Comparative Assessment of Battery and Hydrogen Energy Storage in a Grid-Connected Heat-Electricity Integrated Microgrid

Climate-driven uncertainties and accelerating renewable deployment call for a robust energy storage for stabilizing multi-energy microgrids (MGs) and advancing the green transition. This study presents a rigorous comparative evaluation of three energy management strategies for a grid-connected, heat-electricity integrated MG, focusing on optimizing techno-economic performance and environmental sustainability. The investigated strategies encompass: (i) a baseline configuration devoid of energy storage, (ii) a battery-based energy storage system (B-BESS), and (iii) a hydrogen-based energy storage system (H-BESS) comprising an electrolyzer (ELC), hydrogen tank (HT), and fuel cell (FC). A particle swarm optimization (PSO)-based stochastic energy management system (EMS) is developed to maximize MG profitability while minimizing CO₂ emissions, leveraging renewable energy sources (RES), such as photovoltaics (PVs) and wind turbines (WTs), and thermal energy recovery. Simulation results show that, compared with the base case, both BBESS and H-BESS significantly improve emissions performance and economic returns. The B-BESS configuration results in higher daily revenue due to its cost-effective energy storage and fast-response capabilities, while H-BESS, despite its higher initial cost, offers superior emissions reductions and energy flexibility. The paper evaluates trade-offs between investment costs and net profit, emphasizing the multi-energy benefits of H-BESS, particularly thermal energy recovery.