Large quantities of green hydrogen are required to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors such as steel and transport. To facilitate this, the MoreH2 project will further develop two electrolysis technologies, proton exchange membranes, and solid oxide.
Currently, 95% of hydrogen production relies on fossil fuels. To achieve a green energy transition, there is a need for green hydrogen, produced through electrolysis, using electricity to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The most established electrolysis technique is Alkaline Water Electrolysis (AWE). However, other less established techniques have distinct advantages. The overall objective of MoreH2 is to promote green hydrogen production on a large scale. Focus is put on improving the cost and durability of alternative technologies to AWE, with a focus on interconnect/bipolar plate development. To achieve this endeavor, a unique consortium has been formed with two research institutions, two hydrogen organisations and four industry partners.
The green energy transition will require enormous investments into electrolysis. To date, there are two main alternatives to AWE: Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis (PEMWE) and Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC). While PEMWE is already commercial, its large-scale implementation is hindered by high investment cost. SOEC has made tremendous progress in recent years but still suffers from high degradation rates. Compared to AWE, both technologies have distinct advantages in terms of efficiency, flexibility, and current density. They suffer, however, from higher cost and lack of durability. Although different terminologies are used in the PEMWE and SOEC communities, those aspects are primarily related to the same component: the bipolar plate (PEMWE) or interconnect (SOEC). Although PEMWE and SOEC operate in different environments, we will focus on the same component, as it is the main obstacle that impedes large scale implementation. A major cost driver in PEMWE is the use of platinum coated titanium plates, while in SOEC, the main obstacle is the degradation in the corrosive high temperature (600–800°C) stack environment and the high cost of special steel used today.
