A Probabilistic Approach for Sizing the Components of Hybrid Energy Storage Used in Wind Energy Conversion System

As renewable energy sources such as wind energy replace traditional power plants, new methods of energy storage sizing are necessary to achieve the expected dispatched power level that is committed to supply to the grid for a specific time interval. Electrolyzers and fuel cells working as hydrogen energy storage can, not only offer electrification of the power sector but also flexible balancing services in the wind turbine generation system. To gain this benefit, this study proposes a probabilistic way to adequately size a hybrid energy storage system composed of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, an electrolyzer, and a supercapacitor. Using real-world wind data, the proposed method was simulated and compared to others. The simulation results demonstrate that the SC within the hybrid energy storage system can aid in the processing of high-frequency fluctuations, hence extending the hydrogen energy storage lifespan. Furthermore, the supercapacitor assists in addressing peaks in wind power oscillations while avoiding the substantial cost of round-trip losses associated with hydrogen energy storage.