Bi-level configuration and operation collaborative optimization of shared hydrogen energy storage system for a wind farm cluster

Energy storage is indispensable to achieve dispatchable and reliable power generation through renewable sources. As a kind of long-duration energy storage, hydrogen energy storage systems are expected to play a key role in supporting the net zero energy transition. However, the high cost has become an obstacle to hydrogen energy storage systems. The shared hydrogen energy storage (SHES) for multiple renewable energy power plants is an emerging mode to mitigate costs. This study presents a bi-level configuration and operation collaborative optimization model of a SHES, which applies to a wind farm cluster. Different operation modes, including the 'electricity‑hydrogen-electricity (E-H-E)' mode and the 'electricity‑hydrogen (E-H)' mode, are considered. Results show that SHES system offers substantial advantages over individual hydrogen energy storage solutions. It achieves a notable reduction in annual operation and maintenance (O&M) costs by 9.5 % and a significant increase in annual profit by 10.49 %. Moreover, the SHES system demonstrates a lower wind curtailment rate of 0.24 %, in contrast to the 0.37 % observed in individual cases. SHES will play a more significant role in larger wind farm clusters. The aforementioned advantages of SHES systems become even more pronounced in larger wind farm clusters, where their impact on cost reduction and efficiency is significantly amplified.