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TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT @ NCMLAB, CSIR NCL
Green Hydrogen Economy and Electrolyser
Affordable green hydrogen production using efficient electrolyser will solve the jigsaw puzzle of hydrogen economy. Fuel cell is ahead of electrolyser in technological advancements at least in Indian context. Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysis has made a big leap from Alkaline Electrolysis (AEL) offering several advantages. However, the cost of green hydrogen is yet to plummet down so that developing countries such as India can afford it to achieve global CO2 emission target net-zero-2050. India announced ‘code 212’ during the International Climate Summit (ICS21) held in Delhi on 3rd Sept 2021 setting a target of $2/kg of hydrogen that is achievable only by innovations in electrolyser technology. Apart from the balance of plant, CAPEX and OPEX for PEM electrolysis are largely relevant to factors such as expensive options of material of construction (MOC) that is inevitable due to extremely acidic operational conditions, dependency on precious metal (PGM) based electrocatalysts, etc. On the other hand, Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolysis has been shown to have distilled the advantages of both PEM and AEL together. AEM leads to low-cost green hydrogen due to inexpensive options such as relief from corrosive acid fog and hence cheaper options of MOC, usage of non-precious metal-based electrocatalysts and essentially reducing the cost of green hydrogen. However, AEM is yet to get matured as the electrolyser stack and its performance are under development.
CSIR NCL - AEM Electrolyser Technology
While AEM is considered to be the next generation electrolyser technology, scanty accounts are available globally on its technology readiness with demonstrable performance, durable operations and scalability. India too is yet to witness it. However, NCMLAB at CSIR NCL has been working on AEM electrolysis and has developed this technology with indigenously designed high performing non-precious metal (non-PGM) based electrocatalysts (IP protected) and electrolyser cells (100 cm2) that has been demonstrated for a stable and continuous production of green hydrogen for several hundred hours.
As a prototype an AEM electrolyzer with capacity of producing up to 35 NL/day of 99.9% pure hydrogen. Cell level performance with highly scalable catalysts performing in par with precious metal global benchmarks was demonstrated by 2020 with a production capacity in two levels viz., at 1.8 NL/h and 20 NL/h at a cell potential of 2.4 V. Developing high-performing Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) and Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) electrocatalysts in par with expensive precious metal based commercial standards is a challenge especially with respect to the sustenance of activities for long operational periods.
NCMLAB has acquired extensive expertise in terms of bifunctional non-PGM catalyst development which is the core of electrolyser technology. Component integration, performance testing, parameter and process optimization are among various skills available within the team. Currently NCL has entered in to the second phase that focuses on scaling this technology up to a target capacity of over 400 NL/h capacity by next few years. This is envisaged to have a positive impact on the techno-economics that would make this technology further more viable commercially.
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Circular Science & Technology Lab (CSTL)
Advantages : CSIR NCL - AEM Electrolyser Technology
o Low-cost H2 production compared to PEM.
o 99.9% pure green H2 production driven by sustainable energy (Solar)
o Scalable production capacities (>kW).
o Inexpensive MOC & electrocatalysts offering low CAPEX and OPEX.
o Core technology tested for >1000 h of continuous & sustainable operation.
o Indigenous design and development covered with IP
o Scalability with respect to material and performance
AEM team at NCMLAB
AEM team at NCMLAB
Kailash
Sonu
Parag
Abhijai
Kaustubh
Stephy
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