Short-term hydrogen storage system for grid balancing: Integration of AEM electrolyzer and fuel cell for demand-supply management
Eid GUL, Tariq SHAMIM
Abstract. The growing integration of renewable energy into power grids introduces challenges in balancing supply and demand due to their intermittent nature. This study develops a short-term (24-hour) hydrogen-based energy management system that integrates an Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolyzer and a fuel cell to enhance grid flexibility. The developed energy system utilizes an AEM electrolyzer to convert surplus grid electricity into hydrogen, which is then stored in hydrogen storage tanks and later converted back into electricity using a fuel cell during high electricity demand periods. In order to maximize the renewable energy utilization a predictive energy management system, using advanced optimization techniques, guarantees the efficient charging and discharging cycles based on real-time grid demand and renewable generation forecasts. The obtained results demonstrate that hydrogen production via the AEM electrolyzer approaches the practical efficiency limit of 66%, with a specific energy consumption of 50.5 kWh·kg⁻¹ H₂. Similarly, the fuel cell exhibits an efficiency of approximately 60%, generating about 20.64 kWh of electricity from 1 kg of hydrogen, based on its energy content of 33.36 kWh·kg⁻¹ H₂. Furthermore, the developed system demonstrates that stored hydrogen energy can be efficiently utilized during peak times and at night, ensuring reliable load coverage and highlighting its potential for practical energy management applications.
Keywords
Hydrogen Energy Storage, AEM Electrolyzer, Fuel Cell Systems, Renewable Energy Integration, Grid Balancing, Demand-Supply Management
Published online 6/20/2026, 8 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Eid GUL, Tariq SHAMIM, Short-term hydrogen storage system for grid balancing: Integration of AEM electrolyzer and fuel cell for demand-supply management, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 67, pp 60-67, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904176-9
The article was published as article 9 of the book Climate Action and Sustainability
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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