Integrating hydrogen technology into active distribution networks: The case of private hydrogen refueling stations

Abstract

Private hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) are expected to be an integrated part of active distribution networks (ADNs) in the near future. In this paper, we consider an ADN operator, responsible for serving the network’s electricity demands in a cost-effective manner, while ensuring the network’s operational safety. The ADN’s resources include micro-turbines, energy storage systems, and private HRSs that deliberate over buying hydrogen directly, or converting electricity to hydrogen on-site by using their electrolyzers and hydrogen tanks. Each HRS is after maximizing its profit, stemming from serving the stochastic demands of hydrogen vehicles. In the presence of stochastic hydrogen demands, volatile wholesale electricity market prices, and deliberate, profit-maximizing HRSs, the ADN’s goal takes the form of a stochastic-robust bi-level optimization problem. After a number of reformulations, we bring the problem to a solvable form. Numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the model towards integrating private HRSs into ADNs, and maintaining the ADN’s safe operation under severe uncertainties.