With the h2well sizing tool developed by the Energy Systems team as part of h2well-compact, a hydrogen supply system for mobility applications can be dimensioned from hydrogen generation to usage. For the dimensioning, power sources for supplying the electrolysis, the hydrogen demand for refuelling the vehicles under consideration, the necessary hydrogen storage sizes and – if necessary – the transport of the hydrogen are considered. Thanks to the various possible combinations, the tool can be used to assess a wide variety of scenarios for the hydrogen supply of a vehicle fleet.

Based on an electrolyser database, the h2well sizing tool automatically calculates target values for the installed electrolysis capacity, the required H2 storage capacities at the electrolysis sites and refueling stations, as well as the routes and quantities for the transport logistics between the individual sites if required. The results are then automatically summarized in a pdf report and made available graphically. The h2well sizing tool has the following functionalities:

(a) Data entry options

• User input of up to 3 locations, each with up to 3 existing renewable energy plants, on the basis of importing performance data for at least 1 calendar year per plant
• Automated design of a new photovoltaic array at a location chosen by the user to supply an electrolyser with electricity
• Definition of a power supply via grid procurement (if necessary in addition to the entered renewable energy plants)
• Definition of up to 3 H2 refuelling station locations with the possibility of entering different types of vehicles to be refuelled (bus, truck, waste collection vehicle, car, forklift, pallet truck, train) in different vehicle compositions or daily refuelling schemes
• User definition and determination of the location of up to 3 electrolysis plants including assignment of power sources to these plants
• Filling the databases for electrolysers, H2 fuel cell vehicles and transportation systems with own user-defined entries in addition to entries already available in the databases

(b) Calculations for plant sizing

• Determination of the most suitable electrolysis plant(s) for the supply task on the basis of the database entries for electrolysers and the power supply determined by the user
• Dimensioning of the H2 primary storage system at the respective electrolysis plant and the H2 storage system at the respective filling station
• Determination of the most suitable mobile H2 transportation solution for the supply task, including determination of travel distances, routes, number of tours and total mileage

(c) Data output capabilities

• Direct display of essential framework data and diagrams of the distributed hydrogen supply system in the results overview menu of the planning tool
• Output of the inputs and dimensioning results for the supply system in a pdf report with additional explanatory texts (A report example created for the hydrogen supply system of the h2well-compact project can be found → here)
• Save and later edit or modify plant sizing projects

For more information on installation and use, please refer to the h2well sizing tool's explanation document. → Download accompanying document (in German)

To receive a download link for the h₂-well sizing tool, please contact energie[at]bauing.uni-weimar.de. (The sizing tool is only available in German.)