Optimal Sizing of an rSOC-Based Renewable Microgrid

This work focuses on the development of an optimization tool aimed at the preliminary design of a microgrid integrating renewable energy conversion systems, such as solar panels and wind turbines, with reversible solid oxide cells (rSOC). Models with acceptable compromise between accuracy and computational burden were built by referring to the literature and introducing some specific simplifying assumptions. This way, it was possible to run a multi-variable constrained optimization, which allowed identifying the best plant configuration in terms of both technical and economic feasibility. The optimization outcomes highlight that interesting payback time can be attained, while providing the optimal configuration with highly promising resiliency and islanded-use capabilities, via over-the-year charge-sustaining management of the designed hydrogen storage tank.