Start of ELECTRE project: driving down electrolyser cost by improving durability
16-02-2016
VoltaChem co-initiator ECN and Hydron Energy will jointly work on a project to investigate how the performance over the life cycle of an electrolyser is affected by using renewable electricity. It is known that rapidly changing loads in a PEM electrolyser can accelerate degradation. The ELECTRE project will clarify to what extent such load-following operation decreases the life expectancy and what type of load-changes specifically impact the durability. The ultimate goal is to bring the cost of electrolysers down to the level where the hydrogen from renewable electricity becomes an attractive option for the chemical industry. The two partners have received a grant from the Topsector Energy to execute this research.
Improving durability is key to reduce cost
Europe foresees an important role for hydrogen in both utilizing and storing (excess) renewable energy. To become a viable alternative to other forms of storage or load management, the cost of electrolysers needs to go down considerably. Although current electrolysers are capable of performing for a considerable length of time, this lifetime comes at a cost. Expensive catalysts, metals and membranes are used today because less expensive components do not offer the required durability. Understanding lifetime issues and improving durability of less expensive components is key to reduce cost.
Sander ten Hoopen, director of Hydron Energy: “ELECTRE gives us the opportunity to further develop the operational requirements of our low cost & high efficiency water electrolysis technology for the emerging market of sustainable hydrogen production”
Understanding degradation issues PEM electrolysers
The PEM or proton exchange membrane electrolyser technology is generally considered as the prime future technology for electricity-based hydrogen production. Testing of PEM fuel cells in the automotive sector has shown the large impact of load-following operation on the durability. Today very little is known on the impact on PEM electrolyzers. Within the ELECTRE project ECN and Hydron Energy are developing a systematic approach to understanding and assessing durability of PEM electrolysers.
Degradation measurements are time consuming and therefore very expensive. No single company or institution by itself has the means to tackle the issue of lifetime by itself. Therefore the ELECTRE project has two parallel objectives:
- The project aims to generate a better understanding of the key lifetime determining factors in the electrolyzer.
- At the same time the project will build new national and international partnerships to address the issue of lifetime in an effective way.
Shared Innovation Program VoltaChem: call for cooperation
The ELECTRE project is being carried out within VoltaChem, the business-driven Shared Innovation Program connecting the electricity sector to the chemical industry. Low-cost electrolysers are a key element in creating synergy between these sectors. To build on the foundation which will be laid by the ELECTRE project, we invite interested parties from the chemical industry, electricity sector and the electrolyser supply chain to discuss further opportunities for cooperation.
For more information about the ELECTRE project or VoltaChem's Power-2-Hydrogen Research Program Line please contact Yvonne van Delft, Innovation Manager VoltaChem.
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