Energy management and economic analysis of multiple energy storage systems in solar PV/PEMFC hybrid power systems

Abstract This study proposes an energy management system (EMS) to manage a standalone hybrid power system (HPS) comprising solar photovoltaic (PV), proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), and a battery energy storage. The battery and a hydrogen storage system in PEMFC provide short‐ and long‐term electricity storage, respectively. The EMS ensures electrical efficiency during normal/abnormal operation of the HPS and related limitations, namely unexpected variations in solar irradiance and loads, PEMFC cold start, and battery charging status. The proposed EMS is evaluated using mathematical modelling, simulation studies, and real‐time digital simulation. The results show that the proposed EMS is resilient to complex solar PV/load power changes and keeps the dc‐link voltage in place. The viability of the proposed HPS is analysed using daily average solar insolation and load profiles. This analysis is useful to schedule problems of load/generation. The economic analysis of the proposed EMS, done using Homer pro, ensures that the HPS operates cost‐effectively.