Stable and Robust Hydrogen Production with a Hybrid Renewable PEM Electrolysis System using Sliding Mode Control

Abstract

This paper presents a study on hydrogen production using a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer powered by a hybrid renewable energy system consisting of a photovoltaic (PV) panel and a wind turbine. A DC-DC buck converter is employed to ensure efficient energy conversion and stable operation, controlled via a Sliding Mode Control (SMC) strategy. The system is designed to optimise hydrogen production by controlling the electrolyser voltage, enhancing efficiency and ensuring resilience to climatic fluctuations, such as variations in wind speed and solar irrradiation. The effects of the SMC controller on voltage stability, the rate of hydrogen production, and the overall performance of the system are compared. The simulation results show that, compared to PI control, SMC offers better dynamic responsiveness, fewer voltage oscillations and increased hydrogen production efficiency. This study demonstrates the potential for combining advanced control methods with hybrid renewable energy sources to produce hydrogen efficiently and sustainably.