Finnish team pushes electrolyser voltage to 1,000 V to trim plant costs

LUT University's record 1,000 V alkaline test could cut hydrogen plant investment by 10–15%, by the researchers' estimate. It is still at the development stage.

Researchers at LUT University in Finland have run a series-connected alkaline electrolysis system at 1,000 V, which they describe as a record. Industrial alkaline electrolysers typically operate at roughly 200–400 V. The tests used ABB power electronics and electrolyser stacks from Estonia-based Stargate Hydrogen.

The logic is simple. At higher voltage, the same power needs less current, which reduces electrical losses and the cost of the power supply and power electronics. Those components make up about a quarter of a hydrogen plant's investment costs. The researchers say that halving that portion could cut total system investment by around 10–15%.

That matters because hydrogen is an input to fertiliser, steel, shipping fuel and energy storage, and green hydrogen's main handicap is cost. Trimming capital spending on the electrical side, without changing the chemistry, is the kind of incremental gain that helps electrolytic hydrogen compete with fossil-derived hydrogen.

The caveats are significant. The 10–15% figure is an estimate built on an assumed halving of power-supply costs, not a demonstrated saving. The work is at the development stage. Next steps are optimising system design, modelling, and minimising stray currents, all needed before scale-up.

The same roundup also noted a binding Jera–AM Green deal for about 70,000 tonnes a year of green ammonia, and a Trieste modelling study putting Omani hydrogen imports at €7.84/kg against €10.22/kg for Italian production. Those are modelled or planned, not delivered.

Source: pv magazine