Tahlia Clennar, Yang Du, Zhuoqun Liu
Renewable energy applications have expanded rapidly in recent years. Solar photovoltaic (PV) generation has become an affordable and viable solution for meeting regional electricity demand while supporting net-zero goals. Simultaneously, energy storage has become essential for addressing renewable intermittency. Green Hydrogen (GH 2 ) technology offers an economical solution for long-duration and large-capacity storage compared with batteries, though its efficiency and reliability require improvement. Digital twin technology can enhance system efficiency, resilience, and long-term reliability through optimal control and predictive maintenance. However, existing studies lack comprehensive digital twin models of GH 2 microgrids, integrating PV arrays, electrolyzer, hydrogen storage, batteries, and fuel cells. To address the lack of a low-cost research platform for GH 2 microgrids, this work developed a lab-scale GH 2 microgrid and its digital twin. The microgrid produces hydrogen using an electrolyzer powered by PV and battery, and consumes hydrogen through a fuel cell. A cyber–physical interface was implemented to enable system status monitoring, simulation, and real-time control through the digital twin. The demonstrated real-time interaction between the physical system and its digital twin establishes a functional proof of concept for future GH 2 microgrid development.