Control of Hydrogen Storage Systems for Primary Frequency Response and Inertia Emulation

The development of power generation technologies based on Renewable Energy Sources (RES) to replace conventional fossil fuel-based generation, results in significant technical challenges, including the decreasing levels of system inertia, which becomes a critical concern in the case of non-interconnected electrical systems. The need for energy storage to support increasing RES penetration levels and address the associated challenges is widely accepted. Among storage technologies, Hydrogen Storage Systems (HSSs) constitute a most promising solution for long-duration applications, which can also provide frequency regulation to address system needs. In this paper, a HSS frequency control method is proposed for fuel cells and electrolyzers, allowing primary frequency response and inertia emulation. A Power to Gas (P2G) controller for the electrolysis unit is also introduced. Simulation results of the proposed HSS frequency control scheme demonstrate that H2 facilities can effectively support power regulation in autonomous electrical systems.