Design and Optimization of a Lab-Scale System for Efficient Green Hydrogen Production Using Solar Energy

Abstract

This paper presents the design and optimization of a novel lab-scale green hydrogen production system driven by solar photovoltaic (PV) energy. The primary focus is to enhance the efficiency of hydrogen production by addressing key challenges in electrical integration and power electronics. To achieve minimal power losses and maintain voltage and current levels within optimal operating parameters, advanced energy conversion techniques have been implemented. The system incorporates real-time control to dynamically synchronize PV output with electrolyzer requirements, maximizing production efficiency.

Experimental results show that the system achieves a hydrogen production rate of up to 3.0 liters over 10 minutes at an optimal operating current range of 1.0–2.5 A, and an input voltage range of 4.5–7.5 V. Compared to conventional systems, the setup demonstrated an 18% reduction in power losses and a 25% improvement in operational stability under fluctuating irradiance conditions. The integration of battery storage and a solar emulator further supports consistent performance, making the system a promising model for scalable, renewable hydrogen generation. While this work primarily evaluates hydrogen production, oxygen was also generated in a 2:1 molar ratio and released, with future work aimed at capturing and utilizing this byproduct.