Exergy and Energy Analysis of Hydrogen Production Using Electrolysis Process Powered by Wind and Solar Energy

This study examines hydrogen production using a hybrid renewable energy system combining wind and solar energy sources. The experiment was conducted over four days, with data collected from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM each day, focusing on solar irradiance, wind speed, and the energy and exergy efficiencies of each component—wind turbine, photovoltaic (PV) panel, and electrolyzer. Solar irradiance varied across the days, peaking at 160 W/m² but experiencing fluctuations due to weather conditions, while wind speeds ranged between 0 and 6 m/s, with the highest consistency observed on Day 3.

Each component’s performance was measured by energy and exergy efficiency metrics, which revealed significant differences across the four days. The turbine’s energy efficiency ranged from 3.83% to 8.24%, with exergy efficiency slightly lower, indicating mechanical and aerodynamic losses. Solar panel energy efficiency varied from 13.42% to 22.92%, impacted by irradiance stability, while the electrolyzer consistently showed high energy efficiency, between 59.06% and 63.42%, with exergy efficiency slightly lower. Total system efficiency ranged from 43.09% to 65.30% for energy and 24.23% to 35.35% for exergy.

Hydrogen production peaked on Day 1 and Day 2, reaching approximately 6000 mL, due to either stable solar or moderate wind input. Day 3, despite optimal wind speeds, produced slightly less hydrogen (5800 mL) due to limited solar input. Production on Day 4 was lowest (5000 mL), affected by high variability in both wind and solar conditions.

The results demonstrate that stable solar and wind inputs are essential for maximizing hydrogen production. High variability in energy inputs leads to reduced efficiency, highlighting the importance of reliable renewable sources or energy storage solutions. Future work could focus on optimizing the exergy efficiency of each component to further improve hydrogen production and reduce energy losses, making the system more resilient and efficient for sustainable energy applications.