Balancing wind energy and participating in electricity markets with a fuel cell population

In this paper an integrated fuel cell/household model is developed in order to assess the capability of fuel cells to fulfil different tasks in the energy market. The dynamic properties of two stationary combined heat and power (CHP) fuel cell systems were determined experimentally and serve as a basis for the development of the model. Based on this model, the possible contributions of fuel cell systems to a decentralized supply structure are investigated. The results show that if more than 24 households with a fuel cell are interconnected, the fuel cells are able to cover 99.6% of the entire household electricity demand. Additionally, German wind energy feed-in compensation is modelled. Here the results show that the influence on the wind power feed-in is limited because only for a small number of days with wind power production above median level the virtual fuel cell power plant can compensate the wind power feed-in by reducing its output. Thirdly, the potential use of excess electrical capacity from larger fuel cell populations sold at an energy exchange is examined. Here the simulation results show that trading can generate contribution margins of between 140 and 200 Euros per year. Consequently, fuel cells could be significant at the energy exchange, if fuel cell investment costs decreased in the future. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.