Australian electrolyser manufacturer Hysata claims to have developed a new type of electrolyser with the most efficient electrolysis cell in the world, 20% more efficient than its contemporaries, and a simplified balance of plant. The design operates at 95% system efficiency, delivering significant performance over incumbent electrolysers.
Hysata’s high-efficiency electrolyser is expected to deliver the lowest-cost green hydrogen globally, and is 75% more efficient than incumbent electrolyser technology, which means around 25% of renewable energy is wasted as heat.
The company has developed a technology called capillary-fed electrolysis, wherein water is supplied to hydrogen and oxygen-evolving electrodes by capillary-induced transport, leading to inherently bubble-free operation at the electrodes. According to Hysata, this process of removal of bubbles allows for the usage of the entire surface of the electrolyzer catalyst.
The company is in the process of expanding its electrolyser technology, which has garnered interest from prominent clients and investors worldwide. It expects that the technology will facilitate quicker and more cost-effective decarbonization of challenging industries, such as steelmaking and shipping, that are difficult to transition away from fossil fuels.
The demand for these electrolysers and for green hydrogen is projected to reach about $50 billion a year by 2050.
Source: Mining Weekly