Harnessing hydrogen energy storage for renewable energy stability in China: A path to carbon neutrality

China's goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2060 has driven significant investments in renewable energy. However, the fundamental fluctuation of wind and solar energy creates major issues to grid stability. In order to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources into China's grid system, the present research assesses the practicability of hydrogen energy storage. The study concludes that hydrogen storage can enhance grid resilience and decrease renewable energy curtailing rates by 8–13 % based on an analysis of instance research from large PV plants. Additionally, increases in electrolyser efficiency, now ranging from 70 to 80 %, might lead to a 30 % drop in green hydrogen generation costs by 2030. The research shows that hydrogen can balance energy production and consumption throughout the year better than lithium-ion batteries (0.4 MJ/kg) due to its 120 MJ/kg energy density, which makes it superior long-term storage of energy option. Energy security and economic expansion could be achieved through expedited investments in hydrogen technology despite the fact that there are obstacles related to infrastructure and cost.