Adaptive hydrogen buffering for enhanced flexibility in constrained transmission grids with integrated renewable energy system

The increasing adoption of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, underscores the urgent need for innovative solutions to address variability and grid constraints. Adaptive Hydrogen Buffering (AHB) is a transformative framework that integrates dynamic buffering thresholds, priority switching, and grid-responsive scheduling to optimize hydrogen production and mitigate challenges associated with renewable integration. AHB enables the dynamic allocation of electrolysis capacity, real-time adjustments to hydrogen storage, and predictive alignment with grid demand and market conditions. In simulations conducted in northern Norway's Finnmark region, AHB reduced renewable energy curtailment by 58%, decreased hydrogen production costs to €1.72/kg, and improved grid stability indices by 32%, showcasing its potential to enhance energy efficiency and reduce costs. Furthermore, AHB achieves up to 88% hydrogen production efficiencies, reduces curtailment penalties from €50/MWh to €10/MWh, and increases the return on investment (ROI) for renewable energy projects from 8.4% to 12.5%. These results emphasize AHB's scalability and economic advantages, offering a robust pathway for integrating renewable energy into hydrogen production while contributing significantly to decarbonization goals.