approximately 35% of the electricity from renewables must first be stored or converted to hydrogen for efficient use,” explains Alexander Marner, the study’s lead author. “If this is not done well enough, the overall cost of the energy transition could increase up to 60 billion euros, as more imports are required.”

Delays or excessively limited expansion of hydrogen facilities and storage systems will not only increase the cost of switching, but also make it more difficult for Germany to achieve its climate targets.

The two technologies, the battery storage system and the electrolyzer, operate differently. Electrolyzers convert electricity into green hydrogen and are then used primarily in the industry. Converting electricity to hydrogen saves energy over a long period of time.

Battery storage systems, on the other hand, are used to balance energy supply and demand in the short term. They are primarily used to balance solar energy supply during the day and night, and are not suitable for long-term storage.

The optimum equipment for your energy system means fewer inactive wind turbines despite strong winds. At this point, if the grid has too much power, this must be in some cases to prevent overloading of the system.

This study provides valuable basic principles for political and business decision makers responsible for managing the transition to climate-friendly energy systems. It is important that the slowing expansion of electrolyzers and power storage systems be addressed in a way that is considered and purposeful rather than haphazard. The research project was carried out with financial support from EWE AG.