Utilisation of alkaline electrolysers to improve power system frequency stability with a high penetration of wind power

Controlling the frequency of power systems with high wind power penetration is more difficult due to the high variability of the wind power. One possible mainstream energy carrier in the future, particularly for the transportation sector, is Hydrogen, and water electrolysis is one of the most attractive ways to produce it. In this study, a detailed model of a steam turbine generator has been produced in MATLAB Simulink and used to investigate a scenario in which there is a 25% penetration of wind power. To improve the frequency stability of the power system, large scale alkaline electrolysers used in future Hydrogen filling stations could adjust their load with respect to the frequency deviation from nominal and can significantly reduce fluctuations in system frequency. For the case examined, five times less spinning reserve is required in order to maintain the power system frequency within operational limits when electrolysers are utilised as a form of demand side management (DSM), compared to the base case where no electrolyser DSM plant is available. Actual operational data from a pressurised alkaline electrolyser is used to evidence the fast load changing capability of such electrolysers.