Sizing of a self-sufficient hydrogen refueling station under Italian subsidy scheme

In order to reduce road transport emissions, the development of xEV is essential. To achieve the net-zero goal by 2050, Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles need to be replaced by vehicles with zero emissions, with a proper mix of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV). FCEVs refueling at dedicated Hydrogen Refueling Station (HRS). Thesis’s aim is sizing the dedicated photovoltaic (PV) plant for renewable electricity, the electrolyzer for green H2 production, and the hydrogen storage vessel of the station to meet the daily demand of 1000 kg H2 for all the year. Other station’s component such as compressors, coolers, chillers, dispensers and other auxiliary devices, are not analyzed in this work due the fact that in the period of time of low irradiance they still require energy, so this becomes more challenging and requires a more thorough analysis. The sizing of the PV plant, electrolyzer, and storage vessel concerns three different scenarios to satisfy the yearly demand with total green hydrogen. •??The electrolyzer produces hydrogen with only the energy from the dedicated PV plant, in the hours with low irradiance and as a consequence, low H2 production, the Vessel Storage satisfies the demand. •??When the PV plant provide low energy to the electrolyzer for H2 production and storage is not able to satisfy the demand, the required amount of green H2 is transported by trucks from a remote facility. •??As in the previous case, when the electrolyzer does not produce enough H2 or the storage is not able to afford the fueling, the remaining H2 to satisfy the demand is produced by the electrolyzer getting the electricity from a dedicated plant with Guarantee of Origin (GO). The best scenario and sizing that satisfy the yearly demand are the once that minimize the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH). It is emphasized that LCOH does not consider the cost and energy required by the other station components (compressors, coolers, valves, other auxiliary devices).