Design of a Hybrid Photovoltaic-Electrolyzer Fuel Cell System for Developing Solar Model

Abstract

The world's fossil fuel energy reserves have rapidly decreased, while the energy demand has increased due to industrial growth, population growth, and technology advances, all of which affect the environment by the production of greenhouse gases. Alternative energy sources such as solar, hydrogen, etc. are attracting more attention as an alternative of fossil fuels. We present in this study hybrid photovoltaic (PV) panels/PEM electrolyzer/high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (HTPEMFC) system used in off-grid application. The purpose of a hybrid system is to produce as much energy from alternative energy sources to ensure the load demand. Solar energy is used as primary source and a fuel cell is used as backup power. The hybrid system is designed and analyzed according to the new solar radiation model. Firstly a new solar model is developed to determine solar radiation on horizontal surface. After that solar radiation on tilted surface is obtained by using solar radiation on horizontal surface model for PV panel calculations. The hybrid system is modelled and the obtained results presented and discussed. (C) 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim