Condition Monitoring for Increased Longevity, Efficiency and Safety of PEM Electrolysers

Grønt hydrogen vil muliggjøre en overgang fra fossile energikilder til fornybare energikilder. PEM-elektrolyse er en av nøkkelteknologiene for konvertering av fornybar energi til hydrogen og teknologien har et stort vekstpotensiale. Det viktigste for videre vekst av denne teknologien er reduksjon av CAPEX og OPEX. Prosjektet har som mål å forbedre PEM-elektrolyse teknologien ved å utvikle og kvalifisere avansert tilstandsmonitorering av celler og elektrolysører. Hovedformålet med prosjektet er å evaluere banebrytende komponenter gjennom avanserte testprotokoller og avanserte målemetoder som er teknologisk relevant for kommersielle stor-skala elektrolysører. Avanserte levetidsanalyser vil bli utført på testmateriale. Prosjektet vil støtte en akselerert utvikling av det grønne energiskifte ved å korte ned tiden for utviklingsprosjekter og støtte en raskere kommersialisering av konkurransedyktige elektrolyseprodukter.

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis is one of the key technologies for conversion of renewable energy to hydrogen and has a large potential for growth especially in connection with renewable energy sources (RES). Enabling factors to support the growth are reduction in CAPEX and OPEX, including extended lifetime. This can, among others, be achieved through improvements in product design, catalysts, membranes, and optimization of operating conditions. The H2PANACEA project aims to enhance the longevity, efficiency, and safety of industrial-scale water electrolysers, esp. when operated with intermittent RES. This will be achieved through a condition monitoring method that uses naturally available operational data, acting as virtual sensors, combined with advanced data processing algorithms. This innovation will support the development of PEM electrolyser materials by Nel and provide a State-of-Health (SoH) monitoring method for integration into hydrogen plants. To reduce the costs of green hydrogen, Nel Hydrogen is innovating in both PEM and alkaline electrolyser technologies. For PEM, these efforts include advanced electrode manufacturing using roll-to-roll coating processes, optimization of porous transport layers, and significant reductions in membrane thickness. A reliable SoH monitoring tool will support this development by improving the analysis of the materials screening and qualification tests. Being able to offer a condition monitoring system that can be integrated in hydrogen plants will, furthermore, be crucial for Nel in a competitive market because they will gain process control and be able to extend their warranties. Although the monitoring algorithms in this project will be based on degradation studies of Nel's next generation PEM electrolysers, the technique can be recalibrated and implemented on alkaline systems. The outcome of H2PANACA thus has the potential to open major new market opportunities for Nel both in Norway and abroad.