[ electrolysis ]
achieving the ambitious hydrogen production goals by 2030 .
For example , to produce 10 Mt of green hydrogen in the EU , 650 – 750 GW of electrolysis capacity would need to be installed , depending on the technology employed . A higher penetration of SOECs would potentially reduce this capacity requirement . However , manufacturing several hundred GWs of electrolysers within the next seven years is an optimistic target , given that the current manufacturing capacity worldwide is estimated at only 20 GW . Therefore , the success of achieving our climate goals will depend on the contribution of every manufacturer across all technologies . Fortunately , this represents a great opportunity for developing new industries , economic growth , and job creation as we transition away from fossil fuels .
Conclusion
Four electrolysis technologies can currently be found in the market : alkaline , PEM , SOEC , and AEM . In this article , the current state of the art and challenges , as well as the technological and price developments expected to occur by 2030 , have been presented . Based on this analysis , significant growth in deployment of these technologies can be expected in the coming years .
Alkaline technologies are likely to be used in projects that have fewer electricity price restrictions , little space limitations , and low renewable variabilities , such as large , GW-scale industrial projects connected to hydropower . On the other hand , PEM technologies are better suited for projects with high renewable variability and limited space , such as offshore projects . SOEC are ideal for projects with excess heat and lower demand for hydrogen , such as projects in the steel and fertilizer industries , 50 to 100 MW in size .
Even greater deployment of green hydrogen projects can be expected in 2030 and beyond , characterised by lower CAPEX and OPEX , and consequently lower LCOH . This progress will be driven by further reductions in renewable electricity costs and advancements in electrolysis technologies .
References
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About the author
Carlos Bernuy- Lopez holds a PhD in Material Science from the University of Liverpool and currently works as a senior consultant in power-to-X and hydrogen technologies at Ramboll . His expertise of more than 17 years spans both technology ( fuel cells and electrolysers ) and application know-how ( steel , ammonia , and e-fuels ). Prior to joining Ramboll , he first worked at various universities and research centers across Europe and Japan , and subsequently moved to industry , where he led R & D as well as business development projects at steel companies such as Alleima ( previously Sandvik Materials Technology ) and H 2
Green Steel . Carlos also possesses several years of experience providing project management guidance , including coaching PhD and Master students as well as summer interns . Passionate about green hydrogen and knowledge sharing , he regularly posts on LinkedIn and Twitter about the role of hydrogen in the renewable energy mix .
36 Hydrogen Tech World | Issue 9 | April 2023