The UK electrolyser technology sector has been given a boost with the announcement of three winners of the Net Zero Technology Centre’s (NZTC) 2024 Electrolyser funding competition.
Efficient electrolysers are key to cost-effective and large-scale green hydrogen production.
Research from phase one of NZTC’s Energy Hubs project identified the need to accelerate the development of next-generation electrolyser technologies to meet future domestic and global hydrogen demand.
Taking action, NZTC is pushing forward the development of prototypes, with a goal to pilot. This initiative aims to scale the Scottish supply chain and establish an export market.
Thirty-six applications were received from around the globe with three UK electrolyser developers selected.
Each will each receive a share of the £500,000 funding to accelerate the development of their technology.
The winners include Clyde Hydrogen Systems, which is developing a decoupled electrolysis technology which offers flexibility and opportunities not possible with existing electrolysers.
Hydrogen and oxygen are produced separately at different times and rates, enhancing safety and reducing costs.
The technology produces high pressure hydrogen without mechanical compression and is highly compatible with intermittent renewable energy sources as it can safely produce gas steams even at extremely low power inputs.
Aqsorption’s high pressure membrane-less electrolyser technology is designed to be more efficient and operate at higher pressures than other technologies, with reduced maintenance costs.
The membrane-less design reduces reliance on expensive rare earth minerals and the system efficiency will be boosted even further by recapturing kinetic energy from the high-pressure oxygen output.
Latent Drive’s SeaStack technology is a direct seawater-to-hydrogen electrolyser with a unique cell design to exploit the properties of seawater, eliminating the need for desalination and purification of the feed water.
This means that SeaStack can move hydrogen production offshore for close coupling to the energy supply at offshore wind farms.
Darren Gee, ETF Programme Manager, NZTC said: “These technologies are scalable and have the potential to significantly push the boundaries of hydrogen production.
“By supporting technologies at an early stage of their development, we have an opportunity to drive this technology forwards and make a direct impact on the future of green hydrogen production in Scotland.”