The integration of renewable energy sources into an energy grid introduces volatility, challenging grid stability and reliability. To address these challenges, this work proposes a two-stage optimization approach for the operation of electrolyzers used in green hydrogen production. This method combines site-wide and real-time optimization to manage a fluctuating energy supply effectively. By leveraging the dual use of an existing optimization model, it is applied for both site-wide and real-time optimization, enhancing the consistency and efficiency of the control strategy. Site-wide optimization generates long-term operational plans based on long-term forecasts, while real-time optimization adjusts these plans in response to immediate fluctuations in energy availability. This approach is validated through a case study showing that real-time optimization can accommodate renewable energy forecast deviations of up to 15%, resulting in hydrogen production 6.5% higher than initially planned during periods of increased energy availability. This framework not only optimizes electrolyzer operations but can also be applied to other flexible energy resources, supporting sustainable and economically viable energy management.

In response to the energy transition to renewable resources, green hydrogen production via electrolysis is gaining momentum. Modular electrolysis plants provide a flexible and scalable solution to meet rising hydrogen demand and adapt to renewable energy fluctuations. However, optimizing their operation poses challenges, especially when dealing with heterogeneous electrolyzer modules. In this work, a combination of decentralized Multi-Agent Systems and the Module Type Package concept is presented that enhances the cost-optimized operation of modular electrolysis plants. This approach synergizes the individual strengths of Multi-Agent Systems in handling complex operational dynamics with the efficiency of the Module Type Package for integration and control capabilities. By integrating these technologies, the approach addresses the heterogeneity of electrolyzer modules and increases the adaptability, scalability, and operational flexibility of electrolysis plants. The approach was validated through a case study, demonstrating its effectiveness in achieving cost-optimized load scheduling, dynamic response to demand–supply fluctuations, and resilience against electrolyzer module malfunctions. In summary, the presented approach offers a comprehensive solution for the effective coordination and optimization of modular electrolysis plants.

Background: Intralogistics systems face growing challenges from globalization, individualization, and shorter product life cycles, demanding flexible and responsive solutions beyond traditional centralized control. Decentralized, agent-based approaches offer potential advantages, especially for Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) systems where managing collisions in interaction areas remains a critical issue. Methods: This study proposes two decentralized, agent-based control concepts for AGV systems in intralogistics. One uses a hierarchical model with an Intersection Manager to coordinate AGV agents, while the other employs a fully heterarchical system. For benchmarking, a First Come, First Served heuristic and a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) method are also implemented. Simulations show both agent-based approaches effectively prevent collisions and uphold order prioritization and timing goals. While average delays are similar, the heterarchical system requires up to 2.7 times more communication. Priority-based control enhances timeliness for highpriority vehicles but can increase delays for lower-priority AGVs. The MILP method, though effective, is limited by impractical computation times. Results: The study confirms the viability of agent-based control for managing interaction areas in AGV systems, highlighting trade-offs between decentralization, efficiency, and communication. Conclusions: It offers a foundation for further research into hybrid models and real-world application of decentralized control strategies.

Effectively utilizing flexible energy resources requires optimizing their operation over time to balance dynamic demand and fluctuating supply from volatile renewable sources. Traditionally, this has been achieved through centralized optimization models, which suffer from scalability limitations, single points of failure, and limited flexibility when applied to decentralized and dynamically changing environments. Distributed models offer a promising alternative, providing enhanced flexibility, robustness, and computational efficiency by enabling parallel processing and reducing coordination delays. Thus, this work presents a methodology for the semi-automated transformation of centralized optimization models into distributed architectures, leveraging containerized multi-agent systems to achieve scalable and efficient optimization across multiple computing units. A case study involving 120 electrolyzers distributed across up to 5 optimization agents, including both homogeneous and heterogeneous configurations, demonstrates that the distributed approach accelerates computation time by a factor up to 27.42 compared to a centralized model while accepting a solution quality deviation of only 2.2 %. The optimization integrates site-wide and real-time optimization, ensuring adaptability to fluctuating renewable energy availability and improving system resilience. This combination enables long-term strategic planning while allowing real-time adjustments to maximize renewable energy utilization. The findings highlight the benefits of distributed optimization in modular energy systems and confirm that containerized multi-agent architectures enhance scalability and computational efficiency, making the approach well-suited for real-world applications in decentralized and modular energy networks.

In response to the global shift towards renewable energy resources, the production of green hydrogen through electrolysis is emerging as a promising solution. Modular electrolysis plants, designed for flexibility and scalability, offer a dynamic response to the increasing demand for hydrogen while accommodating the fluctuations inherent in renewable energy sources. However, optimizing their operation is challenging, especially when a large number of electrolysis modules needs to be coordinated, each with potentially different characteristics. To address these challenges, this paper presents a decentralized scheduling model to optimize the operation of modular electrolysis plants using the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers. The model aims to balance hydrogen production with fluctuating demand, to minimize the marginal Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (mLCOH), and to ensure adaptability to operational disturbances. A case study validates the accuracy of the model in calculating mLCOH values under nominal load conditions and demonstrates its responsiveness to dynamic changes, such as electrolyzer module malfunctions and scale-up scenarios.