Natalie Samovich, Head of R&D at Enercoutim, has co-authored a publication by ETIP-SNET, launched in November 2023, titled ” Impact of hydrogen integration on power grids and energy systems”. The paper was presented during the EU Hydrogen Week 2023.
The Key messages of the paper were summarised as follows:
- One system view: A holistic system perspective is necessary to establish an energy-efficient and infrastructure-efficient energy system.
- The viability of hydrogen projects is case- and country-dependent, requiring to analyse its entire framework, boundary conditions and externalities.
- Operational modes: Several operational modes of electrolysers are possible, depending on location respect to RES, hydrogen demand and grid connection, and they are characterised by distinctively different interactions and impact on the power system.
- Win-win solutions matching business needs (performances, load factor, electricity infeed cost, hydrogen delivery profile) with system requirements (stable operation mode, provision of flexibility) must be found in order to maximise the benefits for all stakeholders.
- A coordinated planning, from scenario-building to system impact and to consistent cost-benefit analysis of single projects, is necessary in order to best exploit existing infrastructures, avoid stranded assets and bottlenecks.
- For a smooth but fast transition phase, repurposing the gas grid, also through initial blending, is a viable and smart option to enable a gradual phase-out of natural gas and set-up of an hydrogen market.
