Articles tagged with "electrolyzer"
Why Hydrogen at a Kamloops BC Pulp Mill Fails the Cost Test - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica examines the challenges and economic viability of using hydrogen as an energy source in pulp and paper mills, focusing on a proposed project at the Kruger pulp mill in Kamloops, British Columbia. Pulp mills are significant fossil gas consumers, especially in lime kilns and recovery boilers, and are under pressure to decarbonize while maintaining economic stability in their communities. Hydrogen developers see these mills as potential markets, but past attempts, such as a project in Prince George that aimed to use by-product hydrogen from a chemical plant, failed when the chemical plant and mill closed, highlighting the fragility of hydrogen projects dependent on narrow industrial supply chains. The Kamloops project involves a 10 MW electrolyzer intended to produce about 4 tons of hydrogen and 32 tons of oxygen daily, aiming to reduce the mill’s fossil gas use by approximately 16% by substituting hydrogen in the lime kiln. Despite its promise as a decarbonization step, the project faces significant economic
energyhydrogen-energyindustrial-decarbonizationelectrolyzerpulp-millclean-energyrenewable-energyWhy Hydrogen Isn't Cutting Costs Like Solar or Batteries - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica explains why hydrogen is not achieving cost reductions comparable to solar panels or batteries, despite long-standing claims by hydrogen advocates. A key finding highlighted is that electrification reduces emissions about 80% more effectively than hydrogen across various use cases, and hydrogen’s overall climate benefits are marginal once losses and logistics are considered. The persistent argument that hydrogen will soon become cheap is challenged by a detailed cost analysis using the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) framework, which accounts for production, delivery, capital, operational costs, and electricity. Electricity costs alone constitute 60–70% of hydrogen’s total cost, with capital equipment and installation adding another 15–25%, while compression, transport, and storage make up the remainder. This cost structure means that even significant improvements in electrolyzer technology cannot drastically reduce hydrogen costs unless electricity becomes nearly free, which is unlikely. The article further discusses the operational dilemma of electrolyzers: running them only when electricity is cheap leads to low utilization
energyhydrogenelectrolyzerrenewable-energycost-analysisemissions-reductionLevelized-Cost-of-HydrogenThe US Green Hydrogen Industry Is Taking Its Show On The Road
The US green hydrogen industry, despite setbacks under the Trump administration, is finding opportunities abroad where governments are more supportive of decarbonization efforts. A notable example is the H2 Hollandia green hydrogen project in the Netherlands, where New York-based Plug Power is deploying a 5-megawatt electrolyzer system powered entirely by renewable energy from the adjacent 115-MWp Vloeivelden Hollandia solar array. This setup allows the conversion of surplus solar energy—otherwise curtailed due to grid limitations—into green hydrogen for storage and use in transportation and industry, without adding strain to the electricity grid. Scheduled to become operational in 2026, the H2 Hollandia project aims to produce approximately 300,000 kilograms of green hydrogen annually, serving as the first fully green electrolyzer hydrogen hub in the Netherlands. The project is led by Dutch green energy developer Novar and construction firm Avitec, highlighting the role of green hydrogen in reducing grid congestion and promoting clean mobility. Plug Power
energygreen-hydrogenrenewable-energyelectrolyzerdecarbonizationsolar-powerhydrogen-storageInexpensive diaphragm system powers 700-hour carbon conversion
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, led by Feng Jiao, have developed a durable and cost-effective diaphragm system that significantly improves the stability and efficiency of carbon dioxide conversion into carbon monoxide. This process is crucial for sustainable manufacturing, as carbon monoxide can be further transformed into fuels and chemicals using renewable electricity. Traditional systems rely on anion exchange membranes that degrade quickly when exposed to organic materials, limiting their practical use. The team demonstrated that porous diaphragms, such as the commercial Zirfon product containing zirconium dioxide, can replace these membranes without sacrificing performance, offering enhanced resistance to degradation and maintaining high efficiency over extended periods. In tests, the Zirfon-based diaphragm electrolyzer operated efficiently for over 250 hours at 60°C, outperforming commercial membranes that typically last about 150 hours. A scaled-up version of the system ran continuously for 700 hours, showcasing its potential for industrial-scale applications. This advancement suggests that diaphragm-based designs could lower costs and improve the durability of carbon recycling devices
energymaterialscarbon-conversionelectrolyzerdiaphragm-systemsustainable-manufacturingcarbon-recyclingHow a US electrolyzer redefines hydrogen efficiency
Verdagy Hydrogen, a California-based company, has developed a reengineered alkaline water electrolyzer platform called “Dynamic AWE” that significantly improves hydrogen production efficiency beyond conventional systems. By adapting chlor-alkali chemistry and employing a unique single-cell architecture that virtually eliminates shunt currents—electrical losses common in traditional alkaline stacks—Verdagy claims to have surpassed US Department of Energy (DOE) efficiency targets years ahead of schedule. The company validated its efficiency gains through rigorous benchmarking, normalizing performance data to atmospheric pressure and accounting for compression power, enabling fair comparisons across different electrolyzer designs. The efficiency improvements translate directly into substantial economic benefits. For example, a 1 kWh/kg efficiency gain at an electricity price of $50/MWh results in savings of $0.50 per kilogram of hydrogen produced. At scale, such as a 100-megawatt plant, this could amount to $3.65 million in annual savings. While this alone may not fully close the cost gap with
energyhydrogen-productionelectrolyzerclean-energygreen-hydrogenelectrolysisenergy-efficiencyLargest electrolyzer system in US goes live in New York State
Cummins Inc.’s zero-emissions division, Accelera, has deployed the largest US-built proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer system—a 35 MW unit—at Linde’s hydrogen plant in Niagara Falls, New York. Powered entirely by local renewable hydroelectric energy, this system produces green hydrogen by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen without emissions. Manufactured in Minnesota, the modular and scalable electrolyzer is designed to decarbonize industrial processes and enable commercial-scale green hydrogen production, supporting both energy efficiency and regional industrial needs. The project marks a significant milestone in advancing clean hydrogen technology in North America and reinforces New York’s leadership in the clean energy transition. Beyond environmental benefits, it is expected to stimulate local job creation and economic growth. Accelera, with over 600 PEM electrolyzers deployed globally—including previous 20 MW and 25 MW systems in Canada and Florida—demonstrates its commitment to expanding green hydrogen production capacity. Cummins, a global power solutions leader,
energygreen-hydrogenelectrolyzerrenewable-energyPEM-electrolyzerclean-energyhydrogen-productionWhy Hydrogen Won’t Win The Zero-Carbon Steel Race - CleanTechnica
The article analyzes the economic viability of emerging low-carbon steelmaking technologies in light of slowed steel demand growth and heightened scrutiny on cost, carbon intensity, and feasibility. It highlights five key steelmaking routes, including hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI) with carbon capture and storage (CCS), natural gas with CCS, and molten oxide electrolysis (MOE). The author emphasizes that realistic assumptions about electricity costs, fuel prices, and carbon policies are crucial for assessing these technologies’ prospects, using examples from Northeastern Europe and Australia to illustrate regional cost variations. A central conclusion is that hydrogen-based steelmaking is unlikely to achieve cost parity due to persistently high green hydrogen prices, which remain between $5 to $8 per kilogram in most developed countries and $3 to $4 in renewable-rich regions. This high cost stems from the inefficiencies and electricity intensity of electrolytic hydrogen production, storage, and compression. Earlier optimistic assumptions about rapidly falling hydrogen costs and free or nearly free renewable electricity have proven
energyhydrogensteelmakingcarbon-capturerenewable-energyelectrolyzerlow-carbon-technologies