WANA (Jul 09) – A research team from Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT) in Iran, in collaboration with Aalborg University in Denmark, has developed a comprehensive energy model to tackle the challenges of producing and storing renewable energy in near-zero energy Districts (nZEDs). This project not only provides viable solutions but also introduces two new technical indicators for the green hydrogen field.

 

Hossein Gharibvand, a PhD researcher at AUT, led the project under the guidance of Prof. Gheorghe Gharehpetian (AUT) and Prof. Amjad Anvari-Moghaddam (Aalborg). The study focused on improving energy flexibility in low-energy districts using green hydrogen produced through renewable-powered electrolysis.

 

Gharibvand emphasized that while solar and wind energy are key renewable sources, their unpredictability disrupts the energy supply-demand balance. Therefore, energy systems need flexibility, which green hydrogen can offer through long-term, stable storage and integration with multiple energy carriers.

 

The team modeled an energy system involving electricity, hydrogen, and heat, and created a year-round simulation framework to assess flexibility. Two new indicators were introduced:

  • Green Hydrogen Equipment Sizing Index
  • Green Hydrogen Planning Index: These help optimize the design of hydrogen infrastructure (electrolyzers, storage tanks, fuel cells) based on technical and economic criteria.

 

The research also showed how waste heat from hydrogen systems can support district heating in cold climates.

 

As part of the project’s outputs, the team conducted a feasibility study for green hydrogen production along Iran’s southern coasts, where solar potential is high, and explored flexibility resources in microgrids. These regions offer strategic value for hydrogen export due to their  proximity to international waters and energy infrastructure.

 

Despite challenges like limited annual load data and lack of hydrogen system benchmarks, the project successfully developed a comprehensive testing model that can serve future research.

  • The outcomes include:
  • Two Q1 journal papers
  • Two international conference presentations
  • One journal article under review

 

Gharibvand noted the work’s relevance to shaping Iran’s national hydrogen roadmap, attracting clean energy investment, and advancing multi-carrier energy systems. Its long-term, integrated approach offers a competitive edge over previous studies.