High efficiency reversible solid oxide cells for the integration of offshore renewable energy using hydrogen
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Sch of Engineering
Abstract
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Organisations
| Description | This project has demonstrated how reversible solid oxide cells can enhance the stability and efficiency of renewable energy systems. rSOCs operate in both electrolysis and fuel cell modes, allowing them to provide a range of grid services. In electrolysis mode, they efficiently produce hydrogen from water using surplus renewable energy, enabling long-term energy storage. In fuel cell mode, they convert stored hydrogen back into electricity, supporting long-term balancing services. Crucially, the project showed that rSOCs can also respond rapidly to grid disturbances, providing fast frequency response to stabilise the grid during sudden imbalances. The project's key achievement is the development of an advanced AI-driven control system that optimises the operation of rSOCs and wind farms, improving grid reliability and supporting the transition to a more sustainable energy network |
| Exploitation Route | This leads to a close collaboration with National Energy System Operator (NESO) for using hydrogen and wind farm to provide ancillary service, resulting a new project 'Hydrogen Plant Dynamic Models', sponsored by NESO with value £479,197 with a duration of Dec 2024 - Dec 2026, which are developing a hydrogen plant model for the UK power systems. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Energy |
| Description | This leads to a close collaboration with National Grid ESO for using hydrogen and wind farm to provide ancillary service. Update: This then leads to a new project called 'Hydrogen Plant Dynamic Models' funded by National Energy System Operator (NESO, former National Grid ESO) with a value of £479,197 with a duration of Dec. 2024 - Dec. 2026, |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Energy |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | AI workshop with NESO |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | We held a AI knowledge sharing workshop to NESO. Over 10 power system engineers from NESO attended this workshop. We disseminated the project results on AI application in wind energy, hydrogen, microgrid, grid integration, and health monitoring to them and talked about collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Dissemination workshop to National Grid ESO |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | We held a dissemination workshop to National Grid ESO. Eleven people from National Grid ESO including senior manager, managers, and power system engineers came to this workshop which was held at Prof. Xiaowei Zhao's lab. We disseminated the project results to them and talked about collaborations. We successfully identified a new research project for which National Grid ESO awarded Prof. Xiaowei Zhao a new grant titled "Transient Stability Assessment of GB Power System based on Real-Time Phasor-EMT Simulations" with a value of £355K. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Energy System Catapult |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | We held a AI knowledge sharing workshop to Energy system catapult who visited our lab at Warwick University. We disseminated the project results on AI application in wind energy, hydrogen, microgrid, grid integration, and health monitoring to them and talked about collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Workshops with National Energy System Operator |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A workshop was held at University of Warwick on 25 Oct 2024, where 21 Power system engineers from the National Grid ESO (now called NESO) joined us. In this workshop, we shared our research in AI, grid forming, wind energy, microgrid, and grid forming. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |