Output Power Smoothing and Hydrogen Production by Using Variable Speed Wind Generators

This paper presents a combination system of wind energy conversion and hydrogen production. Hydrogen is expected as an alternative energy source in the future, and this is the best way to produce it from renewable energy like wind energy. On the other hand, the output of a wind generator, in general, fluctuates greatly due to wind speed variations, and thus the output fluctuations can have a serious influence on the power system operation. In the proposed system, a variable speed wind generator is adopted, and an electrolyzer is installed in parallel with it for hydrogen production. Output power from the wind generator is smoothed and supplied to the power system as well as to the electrolyzer based on the cooperative control method. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated by simulation analyses, in which simulations are performed by using PSCAD/EMTDC.