• Energy Research

Data availability: The authors do not have permission to share data. The adaptability of hydrogen across sectors such as transportation, heavy industry, and its support for intermittent renewable generation through flexible storage has sparked growing interest in electrolysis-based hydrogen production. While large-scale electrolyser integration enhances network stability by aiding constraint management and reducing renewable curtailment through storage, it also places considerable demand on electricity networks. This makes understanding the role of electrolyser deployment on distribution networks (DNs) increasingly crucial. While existing studies on hydrogen-integrated DNs often target specific operational costs or isolated constraints, they typically lack a comprehensive view that considers broader economic, operational, and environmental impacts. This study offers an extensive analysis across these dimensions, exploring diverse hydrogen supply configurations, including hydrogen pipeline and storage unit availability, within a real UK DN to provide a practical perspective. This study introduces a conflicting multi-objective function that improves load factor (LF) by 85.516% and reduces power loss by 22.947%, all while managing operational costs effectively. Findings underline that deploying electrolysers with efficient management algorithms can significantly enhance the operations of DNs. Additionally, this paper contributes to the field by detailing recent UK-based electrolysis projects, providing insights into the future of hydrogen–electricity coupled multi-energy networks. This research was supported by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Grant Reference EP/W524542/1. The authors thank UK Power Networks DSO for providing data during the corresponding author’s employment, which contributed significantly to the analysis presented in this study.

While the role of transportation is indispensable in daily life, the transportation sector is one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With the utilization of green vehicles in transportation systems and the adoption of renewable energy sources in power systems, it becomes possible to achieve an environmentally friendly transportation system. In this paper, an energy management algorithm for a port power system is presented, including a solar-based local power production unit serving hybrid ferries having fuel cell/battery, as well as an electric vehicle (EV) parking lot, allowing for bi-directional power flow between the port and the grid. The proposed concept enables dual integrated green transportation with the possibility of parking EVs to the lot and then continuing to journey via another green transportation option. The stochasticity regarding the photovoltaic plant (PVP) and EV behaviors are taken into consideration under a real-time rolling horizon optimization framework. Minimizing the operational cost of the port related to the energy consumption is the objective function in this novel transportation-to-transportation integration concept. Numerous case studies have been developed and tested to demonstrate the effectiveness of the suggested algorithm.

As power networks around the world undergo profound transformation driven by the decarbonization of electricity, the integration of renewable energy resources and low carbon technologies, and more active network participation at the grid edge, distribution network operators have encountered and continue to face various challenges. Both industry and academia are actively involved in addressing these challenges, with a common focus on ensuring the operational efficiency and reliability of the electricity network. This Perspective article analyzes the academia–industry relationship in the energy sector with a first-hand experience set of insights from the newly established Distribution System Operators in the United Kingdom. This perspective identifies and explores barriers to academia–industry collaboration in the forms of willingness, communication, objectivity, understanding, resources, and outcomes. We offer practical recommendations to both parties, supported by real resources and actionable strategies to overcome these challenges.