Hydrogen refueling station planning model considering parent-subsidiary mode

Focusing on the hydrogen station construction problem, this study constructs an innovative optimization model for hydrogen refueling station (HRS) planning in the city. The model innovatively incorporates a two-stage structure into the parent-subsidiary mode, which can simultaneously optimize the location and type of the parent hydrogen refueling station (PHRS), the corresponding hydrogen source (HS), the connection relationship between the PHRS and the subsidiary hydrogen refueling station (SHRS), and the cost of each part, offering a novel approach to optimizing site selection and efficient operation of HRSs. Since HRSs in cities usually have the characteristic of relatively concentrated location distribution, this study shows that the model can effectively meet the capacity limitation and demand coverage through the small-scale case and the large-scale case. Meanwhile, the cost analysis shows that the operation cost of HRS occupies the highest proportion in the total cost, with 46.22% in the small-scale case and 58.54% in the large-scale case. Therefore, reducing the operating cost of HRSs is pivotal to reducing their total cost. To address these challenges, this study not only provides a robust framework for optimizing the deployment and operation of HRSs but also delivers strategic insights and actionable recommendations for advancing hydrogen transport infrastructure in the future.