[ oxygen ]
Medicinal oxygen cylinder filling hoses. Image courtesy of APCI
Will hydrogen electrolysers deliver medicinal oxygen in Europe?
Thousands of tonnes per year of oxygen would be produced on hydrogen electrolysers as a by-product if green hydrogen scales up to play a substantial role in achieving net-zero ambitions. For each tonne of hydrogen produced, around eight tonnes of oxygen are generated. A 1 MW water electrolyser could produce around 3 tonnes per day of high-purity oxygen, in addition to about 450 kg per day of hydrogen. Beneficial use of this oxygen could enhance the business case for green hydrogen and support costeffective patient care in hospitals.
By Stephen B. Harrison, sbh4 consulting
Quality controls for medicinal oxygen
Oxygen delivered to hospitals in Europe can currently be produced using cryogenic air separation units. However,‘ production’ is not the only cost element of relevance to the end user. Liquefaction or compression into gas cylinders, followed by distribution, are major components of the total cost. Additionally, these oxygen storage and distribution assets require maintenance and testing.
The medicinal oxygen supply chain must also be governed by appropriate Good Manufacturing Practice( GMP) and Good Distribution Practice( GDP) quality management systems. The EU document that refers to the GMP for medicinal
38 Hydrogen Tech World | Issue 22 | June 2025