Overview
Hydrogen electrolyzers
Hydrogen – a versatile gas and source of hope for the future
Hydrogen plays a key role as an energy carrier and as base material in various production lines on the way to a climate-neutral economy. The gas is highly versatile and can also be used in emissions-intensive industrial processes, e.g. in steel production or the raw materials and chemical industries.
In road, rail and air transport, hydrogen can be used as an alternative fuel either in combustion engines or in fuel cells in which electricity is generated to drive electric motors. Maritime transport cannot be electrified directly, so the detour must be taken via the combustion of hydrogen or the use of H2-powered fuel cells. The fossil feedstocks and energy carriers currently used will then be replaced by renewable electricity-based alternatives produced by the power-to-X process.
The PEM electrolyzer
Four electrolysis processes are currently known, which are at different stages of technical development.
Polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis (also known as "proton exchange membrane electrolysis" or PEM electrolysis for short) is considered to have the potential to overtake the currently most mature and more powerful alkaline electrolysis (AEL) in the long term in terms of performance and cost, and thus to achieve the highest growth rates in production in the medium term.