Why green hydrogen is yet far from reality?
A serious bottleneck in realising the green hydrogen economy is the green hydrogen cost that is overpriced, as of now, by multifold than that of the preponderantly available grey/brown (fossil) hydrogen. The development of efficient and cost-effective water electrolysers is a critical need in the field of renewable energy. Among the various types of water electrolysers, Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolysers have gained significant attention due to their potential to operate with lower costs and higher efficiency compared to traditional Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysers. Dr. Kaliaperumal Selvaraj, a prominent researcher at the National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR NCL) in India, has been at the forefront of this innovative technology development in India.
Dr. Selvaraj's work focuses on advancing the science and engineering behind AEM water electrolysers. These devices use an anion exchange membrane to separate the anode and cathode, allowing for the production of hydrogen and oxygen through the electrolysis of water. The primary advantage of AEM electrolysers is their ability to utilize non-precious metal catalysts, which significantly reduces the overall cost of the system. This makes them a viable option for large-scale hydrogen production, which is essential for a sustainable energy future.
The development of AEM water electrolysers involves several technical challenges, including membrane durability, catalyst efficiency, and system integration. Dr. Selvaraj and his team at NCL are addressing these challenges through extensive research and development. Their efforts include the synthesis and characterization of newly designed robust catalysts, membrane electrode assemblies and the optimization of electrolyser performance under various operating conditions.
CSIR's AEM WE Technology Highlights
One of the key areas of Dr. Selvaraj’s research is the development of novel membrane-electrode assemblies (MEA). The anion exchange membrane must be stable in alkaline environments, have high ionic conductivity, and be resistant to degradation. The team at NCL is exploring the use of various polymers and composite based MEAs to achieve these properties. This research is crucial for ensuring the longevity and efficiency of AEM electrolysers in practical applications.
Another significant aspect of Dr. Selvaraj’s work is the development of efficient and durable catalysts. Traditional PEM electrolysers often rely on expensive platinum-based catalysts, which limit their widespread adoption. AEM electrolysers, on the other hand, can use non-precious metal catalysts, such as nickel and cobalt, which are more abundant and cost-effective. The research at NCL aims to enhance the catalytic activity and stability of these materials, ensuring that they can perform reliably in an alkaline environment.
The integration of AEM electrolysers stack into an efficient balance of plant (BoP) is another critical activity in his group. Leading industrial partners have joined hands with his team to develop and demonstrate this to make India's first indigenous Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) Water Electrolyser Technology.
Know more: India's first AEM WE Technology Development
Program Update: July 2025
CSIR NCL has designed and developed India's first indigenous Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyser (AEM WE) technology, with the project running from 2022 to 2025. Led by Dr Kaliaperumal Selvaraj at CSIR NCL, this initiative, part of the National Hydrogen Energy Mission, has successfully demonstrated a fully functional and completely indigenous AEM WE prototype with a capacity of 2.4 kW. This AEM stack is capable of producing 1.2 kg of 99.9% pure green hydrogen per day, achieving a current density of over 1 A/cm² at a stack potential of 2V.
The technology features a pair of patent-protected, high-performing electrocatalysts made from non-precious materials, all of which were indigenously designed and developed in Dr Selvaraj’s lab. Using in-house expertise, a process was developed for producing the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) of 100 cm², and this technology has been successfully scaled up to a larger frame size of 220 cm². The innovative design of the AEM stack includes unique components such as the flow field and bipolar plate, all developed by CSIR NCL, allowing for local manufacturing of the entire technology.
The core components of the AEM stack technology were integrated into an indigenous balance of plant (BoP), which was collaboratively designed and developed by Thermax Global Pvt Ltd and CSIR NCL. This complete system was demonstrated in March 2025. A committee formed by the CSIR H2T Mission Directorate, comprised of experts from the CSIR headquarters, IISERs, academia, and various industries, observed the demonstration organised by CSIR National Chemical Laboratory on March 26, 2025.
This technology was also showcased to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in the technology demonstration organised in MEDA Pune in June 2025.
The success of the project received high praise from the H2T Mission, which subsequently recommended advancing to the next phase to further scale up capacity and mitigate risks associated with commercialisation. Phase II of the AEM Program was initiated in April 2025, with a projected completion date of three years. CSIR NCL is confident in the success of this initiative.