A modeling approach for sizing on-site hydrogen refueling stations

On-site hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) play a crucial role in promoting the development of sustainable mobility, as they provide enhanced flexibility and scalability compared to centralized hydrogen production systems. These stations can be established in various locations, including remote areas and densely populated urban areas, without the need for a complex transportation network. Furthermore, on-site HRSs allow for meeting local demand, tailoring the hydrogen production, making these stations particularly suitable for facilitating the gradual adoption and exploitation of fuel cell-based vehicles. In this work, a modeling approach for sizing a small on-site HRS is presented. This kind of station consists of two main sections: the hydrogen production system and the refueling line. In particular, in the analyzed configurations, hydrogen is produced on-site by means of electrolysis units powered by photovoltaic or wind plants. The refueling line is based on a three-cascade storage system. Dynamic models able to forecast the hydrogen demand and to size both the hydrogen production section and the refueling line have been developed. Considering a specific case study, the numerical approach is used to size a small on-site grid-connected HRS.