Project UNICORN seeks to develop PEM electrolyzer with increased performance, reduced CAPEX, and increased sustainability

A €2.94-million venture coordinated by SINTEF seeks to develop and reveal a proton alternate membrane (PEM) electrolyzer stack with elevated efficiency, lowered CAPEX, and elevated sustainability in comparison with present PEM electrolyszer methods.

Collaborating with SINTEF within the UNICORN (“Unlocking the Full Potential of Electrolysis with Subsequent-Technology Proton Change Membrane Stacks”) are Hystar (business companion, Norway), Alleima (business companion, Sweden), Analysis Institutes of Sweden (RISE) (analysis group, Sweden), Ionomr Improvements Inc. (business companion, Canada), The French Corrosion Institute (analysis group, France), College of Montpellier/CNRS (educational institute, France).

Within the PEMWE (PEM Water Electrolysis) course of, water is transformed into oxygen fuel and protons on the anode facet of the membrane. These protons transfer throughout the membrane to the cathode facet the place they react with electrons to supply hydrogen fuel. This hydrogen can then be transported in pipelines, saved in tanks, and utilized in business or transport. Determine: SINTEF

On this venture, a 40 kW stack that accommodates novel, past state-of-the-art elements can be constructed and examined throughout 2000 hours of operation.

The venture goals to switch costly platinum group metallic (PGM)-coated titanium bipolar plates (BPPs) with low-cost coated chrome steel; cut back the quantity of iridium used within the catalyst layer to half of the present industrial customary; and get rid of using hazardous fluorinated compounds, particularly perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA)-based supplies, within the membrane and catalyst layers.

The improvements can be examined initially on a lab-scale earlier than upscaling with the assistance of the venture’s industrial companions.

The venture is about to start 1 November 2023 and can run for 3 years.

Background. There are two most important varieties of electrolysis in use at present: alkaline, and PEM (Proton Change Membrane). In comparison with conventional alkaline electrolysis, PEM electrolyzers have greater efficiency, and might reply to fast modifications in energy provide, making them suited to coupling with renewable power sources, in response to SINTEF.

Nevertheless, the key shortcoming of PEMWE is that it wants costly and uncommon supplies to beat the tough working atmosphere whereas producing prime quality gases in a secure method.

At this time’s industrial PEMWE methods all depend on supplies that result in a excessive value of the electrolyzer and have been recognized as essential uncooked supplies, or supplies with sustainability/environmental considerations. These supplies are noble metallic catalysts and protecting coatings, titanium-based bipolar plates, and perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA)-based membranes.

Within the venture’s electrolyzer stacks, the essential uncooked materials titanium is changed with chrome steel, and the iridium loading is decreased by 50%. As well as, changing fluorinated membranes will enhance the sustainability, offering extra environmental pleasant hydrogen manufacturing, at a considerably lowered value.