Singh, Siddharth, Du, Yang, Karmaker, Ashish Kumar, and Guo, Han (2025) Dynamic Operation of Hydrogen PEM Electrolysers: Mitigating Degradation Through Flexible MPPT. In: Proceedings of the Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference. From: AUPEC 2025: 35th Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, 29 September - 1 October 2025, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

The integration of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysers with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems offers a promising pathway for producing green hydrogen. However, the intermittency of solar power introduces challenges for managing the dynamic operating conditions of PEM electrolysers, which accelerates PEM degradation and reduces system longevity. To mitigate these challenges, this study evaluates the impact of fluctuating solar power on PEM electrolysers and proposes a Flexible Maximum Power Point Tracking (FMPPT) approach for managing dynamic operations. This study simulates a combined solar PV-PEM system in MATLAB/SIMULINK under conventional Maximum Power Point Tracking(MPPT) and proposed FMPPT strategies. Results reveal that although conventional MPPT maximises power extraction, it exposes the electrolyser to operate under extreme current densities (up to 5.2 A/cm2) and peak stack temperatures (100 C), accelerating degradation. In contrast, the proposed FMPPT reduces current density (to 2.6 A/cm2), stabilises stack temperatures (80°C), which extends the lifespan of PEM electrolysers by up to 36%. These findings demonstrate that the proposed FMPPT effectively balances solar power fluctuations and enhances durability, offering a viable solution for PV-coupled PEM electrolysers.

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