Economic Analysis of A Rule-Based PV-BESS-H2 Hybrid System

This study evaluates the techno-economic performance of a rule-based grid-interactive hybrid system combining solar photovoltaic (PV), battery energy storage (BESS), and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis for green hydrogen production. The proposed model uses real hourly PV generation data for Middlesbrough, UK (2024) and day-ahead market price signals to drive a rule-based dispatch. The novelty lies in the analysis of the prioritized control sequence serving a fixed 1 MW load, charging the BESS, conditionally running the electrolyser, and exporting to the grid optimised to capture value from both price-responsive arbitrage and hydrogen sales. Simulations for PV capacities from 1.0-3.0 MW with a 0.5 MW/2 MWh BESS and a 250 kW electrolyser show that PV oversizing strongly improves utilisation of surplus energy. The 3.0 MW scenario achieved the highest annual combined revenue (£22,410) and reduced grid import costs by ∼21%, with a payback of 13.4 years at £5/kg hydrogen. The findings confirm that coupling BESS and hydrogen pathways with simple price-driven operational strategies can enhance revenue diversity and cost savings, providing a scalable strategy for distributed renewable energy systems.