Rauhelleren

In the first two case studies presented in this chapter two hybrid autonomous power systems based on a combination of renewable energy sources and fossil fuels were described. In the case study of Rauhelleren we will analyse technical and economic parameters for the introduction of hydrogen technologies in an autonomous power system that is 100% supplied by fossil fuel (diesel). 

Figure 5.9. Daily electric load profile of Rauhelleren...

The HOMER software tool was also used for the techno-economic analysis of both the existing diesel-based autonomous power system and the envisaged wind-hydrogen system of Rauhelleren. The detailed results and respective discussion of power system analysis performed are given in the following sections. 

More specifically, the system of Rauhelleren comprises a 36 kW diesel generator and a battery bank of 150 kWh. With respect to costs used in the simulation of the existing system, the capital cost of diesel generator was 450 /kW resulting in a total capital cost of 16,200 including the diesel tank. The cost of diesel fuel was set to 0.8 /L. The capital cost of the battery bank used in our calculations was 100 /kWh, therefore for the 150 kWh battery bank installed in the Rauhelleren system the total acquisition cost was 15,000 . The project lifetime was 16 years. 

As can be seen from the table, the autonomous power system of Rauhelleren has a significant production of C02 emissions and in addition it consumes 16,977 L/yr of diesel fuel. The diesel generator operates approximately 2142 li/yr. The average monthly energy production of the autonomous power system of Rauhelleren is given in Figure 5.10. 

Figure 5.11. Optimum configuration of Rauhelleren s wind-hydrogen power system (HOMER)...

The optimisation results revealed that the most economically favourable system configuration for Rauhelleren comprises a wind turbine with a capacity of 140 kW, a 30-kW PEM fuel cell, water electrolyser capable of producing 8 N m3/h of hydrogen and a 400-kg hydrogen storage tank. 

Rauhelleren Wind-hydrogen Power System Techno-economic Analysis The results of the techno-economic analysis of Rauhelleren s hydrogen-based autonomous power system taking into account both current and future cost scenarios for hydrogen energy technologies (presented in Table 5.5) are compared in this section. 

Rauhelleren is not an economically viable option, since the cost of energy produced by the hydrogen-based power system is almost 3.5 times higher and its total net present cost is 2.7 times higher compared to the already existing power system. 

Therefore, from the analysis of the potential for introducing hydrogen energy technologies in the power system of Rauhelleren, we can derive a general conclusion that the replacement of fossil-fuel-based generators with hydrogen in... 

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