Experimental Validation of a Modular Skid for Hydrogen Production in a Hybrid Microgrid

This article presents the development, integration, and experimental validation of a modular microgrid for sustainable hydrogen production, addressing global electricity demand and environmental challenges. The system was designed for initial validation in a thermoelectric power plant environment, w...

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Main Authors: Gustavo Teodoro Bustamante, Jamil Haddad, Bruno Pinto Braga Guimaraes, Ronny Francis Ribeiro Junior, Frederico de Oliveira Assuncao, Erik Leandro Bonaldi, Luiz Eduardo Borges-da-Silva, Fabio Monteiro Steiner, Jaime Jose de Oliveira Junior, Claudio Inacio de Almeida Costa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/3910
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author Gustavo Teodoro Bustamante
Jamil Haddad
Bruno Pinto Braga Guimaraes
Ronny Francis Ribeiro Junior
Frederico de Oliveira Assuncao
Erik Leandro Bonaldi
Luiz Eduardo Borges-da-Silva
Fabio Monteiro Steiner
Jaime Jose de Oliveira Junior
Claudio Inacio de Almeida Costa
author_facet Gustavo Teodoro Bustamante
Jamil Haddad
Bruno Pinto Braga Guimaraes
Ronny Francis Ribeiro Junior
Frederico de Oliveira Assuncao
Erik Leandro Bonaldi
Luiz Eduardo Borges-da-Silva
Fabio Monteiro Steiner
Jaime Jose de Oliveira Junior
Claudio Inacio de Almeida Costa
author_sort Gustavo Teodoro Bustamante
collection DOAJ
description This article presents the development, integration, and experimental validation of a modular microgrid for sustainable hydrogen production, addressing global electricity demand and environmental challenges. The system was designed for initial validation in a thermoelectric power plant environment, with scalability to other applications. Centered on a six-compartment skid, it integrates photovoltaic generation, battery storage, and a liquefied petroleum gas generator to emulate typical cogeneration conditions, together with a high-purity proton exchange membrane electrolyzer. A supervisory control module ensures real-time monitoring and energy flow management, following international safety standards. The study also explores the incorporation of blockchain technology to certify the renewable origin of hydrogen, enhancing traceability and transparency in the green hydrogen market. The experimental results confirm the system’s technical feasibility, demonstrating stable hydrogen production, efficient energy management, and islanded-mode operation with preserved grid stability. These findings highlight the strategic role of hydrogen as an energy vector in the transition to a cleaner energy matrix and support the proposed architecture as a replicable model for industrial facilities seeking to combine hydrogen production with advanced microgrid technologies. Future work will address large-scale validation and performance optimization, including advanced energy management algorithms to ensure economic viability and sustainability in diverse industrial contexts.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1996-1073
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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series Energies
spelling doaj-art-2ffc8a7ada444d5db24be1d43dd211ab2025-08-20T04:00:53ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-07-011815391010.3390/en18153910Experimental Validation of a Modular Skid for Hydrogen Production in a Hybrid MicrogridGustavo Teodoro Bustamante0Jamil Haddad1Bruno Pinto Braga Guimaraes2Ronny Francis Ribeiro Junior3Frederico de Oliveira Assuncao4Erik Leandro Bonaldi5Luiz Eduardo Borges-da-Silva6Fabio Monteiro Steiner7Jaime Jose de Oliveira Junior8Claudio Inacio de Almeida Costa9R&D Department, Gnarus Institute, Itajuba 37500-052, MG, BrazilOffice of Research and Graduate Studies (PRPPG), Federal University of Itajuba, Itajuba 37500-903, MG, BrazilR&D Department, Gnarus Institute, Itajuba 37500-052, MG, BrazilR&D Department, Gnarus Institute, Itajuba 37500-052, MG, BrazilPS Soluções, Itajubá 37502-485, MG, BrazilPS Soluções, Itajubá 37502-485, MG, BrazilPS Soluções, Itajubá 37502-485, MG, BrazilEDF Norte Fluminense, Macae 27910-970, RJ, BrazilEDF Norte Fluminense, Macae 27910-970, RJ, BrazilR&D Department, Gnarus Institute, Itajuba 37500-052, MG, BrazilThis article presents the development, integration, and experimental validation of a modular microgrid for sustainable hydrogen production, addressing global electricity demand and environmental challenges. The system was designed for initial validation in a thermoelectric power plant environment, with scalability to other applications. Centered on a six-compartment skid, it integrates photovoltaic generation, battery storage, and a liquefied petroleum gas generator to emulate typical cogeneration conditions, together with a high-purity proton exchange membrane electrolyzer. A supervisory control module ensures real-time monitoring and energy flow management, following international safety standards. The study also explores the incorporation of blockchain technology to certify the renewable origin of hydrogen, enhancing traceability and transparency in the green hydrogen market. The experimental results confirm the system’s technical feasibility, demonstrating stable hydrogen production, efficient energy management, and islanded-mode operation with preserved grid stability. These findings highlight the strategic role of hydrogen as an energy vector in the transition to a cleaner energy matrix and support the proposed architecture as a replicable model for industrial facilities seeking to combine hydrogen production with advanced microgrid technologies. Future work will address large-scale validation and performance optimization, including advanced energy management algorithms to ensure economic viability and sustainability in diverse industrial contexts.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/3910hydrogen productionmodular microgridproton exchange membrane electrolyzerblockchain certificationgreen hydrogenexperimental validation
spellingShingle Gustavo Teodoro Bustamante
Jamil Haddad
Bruno Pinto Braga Guimaraes
Ronny Francis Ribeiro Junior
Frederico de Oliveira Assuncao
Erik Leandro Bonaldi
Luiz Eduardo Borges-da-Silva
Fabio Monteiro Steiner
Jaime Jose de Oliveira Junior
Claudio Inacio de Almeida Costa
Experimental Validation of a Modular Skid for Hydrogen Production in a Hybrid Microgrid
Energies
hydrogen production
modular microgrid
proton exchange membrane electrolyzer
blockchain certification
green hydrogen
experimental validation
title Experimental Validation of a Modular Skid for Hydrogen Production in a Hybrid Microgrid
title_full Experimental Validation of a Modular Skid for Hydrogen Production in a Hybrid Microgrid
title_fullStr Experimental Validation of a Modular Skid for Hydrogen Production in a Hybrid Microgrid
title_full_unstemmed Experimental Validation of a Modular Skid for Hydrogen Production in a Hybrid Microgrid
title_short Experimental Validation of a Modular Skid for Hydrogen Production in a Hybrid Microgrid
title_sort experimental validation of a modular skid for hydrogen production in a hybrid microgrid
topic hydrogen production
modular microgrid
proton exchange membrane electrolyzer
blockchain certification
green hydrogen
experimental validation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/3910
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