Techno-economic optimization of PV–BESS–H2 residential systems for green hydrogen production

This study presents a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) framework for the techno-economic design of photovoltaic–battery energy storage system–hydrogen (PV–BESS–H2) residential systems targeting green hydrogen production. The methodology integrates National Renewable Energy Laboratory Annual Technology Baseline (NREL ATB) Advanced 2035 cost projections with time-varying electricity tariffs to optimize PV capacity, battery energy storage system (BESS) sizing, electrolyzer power, and hydrogen storage volume. The optimal configuration achieved a levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of 4.09 USD/kg through strategic energy management, combining self-consumption maximization, price arbitrage via BESS charge/discharge cycles, and electrolyzer load balancing. The PV–BESS–H2 system demonstrated superior performance with high self-consumption rates and efficient PV-to-H2 conversion pathways, validated through comprehensive Sankey energy flow analysis and sensitivity studies on key techno-economic parameters. Results highlight the critical role of BESS in enabling competitive green hydrogen production at the residential scale under future cost scenarios.