How to Optimize Green Hydrogen Projects Using ETAP and Digital Twin Technology for Efficiency

ETAP can model and assimilate the wind farm and also do the different types of steady-state or dynamic conditions study to understand how we can go in to manage the power correctly.
by Mrs. Gloria Cai, Solution Architect, Schneider Electric China

As the world decarbonizes, green hydrogen emerges as a pivotal force in the energy transition landscape. Coupling Load to Energy Source is the second important idea in this solution. This case study presents a large-scale green energy project managed by Shuimu Mintal Company and Schneider Electric Company, which was launched in the Inner Mongolia International Hydrogen Metallurgy and Chemical Demonstration Zone, China. The project is led by the International Hydrogen Energy Centre (IHEC), supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and hosted by the Beijing Tsinghua Industrial Research and Development Institute (TIDRI) and the Chinese metal manufacturer, the Mintal Group. The general name is "New energy hydrogen production, carbon-free fuel, and wind and solar power generation.” The case study focuses on the ETAP digital twin solution, which optimizes electricity power management to manufacture ammonia efficiently using natural resources such as wind and energy storage systems. The project's complexity required linking power and process data, utilizing ETAP and AVEVA software solutions for modeling and simulation, and employing digital twin technology for process control.

Mintal Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. is an international hydrogen energy technology company. It provides global customers with zero-carbon solutions that utilize new energy direct-coupling technology to manufacture environmentally friendly products. With the support of quality shareholders and partners, Mintal has developed an advanced business model and is committed to being a leading provider of technological energy solutions. On March 6, 2024, Mintal signed a cooperation agreement with Schneider Electric. Schneider Electric, as the first digital solution provider in the industry to achieve power and process linkage, partners with Mintal to create a full-process optimization business co-simulation project on Green Electricity, Hydrogen, and Ammonia. This collaboration aims to accelerate China's transition to green energy.

 

Location: Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China

Year: 2024

ONE Software to build the electrical digital-twin model

Challenges

  • Integrated Power Generation modeling with Generators, Wind farms, and Battery Energy Storage Systems should enable electrical system simulation in the dependency of critical events, keeping reliability and resilience.
  • Integrated Grid and Transmission modeling should stabilize energy delivery and costs in response to demand from ammonia manufacturing and the market.
  • Improving the power quality and preparing safe load-forecasting scenarios based on the digital model predictions.
  • Feasibility study to seize power resources depending on ammonia manufacturing prices, demands, energy prices, etc.

Which solutions did they choose?

Selected applications

They selected the ETAP Energy Management System, Power System Monitoring & Simulation, and Advanced Distribution Management System to build a model, simulation, and Real-Time solution to operate all energy processes.

ETAP ensures compliance with all needed electrical standards for designing and calculating in critical industries.

Why do they use ETAP?

Main Customer Benefits

  • A key benefit for customers is an easy and flexible digital modeling of the power generation and electrical grid network, with all facilities in one holistic view.
  • Dynamic and steady-state system behavior simulations using unconventional scenarios.
  • Cost optimization and design time optimization, thanks to digital demands modeling based on realistic sizing and priorities.
  • The digital continuity: one unified digital solution from feasibility studies and design studies to operation and maintenance studies.
  • Improving and optimizing the information flow about processes by using one software solution in one Integrated Virtual Power Plant.

What do they think about ETAP?

Opinions

We are using ETAP to model, conduct a reliability study, and optimize the size of the optimal power system.
By Mrs. Gloria Cai, Solution Architect, Schneider Electric China

I believe the unique or best part of ETAP is the digital continuity from modeling simulation to operation, which differentiates us from competitors who focus on offline simulation and simulation tools for only some of the real-time SCADA systems.
By Mrs. Gloria Cai, Solution Architect, Schneider Electric China



Videos

ETAP-Spark-2024-Case-studies-Mintal

How Mintal optimizes green hydrogen projects using ETAP electrical digital twin technology

This case study focuses on a green hydrogen project that applied a digital twin solution. The project is a 1.4 gigawatt wind farm in China, involving green hydrogen and ammonia manufacturing, with an estimated investment of $1-2 billion. The customer recognized the need for a software solution to optimize their processes and was looking for comprehensive coverage from power management to process management. The project's objectives included sizing optimization to reduce CapEx costs, process verification and optimization, and digital tools for control system specifications and electrolyzer selection. The digital continuity and unified digital solution offered by Schneider Electric encompassed feasibility study, detailed design, and future operation and maintenance stages. The project's complexity required linking power and process data, utilizing ETAP and AVEVA software solutions for modeling and simulation, and employing digital twin technology for process control. The proposed approach included utilizing ETAP for energy transition engineering, emphasizing the value of ETAP software applications, and leveraging software services to ensure the success of the implementation. The study also highlighted the value of digital continuity and building trust with the client to ensure the success of the project.


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