Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
||
| Reference Number | 2002-6-139-1-6 | |
| Title | Low-cost modular proton-exchange membrane electrolysers: a feasibility study | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen production) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Basic and strategic applied research 70%; Applied Research and Development 30%; |
|
| Science and Technology Fields | PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials) 50%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 50%; |
|
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Professor M (Marcus ) Newborough No email address given ITM Power PLC |
|
| Award Type | 3 | |
| Funding Source | Carbon Trust | |
| Start Date | 01 April 2003 | |
| End Date | 30 May 2004 | |
| Duration | 14 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £48,750 | |
| Industrial Sectors | ||
| Region | East of England | |
| Programme | ||
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Professor M (Marcus ) Newborough , ITM Power PLC (99.999%) |
| Other Investigator | Project Contact , ITM Power PLC (0.001%) |
|
| Web Site | ||
| Objectives | The main technical objectives of the project are to examine the potential for establishing low-cost electrolysers and to assess prospective implementation scenarios. | |
| Abstract | Water electrolysers are potentially a key enabling technology for generating zero-carbon hydrogen from renewable, nuclear or CO2-sequestered electricity supplies. Proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers are particularly attractive in having high conversion efficiencies, a sub-second response time and scale-independent performance. Their application is well proven for supplying oxygen in nuclear submarines, but present unit costs are high, and so large reductions need to be achieved if hydrogen-generation applications are to be realised on a significant scale. A novel manufacturing methodology for making low-cost PEM fuel cells is currently being applied by ITM Power Ltd, and this appears to provide a possible route for innovating designs of low-cost PEM electrolysers. The ITM approach for PEM fuel cells involves making composite membrane-electrode assembles (cMEA) and composite cell stacks (cStack) by a 'one step' process utilising radiation polymerisation. The objectives of the proposed research programme are therefore: to assess the technical status and future cost/performance trends for electrolysers and identify barriers to cost reduction (both with respect to materials and production methodologies) from the published literature, private communications and meetings with electrolyser manufacturers; to review ITM's existing PEM fuel cell technology to establish the potential for applying the 'one step methodology' to electrolysers and identifycost/ performance data specific to the cMEA and cSTACK; to consider possible implementation scenarios for PEM electrolysers, estimate the associated carbon-reduction potential of these, derive cost/ performance requirements to achieve specified objectives within given time scales, and hence identify preferred solutions; to report and disseminate the findings of the research | |
| Publications | (none) |
|
| Final Report | (none) |
|
| Added to Database | 01/01/07 | |
