Second generation alkaline electrolysis

Today Alkaline electrolysis is the most common technology within the industrial production of hydrogen but the price and efficiency must be improved in order for it to be a bigger part of the energy system. By improving the efficiency of electrodes, increasing the pressure and temperatures and furthermore improving the stack and system architecture, the project aims at reducing the altogether price at the electrolysis plant. The work will be implemented in cooperation with AU Herning Center for energy technology, DTU Mechanics, DTU energy converting, Force Technology and GreenHydrogen.dk. The project has developed tree different technology tracks for production of electrolysis: A galvanotechnic, a track with plasma spray by an atmospheric pressure and a track which contains all new cells with a 250 degrees Celsius and a 40 bar. In all three tracks the project has achieved cell efficiency at 95-97 %, which is more than the 88 %, which was the goal at start of the project. For the first to tracks this means that the stack efficiency at 88 %, which is the 2013 Danish roadmap goal for alkaline electrolysis, can be reached. The last of the tree tracks is still at is first cell stadium, which was predicted in the beginning of the project. The outcome of the project has led GreenHydrogen, whom is in the process of commercializing electrolysis plant for the energy conversion, to work furthermore with the galvanic method, because of its potential to reach the lowest production costs within short-terms. The results of this project will be handed over to a new line of projects, were the production of electrolysis will be optimized and the plant up scaled so that it can be used for storage of wind energy. (Forskning i Bioenergi, Brint og Brændselsceller), nr. 42, december 2012)