Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) based water electrolysis for hydrogen production is widely considered as a key technology to decarbonize our fossil-based energy system. Due to its highly dynamic behavior PEM electrolyzer systems accomplish the requirements to be operated with renewable energy-based electricity such as wind or PV power. The production of chemical energy carrier such as hydrogen enables the integration of renewable energy into industrial processes and mobility and therefore sector coupling.

Changes need to be made in energy production to achieve the long-term goal of the Paris agreement, to keep global warming below 2°C [1], and to reach the CO₂ target by 2050 whereas hydrogen could make up to 20% of the abatement [2]. Reaching this target, a transition of the fossil-based hydrogen production towards green hydrogen produced by electrolysis is an essential factor. Therefore, PEM electrolyzer systems have to reach industrial relevant sizes and significant cost reduction.

Siemens Hydrogen Solution has released its next generation of PEM electrolyzer system Silyzer 300 in 2018. By choosing a highly modular concept, Siemens AG is offering hydrogen generation plants from 10 to 100 MW based on PEM technology. It allows the full utilization of economy of scale effects also for customized solutions. However, in order to achieve the expansion targets that are published in various studies of several hundreds of Megawatts per year, it is essential to achieve further progress in regards to cost reduction, efficiency increase and overall hydrogen production plant optimization.

Together with our partners in H2Future, an FCH JU funded project, a demonstration plant is currently being built and will be operated at the largest steel production site of voestalpine Group in Linz, Austria. In a nutshell, the fundamental goal of H2Future is to demonstrate that an industrially integrated PEM electrolyzer system is able to produce green hydrogen and provides grid services at the same time.

[1] https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/international/negotiations/paris_de

[2] Hydrogen Council, Hydrogen Scaling up: A sustainable pathway for the global energy transmission, Nov. 2017