E3S Web of Conferences 229, 01038 (2021) https://doi.org/10.

1051/e3sconf/202122901038
ICCSRE’2020

Mathematical modeling of re-electrification by green hydrogen

storage through the PEM fuel cell integrating a 10-year
economic study applied to a hotel
Moulebe Laince Pierre1*, Touati Abdelwahed1, Akpoviroro Obar Eric1 and Rabbah Nabila1
1
Laboratory of structural Engineering, Intelligent Systems and Electrical Energy, ENSAM, Hassan II University, Casablanca,
Morocco.

Abstract. The energy transition to prevent global warming is the main concern. Climatic change effects
show a catastrophic view to the word through the increase of temperature which promotes fire like in Siberia
or ices melts by trigging the extinction of polar bears in the future, also adding the flooding in Norway.
Thus, it is important to trait sectors the most polluters such as transport, industries, and residential tertiary
sectors. In the perspective to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. However, the frequently used sources
of energy are unstable. They require an appropriate clean storage system and the technology of energy
storage relevant as green hydrogen. In this article, we focus first on the creation complete of the model of
production chain for green hydrogen by the fuel cell PEM. Then, the application of the model in one
technical-economic study for energetic consumption HVAC for a hotel. We will consider the usage of
thermic power resulting from the chemical reaction of the system, those powers allow us to demonstrate that
the fuel cell PEM presents the brilliant performance compare to electrolysis. Through that thermic power
from the fuel cells, we will expose the fact it is possible to avoid the utilization of natural gas and electricity
structure for domestic hot water. This technical-economic study show that green hydrogen technology can
be worthwhile for the short or middle term for the hotel industry.

1 Introduction after year. However, the instability of renewable

energies is a problem and transporting energy over long
Use Energy transition is today a major stake for distances incurs high costs associated with wasted
humanity to survive, in fact, global industrialization has imports, from which energy storage plays an important
caused the gradual degradation of our environment. The role in bypassing these different problems. There are a
rate of greenhouse gases has dramatically increased multitude of studies on energy storage systems, however
throughout this decade [1] and today we can see the most of these technologies produce greenhouse gases
consequences. In order to fight against this phenomenon although the LFP lithium-ion battery is one of the
caused by our industrialization, several actions must be promising technologies because it emits a low amount
taken from now. As such, several conventions have been of CO2 [7]. Never mind, Hydrogen storage by
put in place to limit the increase in global average electrolysis of water remains the cleanest form of energy
temperature to well below 2°C at pre-industrial levels, storage [8], and to face energy transition, it thus
by limiting the increase to 1.5°C [2]. Among these becomes one of the most promising solutions for the
actions, the principle of polluting pays by the carbon tax future of the energy sector in transportation which is the
[3] was put in place and thus encourages the exponential main polluter, but also in the industrial sector, tertiary
growth that we can be observed in the development of and residential which occupy the second place in
renewable energies. Renewable energies represent an environmental pollution to date, Research on hydrogen
important factor in the energy transition, indeed, the is known nowadays, storage by proton membrane
increase of the world population [4] results in an exchange (PEM) electrolysis contains several research
increase of energy consumption and therefore induces articles[9-10], the main problem with this technology is
an increase in greenhouse gases, especially in the its high cost compared to others. However, the increase
transport, industrial, tertiary and residential[5], therefore in the carbon tax followed by the drop in the cost of
the use of clean energies in these energy-intensive renewable energies make that this solution becomes
sectors will make it possible to achieve the objectives competitive. That is why, the main objective of this
set, knowing that their cost decreases year after year [6]. article is the mathematical modeling of the complete
therefore, the use of clean energies in these energy- production chain of hydrogen storage by PEM
intensive sectors will make it possible to achieve the electrolysis for re-electrification, starting from the
objectives set knowing that their cost decreases year electrolysis, storage tank, to the fuel cell PEM in order

*mpierrelaince12@gmail.com

© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
E3S Web of Conferences 229, 01038 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202122901038
ICCSRE’2020

to simulate in real time the entire production chain, representing the power absorbed and the power
acting on all the possible parameters, thus allowing a producing, (11) rate hydrogen.
global visibility on the system, but also, to apply this The thermal power released by the reaction is
modeling to a technical-economic study in the
residential-tertiary sector, in order to show the 𝑃𝑡ℎ = ±𝑁𝑠 × (𝑉 − 𝑈𝑡𝑚 ) × 𝐼 (12)
feasibility of the return on investment of the
implementation of this technology when using these (𝑁𝑠) number of cells in series; (𝑈𝑡𝑚 ) thermoneutral
heat losses. voltage of a cell = 1.48V.
The document is organized as follows: In paragraph, the
mathematical modeling of the electrolysis, the storage 2.2 Hydrogen storage tank
tank, followed by the modeling of the fuel cell. In
section, we present a case study of re-electrification by The storage tank intended to contain hydrogen at a
PEM cell followed by all the results. A conclusion and certain pressure in liquid or gaseous form can be
a list of references complete the paper. modeled according to [16]. Note that hydrogen storage
is done according to three main methods, high pressure
for stable systems 120 bars, for 250-700 bars mobile
2 Mathematical modelling re- systems, in liquid form (-259 ° C), then in hybrid metal
electrification by PEM fuel cell form.
𝑃 𝑉𝑚 𝑁𝐻2 𝑅 𝑇𝑡
2.1 Modeling of water electrolysis 𝑃𝑡 − 𝑃𝑡𝑖 = 𝑅𝑇 𝑀𝐻2𝑉𝑡
(13)

The hydrogen storage chain by electrolysis of water

𝑃ti = Initial pressure of the storage tank(pascal)
begins in the electrolysis, several works about the
𝑃t = Pressure of tank (pascal)
modeling of water electrolysis exist in the scientific
𝑅 = universal (rydberg) gas constant (J/kmol K)
literature [11–15], and follows this equations are
𝑇t = Operating temperature (K)
necessary for modeling the electrolysis.
𝑉𝑡 = Volume of the tank
0 𝑉 ≤ 𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑣 (𝑇, 𝑃) P : Pressure
𝐼(𝑇, 𝑃) = ⌊𝑉−𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑣(𝑇,𝑃) ⌋ (1)
𝑉 ≥ 𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑣 (𝑇, 𝑃) Table 1. Electrolysis data.
𝑅𝑖 (𝑇,𝑃)

𝑛
𝑉(𝑇, 𝑃) = 𝑛𝑝 𝐼. 𝑅𝑖 (𝑇, 𝑃) + 𝑛𝑠 𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑣 (𝑇, 𝑃) (2) Description values
𝑝

𝑇0 20°C
(1) and (2) the voltage and current coming from the 𝑃0 1 atm
production of solar panels. 𝑘 0.0395 V/A
𝑅(273+𝑇) 𝑃
𝑅 0.082 l.atm-1.K-1.mol-1
𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑣 (𝑇, 𝑃) = 𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑣0 (𝑇, 𝑃) + ln ( ) (3)
2𝐹 𝑃0 𝐹 96487 C.mol-1
𝑃 𝑑𝑅𝑡 -3.812*10^-3 Ω.C-1
𝑅𝑖 (𝑇, 𝑃) = 𝑅𝑖0 + 𝑘𝑙𝑛 (𝑃 ) + 𝑑𝑅𝑡 (𝑇 + 𝑇0 ) (4)
0 𝑅𝑖0 0.326 Ω

(3) represents the reverse voltage and (4) the initial

resistance of the PEM cells. 2.3 PEM fuel cell

The re-electrification is carried out thanks to the PEM

∆𝐺
𝑉𝑖 = (5) fuel cell, it is the reverse function of the electrolysis [17-
2.𝐹
19], in the electrolysis the water is broken down to
∆𝐺 = 285.84 − 163.2(273 + 𝑇) (6) remove the water in H2 and O2, here we use hydrogen
and oxygen to produce a potential between the cathode
6000.𝑣𝑚
𝑣𝐻 = 2.𝐹
(7) and the anode, just as during electrolysis we get a great
exothermic thermal power but also water. A series of
𝑣𝑚 =
𝑅(273+𝑇)
(8) equations is needed for this part. (Figure 1) shows the
𝑃
process used.
𝑃 = 𝑉. 𝐼 (9)

𝑃𝐻2 = 𝑉𝑖 . 𝐼 (10)

𝐼 𝑁𝑠
𝑁𝐻2 = (11)
2𝐹

With (5) the ideal voltage responsible for producing

hydrogen, (6) is the Gibbs free energy change of
hydrogen gas, (7) the Average amount of hydrogen
production, with (8) the molar volume. (9) and (10)

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E3S Web of Conferences 229, 01038 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202122901038
ICCSRE’2020

𝑃
𝑎𝑛
1 ≤ 𝜑𝑎𝑛 = 𝑃𝑣𝑎𝑝 ≤3 (25)
𝐻2,𝑠𝑎𝑡

𝑣𝑎𝑝
𝜑𝑎𝑛 : relative humidity, 𝑃𝐻2,𝑠𝑎𝑡 : saturation pressure
vapor, A: area of membrane electrode assembly (cm²).

According to Faraday's law, the molar flow rate of

hydrogen and oxygen at the inlet is expressed:
𝐼
𝑁̇𝐻2 ,𝑖 = 𝑆𝐻2 2𝐹 (26)

𝐼
𝑁̇𝑂2,𝑖 = 𝑆𝑂2 (27)
4𝐹

∆𝑆 0
0
𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑣 = 𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑣 + (𝑇 − 𝑇𝑟𝑒𝑓 ) × (28)
Fig. 1. Fuel cell PEM system. 𝑛𝐹

0
𝐸𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑘 = 𝐸𝑂𝑐 − 𝐸𝑎𝑐𝑡 − 𝐸𝑐𝑜𝑚 − 𝐸𝑜ℎ𝑚 (14) The theoretical minimum 𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑣 = 1.229 𝑉.

𝐼 : fuel cell output current (A).

𝐸𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑘 : fuel cell output voltage
𝐸𝑂𝑐 : open circuit voltage. ∆𝑆 0
= −0.9 × 10−3 (29)
𝑛𝐹

Cell voltage losses are composed of activation over- The speed of an electrochemical reaction is limited by
potential (Eact) due to the electro-catalyst layers, the energetic acti-barrier:
concentration over-potential (Econ) due to the
limitations of mass transfer and ohmic overvoltage
(Eohm). 𝑎𝑛
𝐸𝑎𝑐𝑡 = 𝐸𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑡
− 𝐸𝑎𝑐𝑡 (30)
𝑅𝑇
𝐸𝑂𝑐 = 𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑣 + 2𝐹 𝑙𝑛(𝑝ℎ2 √𝑝𝑜2 ) (15)
𝑅𝑇 𝑖 𝑅𝑇 𝑖
𝐸𝑎𝑐𝑡 = ∝ 𝑙𝑛 (𝑖 𝑎𝑛 ) + ∝ 𝑙𝑛 (𝑖 𝑐𝑎𝑡) (31)
𝑎𝑛 𝐹 0 𝑐𝑎𝑡 𝐹 0

Partial pressure of hydrogen and oxygen, 𝑃𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑡 𝑃𝑐𝑎𝑡

−∆𝐺𝐶 1 1
pressure in the anode and cathode. [ ( − )] 𝑟𝑒𝑓
𝑖0𝑎𝑛 = 𝛾𝑀 × 𝑒 𝑅 𝑇 𝑇𝑟𝑒𝑓
𝑖0,𝑎𝑛 (32)

𝑝ℎ2 = 𝑋𝐻2 𝑃𝑎𝑛 (16) −∆𝐺𝐶 1 1

[ ( − )] 𝑟𝑒𝑓
𝑖0𝑐𝑎𝑡 = 𝛾𝑀 × 𝑒 𝑅 𝑇 𝑇𝑟𝑒𝑓
𝑖0,𝑐𝑎𝑡 (33)
𝑝𝑂2 = 𝑋𝑂2 𝑃𝑐𝑎𝑡 (17)
𝑖0 : effective density of the exchanged current; 𝑖 :
The mole fraction of hydrogen, oxygen and water; current density (A/cm²).

𝑛𝐻2
𝑎𝑛
𝐸𝑐𝑜𝑚 = 𝐸𝑐𝑜𝑚 𝑐𝑎𝑡
− 𝐸𝑐𝑜𝑚 (34)
𝑋𝐻2 = 𝑛 𝑎𝑛 (18)
𝐻2 +𝑛𝐻2𝑂 𝑚𝑒𝑚
𝑅𝑇 𝐶𝐻 𝑅𝑇 𝐶𝑂𝑚𝑒𝑚
𝐸𝑐𝑜𝑚 = 2𝐹 𝑙𝑛 ( 2
𝑚𝑒𝑚
𝐶𝐻
) + 2𝐹 𝑙𝑛 ( 2
𝐶𝑂𝑚𝑒𝑚
) (35)
𝑛𝑂2 2,0 2,0
𝑋𝑂2 = 𝑛 𝑎𝑛 (19)
𝑂2 +𝑛𝐻2𝑂
At the membrane-electrode interface, molar
𝑛𝑎𝑛
𝐻2𝑂 concentrations are expressed:
𝑋𝐻𝑎𝑛
2𝑂
=𝑛 𝑎𝑛 (20)
𝐻2 +𝑛𝐻2𝑂
𝑎𝑛
𝛿𝑒𝑙 ×𝑛𝐻2
𝐶𝐻𝑚𝑒𝑚 = 𝐶𝐻𝑐ℎ2 + 𝑎𝑛 (36)
The molar flow of hydrogen through the anode: 2 𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑓

𝑐𝑎𝑡
𝑁̇𝐻2,𝑖 𝛿𝑒𝑙 ×𝑛𝑂2
𝑛𝐻2 = (21) 𝐶𝑂𝑚𝑒𝑚
2
= 𝐶𝑂𝑐ℎ2 + 𝑐𝑎𝑡
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑓
(37)
𝐴

The molar flow of oxygen through the cathode: 𝑎𝑛

𝛿𝑒𝑙 𝑐𝑎𝑡
; 𝛿𝑒𝑙 : are respectively the anode and cathode
𝑁̇𝑂2 ,𝑖
thickness, molar concentrations of oxygen and hydrogen
𝑛𝑂2 = 𝐴
(22) in the channels.
𝑎𝑛 𝜑𝑎𝑛 𝑃𝑠𝑎𝑡 𝑃𝑎𝑛 𝑋𝐻2
𝑛𝐻2𝑂
= 𝑃𝑎𝑛
(23) 𝐶𝐻𝑐ℎ2 = (38)
𝑅𝑇

The expression for the saturation pressure is obtained 𝐶𝑂𝑐ℎ2 =

𝑃𝑐𝑎𝑡 𝑋𝑂2
(39)
𝑅𝑇
by the following equation:
log (𝑃𝑠𝑎𝑡 ) = −2.1794 + 0.02953𝑇 … … The diffusion of a molecular species with an average
free path through a porous medium with an average pore
−9.1837. 10−5 𝑇 2 + 1.4454. 10−7 𝑇 3 (24) radius r is expressed:

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ICCSRE’2020

1 𝜀 1 1 𝑃𝑡ℎ = 𝑁𝑠 (𝑈𝑡𝑛 − 𝐸𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑘 ) 𝐼 (58)

𝑐𝑎𝑡 = ( 2𝑂 −𝐻2𝑂 + 2𝐻 𝑂,𝐾 ) (40)
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑓 𝜇 𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑓 𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑓
(58): Thermal power released by the reaction; 𝜑𝑒𝑥𝑡 :
𝑎𝑛,𝑐𝑎𝑡
Where 𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑓 is the effective binary diffusion flux exchanged with the outside; 𝜑𝑔𝑎𝑧 : Flow evacuated
𝜀 by gases.
coefficient; is the report of porosity on tortuosity.
𝜇
Table 2. Data PEM fuel cell.
Description Values
𝐻2 𝑂,𝐾 4 8𝑅𝑇 𝐻2 −𝐻2 𝑂
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑓 = 3 𝑟̅√𝜋𝑀 𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑓 (41)
𝐻2 𝑂
𝛽 22
1⁄
𝑂2−𝐻2 𝑂
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑓 = 0.00133 (
1
−
1
)
2 𝑇
3⁄
2
(42) 𝑆ℎ2 1.2
𝑃𝑐𝑎𝑡 𝜎𝑂2
A 140cm²
𝑀𝑂2 𝑀𝐻2𝑂 Ω𝐷
2−𝐻2𝑂

Ω𝐷 =
1.06
+
0.193
+
1.036
+
1.765
(43) 𝑇𝑟𝑒𝑓 303𝐾
𝜏 0.156 𝑒 0.476𝜏 𝑒 1.53𝜏
0.0254 cm
3.894𝜏
𝜖𝑚𝑒𝑚
Ω𝐷 is a dimensionless diffusion collision integral; The ∝𝑎𝑛 0.7
mean molecular radi of species are express as following:
∝𝑐𝑎𝑡 1.7
𝜎𝐻2−𝐻 =
𝜎𝐻2 −𝜎𝐻2𝑂
(44) 𝛾𝑀 47
2𝑂 2

𝜎𝑂2 −𝜎𝐻2𝑂
𝑟𝑒𝑓
𝑖0,𝑎𝑛 1 × 10 𝐴. 𝑐𝑚−2
−4
𝜎𝑂2−𝐻2𝑂 = (45)
2 𝑟𝑒𝑓
𝑖0,𝑐𝑎𝑡 1 × 10−9 𝐴. 𝑐𝑚−2
𝑘𝑇
𝜏𝐻2 −𝐻2 𝑂 =
𝜀𝐻2−𝐻2𝑂
(46) 𝑎𝑛
𝛿𝑒𝑙 0.008 cm
𝑘𝑇
𝜎𝐻2 2.827 A
𝜏𝑂2−𝐻2 𝑂 = (47)
𝜀𝑂2−𝐻2𝑂 𝜎𝑂2 3.467 A
Lennard-Jones energies are expressed as follows: 𝜎𝐻2 𝑂 2.641 A
𝜀𝐻2 −𝐻2 𝑂 = √𝜀𝐻2 𝜀𝐻2 𝑂 (48)
𝜀𝐻2 59.7 K
𝜀𝐻2 𝑂 809.1 K
(49)
𝜀𝑂2−𝐻2 𝑂 = √𝜀𝑂2 𝜀𝐻2 𝑂
𝜀𝑂2 106.7 K
The ohmic overvoltage, resistance of electrodes, plates 𝑀𝐻2 𝑂 18.01528
0.06
𝑒𝑙 𝑝𝑙
and membrane respectively (𝑅𝑜𝑚ℎ , 𝑅𝑜𝑚ℎ 𝑒𝑡 𝑅𝑚𝑒𝑚 ): 𝑟̅
𝑝𝑙
𝑒𝑙
𝐸𝑜ℎ𝑚 = (𝑅𝑜𝑚ℎ + 𝑅𝑜𝑚ℎ +𝑅𝑚𝑒𝑚 )𝐼 (50)
3 Case study and results
𝑝𝑙 𝜌𝑒𝑙
𝑒𝑙
𝑅𝑜𝑚ℎ , 𝑅𝑜𝑚ℎ = (1−𝜀)1.5
(51)
3.1 Energy balance of the building studied.
𝜖 𝐼
𝐸𝑜ℎ𝑚 = 𝐴𝑚𝑒𝑚 (52)
𝜎 𝑚𝑒𝑚 This study will focus on data from a 3-star hotel in Paris
𝜖𝑚𝑒𝑚 𝑖 [20]. We will focus on the consumption of the hotel's
𝑚𝑒𝑚
𝐸𝑜ℎ𝑚 = (53)
𝜎𝑚𝑒𝑚 Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
circuits, which represents a significant part of the
The conductivity of the membrane can be empirically consumption of energy within a residence [21]. In
expressed as: addition, this sector is the second energy consumer and
1 1

𝜎𝑚𝑒𝑚 = (0.005139𝛽 − 0.00326)𝑒

[𝜉( − )]
𝑇𝑟𝑒𝑓 𝑇
(54)
second polluter to date [22]. Table 3 contains the data
for this study, from electricity the blue in the Table 3
represents the natural gas, and Table 4 presents the cost
= 1268𝐾 ; 𝛽 is the degree of humidification.
−∆𝐺𝐶
𝜉= over 10 years according to this consumption.
𝑅
Electrical power from fuel cell PEM is:
Table 3. Hotel consumption.
𝑃𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑘 = 𝑁 𝐸𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝐼 (55)

The diffusion of a molecular species with an average

Description Consumption(KWh/year)
free path through a porous medium with an average Heating pump 20000
pore radius r is expressed kg/s: Electric heater 20000

𝑃𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑘 air conditioner 50400

𝐻2 𝑂𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑 = 9.34 ∗ 10−8 (56)
𝐸𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑘 Air renewal 162000

The heat balance: Kitchen extractor 5600

Hot water 61000
𝑑𝜃
𝐶𝑝 ( 𝑑𝑡 ) = 𝑃𝑡ℎ − 𝜑𝑒𝑥𝑡 − 𝜑𝑔𝑎𝑧 (57) Hot water 372000

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ICCSRE’2020

𝑃𝑐 = 𝑇𝑐 × 𝐺𝐸𝑆 (59)

𝐺𝐸𝑆 = 𝐶𝑎 × 𝐹𝐸 × 𝑃𝑅𝐺 (60)

With the global warming potential (PRG) = 1, (𝑇𝑐 ):

carbon tax taken at 86.2 € / tCO2, (𝐹𝐸): the emission
factor, (GES): greenhouse gases, (𝐶𝑎 ): consumption,
(𝑃𝑐 ): carbon price.

Table 4. Spend over 10 years electricity and natural

gas.

Energy
FE(gCO2e/ Cost (€/10
Pc(€/year) cost
KWh) years)
(€/year)
49 84,476 4318 Fig. 3. Hydrogen production
49 84,476 4318
59 256,32 10881.3
704624,56
59 823,89 34975.5
75 36,204 1209.04
58 304,9756 13169.9
443 14205,41 25854 400594.15

3.2 Simulation of re-eletrification by PEM

hydrogen storage and demonstration of the
usable thermal power

3.2.1 Sizing of the isolated solar system

After calculation on PVsyst (Figure 2), we estimate a
nominal power to be supplied by the field of 218KWp,
the storage batteries must provide 24KW per day.
Fig. 4. Comparison of the power in electrolysis

Fig. 2. Solar power and battery capacity calculate on PVsyst.

Through the energy to be supplied by the batteries

according to PVsyst we simulate the storage of
hydrogen making it possible to supply 24kw per day. Fig. 5. Evolution of the pressure according to the current
absorbed.
3.2.2 Simulation of water electrolysis
3.2.3 Fuel cell PE result and simulation
In this simulation, we produce the rate of hydrogen to be
stored in the flask (Figure 3). In addition, we highlight In the (Figure 6) we show the evolution of losses during
the evolution of powers in (Figure 4), we see that the the production of electricity, the (Figure 7) shows the
thermal power can be endothermic or exothermic, the variation of the thermal power compared to the electrical
power absorbed becomes less than the thermal power power produced, we notice that the thermal power
and the real power consumed for hydrogen. (Figure 5) becomes more important than the electrical power
shows how the pressure increases in the tank according produced after a while, which shows the importance of
to the current coming from the photovoltaic field this power in this system.
Through the energy to be supplied by the batteries
according to PVsyst we simulate the storage of
hydrogen making it possible to supply 24kw per day.

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ICCSRE’2020

In (Figure 8), we compare the thermal power on the

electrolysis side with that on the fuel cell side, in
conclusion, cogeneration on the fuel cell side is more
beneficial.

Fig. 6. Evolution of voltage losses.

Fig. 7. Power curve in the stacks fuel cell.

Fig. 9. Green hydrogen production system.

Figure 9, shows the numerical results of the simulation,

we see that by producing 24 KW of electric power per
day we obtain at the same time a thermal power of 31
KW at a temperature of 80°C.
By using this thermal power at this temperature, we are
able to cover the sanitary water heating which was
supplied by natural gas. This eliminates the cost of
Fig. 8. Behaviour of thermal power in the green natural gas energy.
hydrogen chain. In the Table 5 we present an estimate of the cost of the
PEM stack solution in this case study.

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ICCSRE’2020

3.2.4 Cost analysis in thermic power for all the chains. However, this
simulation indicates it is possible to warm up 147
The cost of solar installation and hydrogen production circuits of hot water from the hotel study up to around
can be estimated according to [23-26] 70°C, by convection and thermal conduction.
The economic study carried out shows us a short-
Table 5. Cost estimation over 10 years. term return on investment taking into account the fall in
the cost of solar panels over the next 10 years as opposed
Energy System to the increase in the carbon tax in this same period. A
Description
(Kwh/year) cost (€)
return on investment is estimated from the 5th year for
Electrolysis(599€/kw) 210240 5 247240
the use of green hydrogen compared to the use of
Fuel cell(40€/kw) 210240 350400
electricity + natural gas. This time is much shorter in the
Energy PV 1918440 284700
case of the use of electricity to cover all HVAC needs,
from the three and a half years.
𝑃𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑘 = 0.15 × 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑃𝐸𝑀 (61)
In conclusion, a techno-economic study shows the use
𝑃𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑃𝑉 = 26.42 × 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑃𝑉 (62) of thermal power of the fuel cell for tertiary heating
provides an interesting return on the investment. Thus,
In this part we present the evolution of the spending of encouraging investors on this sector to use green
the hotel over 10 years ( Figure 10), we note that the hydrogen for a better preventive energy strategy.
calculation takes into account; (61) the cost of solar In short, this techno-economic study shows that the
cleaning each year, as well as (62) the cost of changing use of the thermal power of the fuel cell for tertiary
the stacks every 5 years with the following equations heating makes it possible to obtain an interesting return
[26-27]. on investment thus making it possible to encourage
investors in this sector to use the green hydrogen.
30000000 Note that this cost can be further reduced by using
the water of the reaction in the fuel cell, indeed
20000000 according to statistics, the cost of water has been
Cost €

increasing gradually for years and it will increase further

in the years to come, therefore using this water for
10000000
gardening needs would save money.

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
years Acknowledgements
PV+H2 electricity+gaz 100% electricity
My most sincere thanks to my supervisors Pr. Rabbah
Nabila and Pr Touati Abdelwahed who accompanies me
Fig. 10. Cost evolution. tirelessly, I also wish to thank Moussavou Fatombi
Bassiratou who help me correct the texts.
Case 1: the red curve shows the evolution of the cost
when the hotel is supplied with electricity and gas (the
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