(378c) Solar Hybrid Power Systems for Improved Electrical Delivery in Low Humidity, High Temperature Conditions

The implementation of 50% of electricity from non-hydrocarbon resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by 2032 with 54GW from renewable energy sources, including 41GW from photovoltaics (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP), 9GW wind turbine power, 3GW waste-to-energy conversion, and 1GW geothermal power, are national targets. Solar energy collection is a leading source of renewable power technology concurrently with wind turbines, geothermal, and low temperature polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells that are currently under investigation in Saudi Arabia. With the large amounts of available sunlight and relatively optimal weather conditions in Saudi Arabia, the continued development of solar power-based systems presents the most promising pathway for large-scale renewable power in KSA [1].

The implementation of solar energy-based systems for the 24-hour production of electricity also requires the consideration of effective hybrid systems in tandem with photovoltaic technology [2]. For small housing needs, the use of PEM fuel cells with battery storage is of great interest. However, for larger PV applications to provide electricity to cities and towns, much larger kW capacity (50+ kW) energy storage / delivery systems must be developed to supply electricity consumers during times of minimal sunlight. Currently the development of hybrid solar-fuel cell systems is globally of great interest for the generation of electricity for commercial and residential needs [3-7]. For solar power systems, the storage of additional collection solar energy has been a primary focus with the proposal of high capacity battery storage systems, thermal energy systems, compressed air turbine systems and fuel cell-hydrogen systems as leading technologies for power storage supplements to solar power systems.

The primary research in hybrid solar-fuel cell technology involves the utilization of a low temperature PEM fuel cell (LT-PEMFC). However, ongoing research has shown that low temperature PEM fuel cells have operational issues at higher temperatures and arid environments that lead to the severe drying of the electrolyte materials and failure. In the high temperature, arid environments of the Arabian Peninsula, the use of high temperature fuel cell technologies such as the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and high-temperature PEM fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) become more attractive. High temperature fuel cells can operate effectively using various feedstock including CO-containing hydrogen feed gas, natural gas, liquid hydrocarbon-based fuels and even carbonaceous waste materials. This project seeks to assess the viability of developing renewable hybrid solar-SOFC-hydrogen systems for supplying electricity customers in Saudi Arabia during times of minimal sunlight and especially during peak load hours (i.e., afternoon / evening hours in the Summer months) to reduce the risk of blackouts and power grid failures. An evaluation and analysis of photovoltaic-high temperature fuel cell-hydrogen systems in comparison to other leading hybrid PV renewable energy systems for power generation in high temperature, arid regions will be presented in this work. A determination of the parameters for the design and operation of a prototype will also be investigated with respect to expected system performance.