TECHNO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF AN OFF-GRID SOLAR POWER PLANT INTEGRATED WITH A HYDROGEN STORAGE SYSTEM: A CASE STUDY OF HANKAVAN, ARMENIA

Abstract

A solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant integrated with a hydrogen storage system (PV-H₂-SS) is proposed as an off-grid power supply solution for a case study site in Hankavan, Armenia. The load profile and available energy resources for the chosen site is generated, and based on this, the major system components – namely, the PV system, electrolyzer, fuel cell, Li-ion battery, hydrogen storage, and compressor – are sized accordingly. The operational performance of a solar PV-H₂-SS system is analyzed to ensure a reliable electricity supply throughout the year. The operational analysis results confirm that all components are selected in accordance with the required capacity and are aligned with the energy needs. Hydrogen is primarily produced during the summer for winter energy supply and is used to cover the daytime (06:00–00:00) energy deficit, while the PV system generates sufficient electricity each day to charge the Li-ion battery. The battery serves as a short-term energy buffer, covering the daytime energy deficit for 5 minutes to allow the fuel cell to warm up and supplying the standby load at night (00:00-06:00). By integrating Li-ion batteries for short-term use and hydrogen storage for long-term use, the system efficiently balances energy resources throughout the year. To evaluate the feasibility of the off-grid PV-H₂-SS, the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) is compared with that of an electrical grid extension. The break-even distance for the case study site is determined to be 3 km. The calculated LCOE for the solar PV-H₂-SS is 1.48 $/kWh, whereas the LCOE for a grid extension of 3 km is 1.51 $/kWh. Based on these findings, the off-grid PV-H₂-SS is considered economically feasible for installation at the case study site if it is located 3 km or more from the grid, providing a clean and sustainable alternative for decentralized off-grid electrification. Additionally, the obtained results indicate that the PV-H₂-SS can be scaled or adapted for use in rural areas remote from centralized energy networks, where constructing new infrastructure would require substantial investment.