Feasibility analysis of a PV-H2-Battery system for a data center in Luleå

Abstract: With the push for increasing the renewable share in power production and including more energy storage devices getting more assertive, all the industrial sectors are exploring how alternative power pathways can be implemented along with the existing systems. Digitalization is expected to overgrow in the coming years. Data centers are crucial infrastructure to support booming digitalization. Hence to support the rising power demands of the data centers, the alternate power paths comprising on-site renewables, use of green H2, and batteries for energy storage need to be investigated in techno-economic terms. This research analyses the techno-economic feasibility of a PV-H2-battery system as a secondary power system for a data center in Luleå. The simulations, optimizations, and sensitivity analysis were done using Homer Pro. A comparative study to determine the changes in system feasibility was done for a second chosen market, Germany. It was observed that the system was infeasible for an electricity market like that in Luleå. However, the system in consideration with a PV-H2-Battery is feasible for a market like Germany with a comparable NPV to that of just a grid-connected system. The cost of batteries, and the scale and cost of H2 module components were identified as the crucial factors affecting the system feasibility and LCOE.