P.E.M. Water Electrolyzers in Renewable Energy Capture to Hydrogen

摘要

Distributed photovoltaic arrays and wind generators, enabled by distributed water electrolysis hydrogen generation and energy recovery fuel cells, all produced on a scale commensurate with today’s automotive industry, may very well be the most compelling way to fill a growing world “carbon-free” energy gap. Hydrogen by electrolysis from renewable energy (RE) sources such as photovoltaic (PV) and wind has great potential to complement and extend the cost-competitive position and viability of RE against conventional fossil fuels and hydrogen production via steam methane reformation or coal gasification production methods, while avoiding emissions of greenhouse gases. High pressure (HP) proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyte water electrolysis is especially conducive to distributed hydrogen generation options where the cost of transporting hydrogen can be prohibitive. PEM water electrolyzers scale from 1 to 500 kilograms per day capacity, and are environmentally benign, using only pure water as feedstock and working fluid, with no liquid electrolyte. Commercial hydrogen generators using PEM water electrolysis are well-proven and are currently serving industrial and energy applications worldwide in over 50 countries.