Hydrogen electrolyzer load modelling for steady-state power system studies

This work introduces a comprehensive hydrogen electrolyzer (HE) load modelling framework suitable for general steady-state power system studies such as power flow and optimal power flow. The proposed model captures all relevant nonlinear physical features and operational constraints of the electrolysis stack and downstream hydrogen (H2) system. More specifically, the modelling includes HE active power consumption as a function of hydrogen production and variable stack efficiency, physical and operation impact and limits of its power electronic converter (PEC), HE reactive power capability, PEC power transfer limits, minimum stable power consumption, ramping capabilities, H2 demand, and a technology-agnostic model of H2 storage considering multiple storage types. The features of the proposed modelling framework and their importance are showcased, both at device-level as well as in the context of power system studies, via two applications to the power flow and optimal power flow problems.