A comprehensive review of electricity grid service requirements in Europe, focusing on technical aspects, was composed and state-of-the-art electrolysers’ capability was reviewed. Based on the review, grid services that can be potentially delivered by WE were selected for test protocol development.
Testing protocols were submitted for water electrolysers performing relevant grid services. Protocols and Performance Indicators were described for grid service relevant parameters, FCR, aFRR, mFRR and RR grid services. The presently valid new requirements for grid services of European countries are included as well as the experience and feedback from testing the protocols with the project’s WEs and detailed instructions for data evaluation.
Both versions of the testing protocols have been validated in five different electrolyser systems within the project. Alkaline WE systems with stacks manufactured by the project partner IHT were tested at Aragon Hydrogen Foundation and at IHT. A latest-state-of-the-art PEM WE sys-tem (≤35 kW) designed and manufactured by ITM was tested on a test bench at DTU. Also used for testing is a PEM WE (≤50 kW) operated by DLR (manufacturer Hydrogenics) and data of a 1 MW WE of the same manufacturer is included. Finally a NEL alkaline WE (≤300 kW) similar to systems used for refueling stations was adapted to the grid services’ requirements and the tests were run. All results have been used to improve and refine the protocols and to identify the electrolyser’s grid service capability. The results showed that protocols are clear and implementable, that all technical PEMWE and AWE can meet most of the grid services requirements and that a power instead of a current control of the system and an appropriate control implementation of the test bench is needed. The test results were published in a peer-reviewed paper and a public report.
The economic opportunities for WE to participate in grid services was precisely specified. The business logic with the understanding how the way of participation of WE in grid services can contribute to improve the economic performance was set up. Dynamic simulations could identify parameter sensitivities and the impact of potential future evolutions.
The testing protocols were presented to the ISO hydrogen standardization community and ISO/TC 197 ”Hydrogen Technologies” agreed that a new working group for working out an ISO technical report based on the testing protocols of this project will be set up. Standardisation is the major exploitation of the project. Furthermore the manufacturers will implement power control for grid services. Projects results will be presented in conferences and papers after the project. All participants gained knowledge that they will use in their future activities. A set of recommendation of next steps at European level for addressing market introduction of electrolysers for grid services was set up and published.
