Key Findings
A study published in the journal Hydrogen reveals that the Aftissat I wind farm in Western Sahara could yield approximately 510 tonnes of green hydrogen per year. The model estimates a levelized cost of 2.866 euros per kilogram. The primary objective of the research is to demonstrate the viability of using surplus wind electricity to bolster hydrogen storage capacity.
Technical Details
The research team from Hassan II University of Casablanca developed an integrated system designed to eliminate residual curtailment. The technical specifications of the modeled system include:
- A 10.867 MW PEM electrolyzer.
- Integrated compression and storage infrastructure.
- A configuration that repurposes electricity otherwise curtailed due to current grid-export constraints.
Background and Context
The study focuses on the Aftissat I wind farm, where electricity is currently subject to curtailment. By integrating a wind-to-hydrogen system, the authors propose a route to capture this wasted energy. The model specifically examines how variable renewable power can act as a backstop for hydrogen production, ensuring that the energy generated by the wind farm is utilized even when the grid cannot accept the full load.
Significance and Outlook
This site-specific study provides a quantitative framework for converting curtailed energy into a transportable fuel. By avoiding the need for new dedicated generation capacity, the model suggests a more efficient path toward increasing green hydrogen yields. However, the authors note that these findings are based on a techno-economic model and remain pending real-world feasibility testing.
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