Ultimately, however, efficiency is only indirectly important what matters most is the cost. Measured in terms of the electrical input, its efficiency is higher than with other methods. When industrial waste heat is used, which costs little or nothing, this method can be very efficient. Since most of the energy required for this process is already provided by heat, the electrical energy requirement is lower. Ceramic membranes that conduct ions at very high temperatures separate superheated steam at 600 to 800 degrees Celsius into oxygen and hydrogen. High-temperature electrolysis uses a somewhat different concept. The process is also effective at smaller-scale, making it suitable for decentralized applications. AEM avoids the use of the costly precious metals required as catalysts in PEM electrolysis. Like alkaline electrolysis, this method allows negatively charged ions (OH-) to pass through the membrane. This technology is often used for distributed systems because the equipment is low-maintenance and delivers high-quality gas.Ī newer variant is the anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolysis employed by Enapter. Compared to alkaline electrolysis, PEM electrolysis has the advantage of quickly reacting to the fluctuations typical of renewable power generation. The thin cells consisting of a membrane and a pair of electrodes can be arranged in stacks to achieve better performance. Platinum is usually used as a catalyst in the cell. It only allows positively charged hydrogen protons to pass through. Water is pressed through a stack of two electrodes and a polymer membrane. It reverses the fuel cell principle and requires no liquid electrolyte. The much more recent electrolysis method, which uses a proton exchange membrane (PEM), is different. Although it is currently the cheapest of all electrolysis processes to purchase, it has relatively high maintenance costs. The electrolyte is liquid, which means that the alkaline electrolyzer requires more peripheral equipment, such as pumps for the electrolyte, solution washing, and preparation. The hydrogen obtained must then be cleaned, dried and if necessary, compressed. Heat is generated during the reaction which, when harnessed, increases its efficiency. Between the two electrodes is a membrane that only allows negatively charged ions of oxygen and hydrogen (OH-) to pass through, thus separating the gases. Hydrogen is formed at the cathode and oxygen at the anode. When voltage is applied, water decomposes in the alkaline solution.
It uses a cell with a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte based on a solution of caustic salts.
The method known as alkaline electrolysis has been in commercial use since the middle of the 20th century. Generating hydrogen is simple in principle. There is also lively debate about which approach is more promising for the production of green hydrogen.
Central versus distributed is not only an issue in power generation. Several small and large companies are in the starting blocks. Schmidt is not the only one to pursue this revolution. The targeted costs are promising, provided there is cheap green electricity to power the electrolyzers. He’s looking to create a system that produces hydrogen for self-consumption and for use as seasonal storage. Schmidt is looking to achieve what many before him have tried and failed to do.
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