Solid-State Hydrogen as an Energy Storage Strategy in the Building Sector for Sustainable Development

Abstract

This study investigates the technical and economic feasibility of implementing a combined energy storage strategy for PV-driven buildings, incorporating solid-state hydrogen energy storage. A coupled EnergyPlus-TRNSYS model is developed to evaluate the dynamic performance of the hybrid system. Targeting a net-zero energy building, the optimal component sizing of the hybrid system is achieved through a statistical optimization model. A subsequent comparative techno-economic analysis of the optimal scenario highlights its benefits and limitations. The results suggest that off-grid operation of the building leads to an annual CO2 reduction of 11.8 tons CO2/yr. The findings show that direct PV electricity supply accounts for 58.9% of the building energy demand, while the fuel cell and battery contribute 23.4% and 17.7%, corresponding to 7.4 and 5.6 MWh, respectively. The economic analysis indicates LCOE and LCOH values of 0.379 $/kWh and 6.14 $/kg.