Cross-regional optimization of electricity-hydrogen dispatching considering multi-type hydrogen storage and transportation

Abstract

The large-scale integration of renewable energy sources is fundamentally constrained by their inherent spatiotemporal variability and geographical mismatch with load centers. This leads to substantial curtailment and inefficient utilization of clean energy resources. While green hydrogen offers a promising vector for energy storage and transport, existing planning and dispatch models predominantly focus on either standalone power or hydrogen flows, neglecting the critical synergy between multi-modal hydrogen logistics and power grid operations. To address this gap, this paper proposes a novel cross-regional dispatch framework for coupled electricity-hydrogen systems. Its core is a co-optimization model that integrates renewable generation, electrolysis, and diverse hydrogen storage/transport pathways, including green methanol, ammonia, liquid hydrogen, and pipeline options (hydrogen-blended natural gas and dedicated hydrogen). The model performs integrated whole-chain optimization, simultaneously coordinating production, transmission, storage, and reconversion processes. Unlike conventional single-mode transport constrained by fixed costs and rigid capacity, the framework dynamically combines multiple storage and transport options, significantly enhancing the system's flexibility and adaptability to renewable generation volatility. Formulated within a mixed-integer linear programming framework, the model is applied to analyze both a near-term scenario (using green methanol, ammonia, and liquid hydrogen) and a future scenario that incorporates emerging pipeline technologies (hydrogen-blended natural gas and dedicated pipelines). Utilizing actual data from Northwest China, the analysis shows that for the same renewable energy consumption, the proposed future multi-modal strategy increases net economic profit by 36.76% relative to the near-term baseline. This work not only validates the critical role of co-optimized electricity-hydrogen systems in enhancing renewable integration but also provides a technically feasible and economically justified planning paradigm for future zero-carbon energy systems with high renewable penetration.