Coordinated energy management for EH with responsive demands considering hydrogen storage and PEV preheating in cold climates

The energy hub (EH) is designed to optimize the management of diverse energy demands, such as electrical, thermal, and natural gas (NG) requirements. To achieve this target, modern EHs integrate a variety of assets such as renewable energy sources (RESs), energy storage systems (ESSs), plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), hydrogen systems, and a combination of other multi-carrier energy systems (MESs). In recent years, the adoption of PEVs has grown significantly as part of sustainability efforts. However, their charging and discharging efficiency is highly sensitive to ambient temperature. Therefore, in cold climates like Finland, incorporating advanced preheating technologies for PEVs within smart EHs is essential for maintaining battery efficiency and ensuring optimal vehicle performance. In this regard, this paper proposes coordinated optimal operation strategies for smart EHs by integrating hydrogen storage systems (HSSs) and responsive demands. The proposed approach employs an optimization framework to efficiently manage energy flows and enhance the coordination of MESs. Additionally, the study introduces two preheating technologies, addressing both indoor and outdoor scenarios, to further improve PEV performance. By leveraging coordinated HSSs and advanced preheating solutions, the proposed model, as demonstrated by the results, achieves reductions in operational costs and emissions by 2.034% and 0.928%, respectively, while maintaining good battery efficiency and reliable vehicle performance during charging in low-temperature conditions.