Green hydrogen and renewable energy comunities: synergies for a sustainable future

The interaction and coexistence of hydrogen production and Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) form a critical nexus and a promising pathway toward sustainable energy systems [1]. As the world faces the twin challenges of climate change and energy security, hydrogen has emerged as a versatile energy carrier that facilitates the integration of renewable energy sources (RES). Integrating green hydrogen technologies into RECs represents a unique opportunity to develop sustainable and resilient energy systems, accelerating the global transition to a low-carbon economy. By converting surplus renewable energy into hydrogen, the stored hydrogen can be blended with gas/biogas to fuel industrial processes within companies. Beyond their high electrical efficiency, stationary fuel cells also generate heat, which can be exploited for use by local industries and small businesses. However, under the current REC regulations in Italy, integrating hydrogen into RECs remains challenging. While the use of hydrogen to produce electricity is not recognized as incentivable, there is no explicit restriction on the use of green hydrogen and the fact that an electrolyser can be a consumer within a REC, using excess PV-generated electricity to produce hydrogen. Exploring the use of a rSOC (reversible Solid Oxide Cell) in FC mode is possible to use biogas in case of hydrogen unavailability to produce incentivable electricity for the REC. The resulting green hydrogen from EL (Electrolyser) mode of a rSOC could serve as a long-term energy storage solution, addressing the intermittency challenges of renewable energy sources. This study explores a possible scenario to demonstrate the feasibility of establishing a sustainable and cost-effective synergy between hydrogen and RECs, focusing on key challenges and critical legislative barriers arising from their interaction. As technological advancements continue to drive down costs and improve efficiency, the growing adoption of green hydrogen and RECs has the potential to significantly impact the energy landscape in the future.