Comparative Analysis of PEM and Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Technologies for Optimal Sizing of Multi-Output Energy Hub

This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) and Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC) technologies to determine the optimal sizing for a multi-output energy hub. It assesses the economic and technical viability of both technologies under varying operational conditions, considering factors such as electrolyzer efficiency, capital costs, and lifetime. This work optimizes the optimal sizes of energy hub components that accommodate three distinct types of loads: electric load for electric vehicles (EV), hydrogen load for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCV), and thermal load. Through simulation over 8760 hours, the study reveals the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of PEM in comparison to SOEC, considering current technology readiness levels. The PEM electrolyzer demonstrates greater profitability and flexibility, benefiting from heat recovery and synergistic operation with a CHP system. In contrast, the SOEC system necessitates larger hydrogen storage due to its higher efficiency but incurs greater gas costs due to the dual use of gas for electrolysis and heat demand. The problem was formulated as a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) problem and solved using the General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS).