Techno-economic feasibility study of hydrogen storage in enhancing the reliability of a renewable-based microgrid for residential applications

Abstract

The rapid transition toward cleaner energy requires microgrid models that are not only technically feasible but also economically and environmentally compelling for local contexts. This work develops and evaluates a hybrid renewable microgrid tailored for a residential building in Nazipur, Patnitala Thana, Naogaon District, Bangladesh. Using HOMER Pro (v3.14.2), the system integrates solar photovoltaic (PV), wind turbines (WT), an electrolyzer–hydrogen tank–fuel cell chain (“power-to-gas-to-power”), and a grid connection. The optimized design achieves a remarkably low cost of energy (COE) $0.0396/kWh and a net present cost (NPC) of $145,664 with minimal annual operating expenses ($1,100). The total carbon footprint is limited to 11,158 kg/yr, reflecting a 95.8% reduction compared with conventional supply, while hydrogen is generated at $3.32/kg, reinforcing its role as a viable long-term storage medium. Beyond techno-economics, the study examines system stability through dynamic voltage and frequency response modelling in MATLAB, and explores resilience under uncertainty via sensitivity analysis of solar radiation, wind speed, hub height, temperature, and financial variables. The findings highlight that integrating hydrogen into renewable-based microgrids offers a scalable pathway for decarbonizing residential sectors in Bangladesh and similar developing regions. This research thus advances the discourse on hydrogen-augmented microgrids, underscoring their potential to bridge the gap between sustainability targets and local energy security. This study uniquely integrates a correlation-based sensitivity analysis with MATLAB dynamic validation to establish the reliability and feasibility of a hydrogen-augmented hybrid microgrid for residential applications.