Optimum design of a hybrid Photovoltaic/Fuel Cell energy system for stand-alone applications

This paper introduces hybrid photovoltaic/fuel cell generation system for a typical domestic load that is not located near the electric grid. In this configuration the combination of a battery, an electrolyser, and a hydrogen storage tank are used as the energy storage system. An energy based modeling has been developed with Matlab/Simulink to observe evolution of the system during the period of one year, and the results are reported and discussed in the paper. The simulation results are used to size system components in order to match the load of the site in the most cost effective way. The results show that a system composed with a photovoltaic generator, a fuel cell, an electrolyser and a battery can deliver energy in a stand-alone installation with an acceptable cost.