Techno-Economic Feasibility of Fuel Cell Vehicle-to-Grid Fast Frequency Control in Non-Interconnected Islands

This paper presents an innovative approach to fast frequency control in electric grids by leveraging parked fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), especially heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks. Equipped with hydrogen storage tanks and fuel cells, these vehicles can be repurposed as dynamic grid-suppor...

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Main Authors: Tziotas Christos, Evangelos E. Pompodakis, Georgios I. Orfanoudakis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Hydrogen
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4141/6/1/1
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author Tziotas Christos
Evangelos E. Pompodakis
Georgios I. Orfanoudakis
author_facet Tziotas Christos
Evangelos E. Pompodakis
Georgios I. Orfanoudakis
author_sort Tziotas Christos
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents an innovative approach to fast frequency control in electric grids by leveraging parked fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), especially heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks. Equipped with hydrogen storage tanks and fuel cells, these vehicles can be repurposed as dynamic grid-support assets while parked in designated areas. Using an external cable and inverter system, FCEVs inject power into the grid by converting DC from fuel cells into AC, to be compatible with grid requirements. This functionality addresses sudden power imbalances, providing a rapid and efficient solution for frequency stabilization. The system’s external inverter serves as a central control hub, monitoring real-time grid frequency and directing FCEVs to supply virtual inertia and primary reserves through droop control, as required. Simulation results validate that FCEVs could effectively complement thermal generators, preventing unacceptable frequency drops, load shedding, and network blackouts. A techno-economic analysis demonstrates the economic feasibility of the concept, concluding that each FCEV consumes approximately 0.3 kg of hydrogen per day, incurring a daily cost of around EUR 1.5. For an island grid with a nominal power of 100 MW, maintaining frequency stability requires a fleet of 100 FCEVs, resulting in a total daily cost of EUR 150. Compared to a grid-scale battery system offering equivalent frequency response services, the proposed solution is up to three times more cost-effective, highlighting its economic and technical potential for grid stabilization in renewable-rich, non-interconnected power systems.
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spelling doaj-art-27b251ea6b164cc9baea7dd0dfc301b82025-08-20T02:42:34ZengMDPI AGHydrogen2673-41412024-12-0161110.3390/hydrogen6010001Techno-Economic Feasibility of Fuel Cell Vehicle-to-Grid Fast Frequency Control in Non-Interconnected IslandsTziotas Christos0Evangelos E. Pompodakis1Georgios I. Orfanoudakis2School of Engineering, Power Systems and Energy Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, GreeceInstitute of Energy, Environment and Climatic Change, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, GreeceSchool of Engineering, Power Systems and Energy Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, GreeceThis paper presents an innovative approach to fast frequency control in electric grids by leveraging parked fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), especially heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks. Equipped with hydrogen storage tanks and fuel cells, these vehicles can be repurposed as dynamic grid-support assets while parked in designated areas. Using an external cable and inverter system, FCEVs inject power into the grid by converting DC from fuel cells into AC, to be compatible with grid requirements. This functionality addresses sudden power imbalances, providing a rapid and efficient solution for frequency stabilization. The system’s external inverter serves as a central control hub, monitoring real-time grid frequency and directing FCEVs to supply virtual inertia and primary reserves through droop control, as required. Simulation results validate that FCEVs could effectively complement thermal generators, preventing unacceptable frequency drops, load shedding, and network blackouts. A techno-economic analysis demonstrates the economic feasibility of the concept, concluding that each FCEV consumes approximately 0.3 kg of hydrogen per day, incurring a daily cost of around EUR 1.5. For an island grid with a nominal power of 100 MW, maintaining frequency stability requires a fleet of 100 FCEVs, resulting in a total daily cost of EUR 150. Compared to a grid-scale battery system offering equivalent frequency response services, the proposed solution is up to three times more cost-effective, highlighting its economic and technical potential for grid stabilization in renewable-rich, non-interconnected power systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4141/6/1/1fuel cell electric vehicleshydrogenfast frequency responseancillary servicesislands
spellingShingle Tziotas Christos
Evangelos E. Pompodakis
Georgios I. Orfanoudakis
Techno-Economic Feasibility of Fuel Cell Vehicle-to-Grid Fast Frequency Control in Non-Interconnected Islands
Hydrogen
fuel cell electric vehicles
hydrogen
fast frequency response
ancillary services
islands
title Techno-Economic Feasibility of Fuel Cell Vehicle-to-Grid Fast Frequency Control in Non-Interconnected Islands
title_full Techno-Economic Feasibility of Fuel Cell Vehicle-to-Grid Fast Frequency Control in Non-Interconnected Islands
title_fullStr Techno-Economic Feasibility of Fuel Cell Vehicle-to-Grid Fast Frequency Control in Non-Interconnected Islands
title_full_unstemmed Techno-Economic Feasibility of Fuel Cell Vehicle-to-Grid Fast Frequency Control in Non-Interconnected Islands
title_short Techno-Economic Feasibility of Fuel Cell Vehicle-to-Grid Fast Frequency Control in Non-Interconnected Islands
title_sort techno economic feasibility of fuel cell vehicle to grid fast frequency control in non interconnected islands
topic fuel cell electric vehicles
hydrogen
fast frequency response
ancillary services
islands
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4141/6/1/1
work_keys_str_mv AT tziotaschristos technoeconomicfeasibilityoffuelcellvehicletogridfastfrequencycontrolinnoninterconnectedislands
AT evangelosepompodakis technoeconomicfeasibilityoffuelcellvehicletogridfastfrequencycontrolinnoninterconnectedislands
AT georgiosiorfanoudakis technoeconomicfeasibilityoffuelcellvehicletogridfastfrequencycontrolinnoninterconnectedislands