Optimal operation of hybrid AC/DC energy islands considering energy storage and green hydrogen production via predictive nonlinear programming

Abstract

Offshore wind power generation offers immense potential, but its integration into onshore grids faces significant challenges, particularly in the transmission of high-power capacities over long distances. While AC transmission has traditionally been employed, it incurs high reactive power demands, increased losses, and voltage deviations, necessitating costly reactor systems. High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission has emerged as a cost-effective alternative for long-distance energy transfer because HVDC systems do not require reactive power compensation, thereby reducing power losses and voltage deviations. On the other hand, the concept of energy islands is gaining traction, particularly in Europe, as a powerful approach to integrating offshore wind power and regional power systems. However, the general concept of energy islands combine HVAC systems, HVDC systems, energy storage, and hydrogen production, requiring sophisticated operation strategies to manage the complex nonlinearities of the power flow equations and time-dependence of BESS and hydrogen systems. This paper introduces a nonlinear programming approach for the optimal operation of energy islands. The proposed strategy optimally manages Battery Energy Storage Systems and hydrogen production by leveraging wind power forecasts and addressing system nonlinearity. It incorporates security constraints to ensure reliable operation while mitigating power curtailments. The approach is validated using a realistic energy island test system, with the mathematical programming model implemented in Pyomo/Python.

This work has received funding from the ADOreD project of the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 101073554.

Peer Reviewed

Postprint (author's final draft)