According to cummins.com an electrolyzer is a system that uses electricity to break water into hydrogen and oxygen in a process called electrolysis. Through electrolysis, the electrolyzer system creates hydrogen gas. The oxygen that’s left over is released into the atmosphere or can be captured or stored to supply other industrial processes or even medical gases in some cases. Learn more about world’s largest electrolyzer being launched in Norway.
The company Hydrogen Pro will shortly establish a test facility at Herøya, Norway, and the validation process will be initiated during the coming months. The electrolyzer is said to have an output of 1,100 Nm3/hour of hydrogen at normal current density. The electrolyzer has a diameter of 2 meters and is produced in China. In a statement, Hydrogen Pro says that the output equals 100kg of pure hydrogen per hour, and will set a new standard for the industry.
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Hydrogen Pro was founded in 2013 by individuals with background from the electrolysis industry which was established in Telemark, Norway by Norsk Hydro in 1927. The experienced engineering team of leading industry experts, is drawing upon unparalleled experience and expertise in the hydrogen and renewable energy industry.
Hydrogen Pro will provide solutions for producing, storing, and distributing hydrogen from renewable energy sources. The use of hydrogen as a substitute to fossil sources can be of interest for the de-carbonation of many industrial processes.
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The company’s core product is the alkaline high-pressure electrolyzer, and a new plating technology was recently made possible through the acquisition of Advanced Surface Plating ApS in Denmark. The new electrode technology enables Hydrogen Pro to increase the efficiency of each unit by 14% to reach 93% of the theoretical maximum. This is a significant step forward as the cost of electric power, depending on market prices, amounts to 70-90% of the cost of producing hydrogen.
The value of such increased efficiency equals approximately the investment cost for the entire plant in a Total Cost of Operation perspective. The new technology is proven in a small industrial scale unit and the new production facility at Herøya can handle full size electrodes. Complete assembly lines are being planned in Europe and USA to satisfy demand for local content.
The pilot plant integrates its own hydrogen production and will allow, among other projects, to test and assess various industrial hydrogen applications. Potential applications in industry include fossil-free production of steel and other metals, hydrogen-based furnace heating, or production ‘raw materials’ for the petrochemical industry.
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Unlike traditional alkaline systems, the company’s high-pressure units (up to 30 bar) save compression costs and are superbly suited for variable loads from solar panels and wind turbines. Hydrogen Pro compares favorably with the alternative technologies since the electric consumption is much lower per kg hydrogen. The units do not use any noble or scarce metals.
World’s Largest Electrolyzer Being Launched in Norway, written by Tor Kjolberg
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