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Partnership to develop novel electrolyser catalysts Sibanye-Stillwater and Heraeus Precious Metals have agreed to jointly collaborate on research and development of novel electrocatalysts containing platinum group metals with high activity and stability for PEM electrolysers utilised in the production of green hydrogen .
Platinum and iridium are currently essential components of electrocatalysts for the generation of green hydrogen by means of proton exchange membrane ( PEM ) electrolysis . Iridium , however , is one of the scarcest platinum group metals ( PGMs ) and its limited availability is a potential constraint on the future widespread adoption of PGM PEM electrolysers . Reducing iridium loadings in PEM electrocatalysts is key to ensuring a sustainable hydrogen ecosystem , enabling PEM technology to be cost competitive to make triple-digit giga-watt-scale a reality within the next decade .
Technologies that reduce or replace iridium with , for example , ruthenium , offer significant potential . The partners aim to develop a new , robust solution based on looking at the substitution of iridium with other metals , as well as developing more sophisticated metal oxide structures .
The project will be equally funded by the parties over a three-year period . The results will be mutually commercialized , and the parties will cooperate on communication and marketing of the novel catalyst .
New milestones achieved in AEM electrolysis technology Californian start-up Verdagy has demonstrated the commercial efficacy of its anion exchange membrane ( AEM ) water electrolysis technology . The company ’ s eDynamic™ process is designed to rapidly change operating parameters to integrate well with renewables and capture the most optimal input energy pricing .
In August , the company launched its threecell 500 kW commercial electrolyzer module . The three 28,500 cm 2 cells produce hydrogen at a rate of > 3.0 kg / hr per cell , validating their patented cell architecture and design that enables high current densities in a large-format cell . This is said to represent
industry-leading current density operations .
The launch of their commercial cell was preceded by a 1,000-hour run on a 20 kW , 3,200 cm2 cell in a production environment at Verdagy ’ s pilot plant in Moss Landing , CA . The 1,000- hour run demonstrated lifetime durability and minimized risk as they scaled up to the commercial electrolyzer module .
The company is designing for efficiency and affordability , with a wide dynamic operating range . The large dynamic range offers higher efficiencies at lower current densities and greater productivity at higher current densities .
8 Hydrogen Tech World | Issue 6 | October 2022