Techno-economic optimization of PV–BESS–H₂ residential systems for green hydrogen production

This study presents a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) framework for the techno-economic design of photovoltaic–battery energy storage system–hydrogen (PV–BESS–H₂) residential systems targeting green hydrogen production. The methodology integrates National Renewable Energy Laboratory Annual Technology Baseline (NREL ATB) Advanced 2035 cost projections with time-varying electricity tariffs to optimize PV capacity, battery energy storage system (BESS) sizing, electrolyzer power, and hydrogen storage volume. The optimal configuration achieved a levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of 4.09 USD/kg through strategic energy management, combining self-consumption maximization, price arbitrage via BESS charge/discharge cycles, and electrolyzer load balancing. The PV–BESS–H₂ system demonstrated superior performance with high self-consumption rates and efficient PV-to-H₂ conversion pathways, validated through comprehensive Sankey energy flow analysis and sensitivity studies on key techno-economic parameters. Results highlight the critical role of BESS in enabling competitive green hydrogen production at the residential scale under future cost scenarios.