Simulation Study on the Value-Added Capacity of the Wind-Solar-Hydrogen Value Chain Based on Digital Twin and System Dynamics

Abstract

The wind and solar co-generation hydrogen production industry is facing the problem of unclear value positioning. To better reveal the mechanisms for adding value to their value capabilities, the study constructs a new wind-solar-hydrogen value chain (WSHVC) model. The WSHVC value-added capacity is examined through a two-stage process. In the first stage, the digital twin (DT) platform is applied to analyze its value-added mechanism and predict the market demand for hydrogen energy. In the second stage, the value-added effects of policy incentives and technology drivers on the value chain in the context of hydrogen energy market demand are investigated using the system dynamics (SD). The results of the joint two-stage simulation show that the DT-based of the WSHVC (DTWSHVC) achieves high economic and environmental profit.  Multi-scenario simulations indicate that dual incentives on the supply and demand sides will promote value addition in the DTWSHVC. The demand side of the policy incentives playing a larger role. Meanwhile, technology research and development (R&D) in each process has a positive correlation on the value-added capacity of the DTWSHVC. The development of hydrogen storage technology may have a greater impact than others.

Keywords: Value chain, Wind-solar hydrogen production, Digital twin, System dynamics