Benefits of Electrolyzers

Rather than using fossil fuels, electrolyzers rely on electrolysis to spur the chemical change for extracting hydrogen from water. As such, these devices offer a range of benefits, with hydrogen electrolyzer advantages including:

• Emission-free hydrogen production. Electrolyzers are capable of drawing their power from solar, wind, hydroelectric, and other renewable energy sources, including some biofuels. This allows them to produce green hydrogen as part of more sustainable, emission-free processes.
• Energy storage. One electrolyzer function is to provide a long-term option for energy storage. Capable of a storage capacity that is far superior to that of batteries, these pressurized vessels can effectively hold the electrolyzer hydrogen until it’s needed.
• Stand-alone systems. On end-user sites, hydrogen electrolyzers can act as stand-alone systems, potentially minimizing or eliminating the costs involved with their transport and storage.

Types of Electrolyzers

Various types of electrolyzers are available, each with its own way of handling electrolysis. Depending on your application and available resources, you can choose from the following:

• Alkaline Electrolyzers (AELs). With a standard makeup of one anode, one cathode, and two electrodes, AEL cells utilize potassium hydroxide or related alkaline solutions as electrolytes.
• Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers (PEMs or PEMEs). These electrolyzers carry out PEM electrolysis, passing an electric current through water within a cell that possesses a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE). This SPE serves to separate product gases and conduct protons, while also functioning as electrode electrical insulation.
• Solid Oxide Electrolyzers (SOEs). A solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) performs electrolysis by operating as a regenerative-mode fuel cell. The ceramic or solid oxide electrolyte facilitates water or carbon dioxide electrolysis and results in oxygen as well as carbon monoxide and/or hydrogen gas.
• Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers (AEMEs). AEMEs achieve electrolysis using an anion exchange membrane, which is a semipermeable membrane responsible for hydroxide ion conduction.

Hydrogen Production Technologies by Re:Build Optimation

Whichever type you choose, electrolyzers are vital in clean hydrogen generation. With benefits like emission-free production and longer-term energy storage, they have the potential to be an important building block in creating and storing alternative energy. Contact a member of our team today for more information about how hydrogen production technologies from Re:Build Optimation can support the hydrogen economy.

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