Hydrogen Production through Water Electrolysis

Bryan PivovarNational Renewable Energy Laboratory

ARPA-E Methane Pyrolysis Annual MeetingJanuary 12, 2021

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Illustrative example, not comprehensive

https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/h2-scale

H2@Scale Vision

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H2@Scale Vision

• Attributes– Cross-sectoral and temporal energy impact

– Clean, efficient end use

• Benefits

– Economic factors (jobs, GDP)

– Enhanced Security (energy, manufacturing)

– Environmental Benefits (air, water)

Getting all these benefits in a single energy system significantly enhances value proposition.

Improving the economics of H2@Scale Use Potential

MMT/yr

Refineries & CPI 8

Metals 12

Ammonia 4

Synthetic Chemicals

14

Biofuels 1

Natural Gas 10

Light Duty Vehicles 57

Other Transport 17

Electricity Storage 28

Total 151

Early-stage research is required to evolve and de-risk the technologies

Decreasing cost of H2 production

Leveraging of national laboratories’ early-stage R&D capabilities needed

to develop affordable technologies for

production, delivery, and end use applications.

https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/review18/tv045_ruth_2018_o.pdf

Preliminary

STOREImproved Bulk Storage Technologies

Optimizing H2 storage and distribution

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“Hydrogen – at Scale and Sector Coupling” – A Common Vision Across Multiple Regions in the

World

https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/htac_nov19_01_satyapal.pdf

https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/hydrogen-program-plan-2020.pdf

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H2 is different today and changing fast

• H2 Council*– Launched in January 2017 its

members include leading companies with over $10 billion in investments along the hydrogen value chain, including transportation, industry, and energy exploration, production, and distribution.

*Steering members shown, additional supporting memberswww.hydrogencouncil.com

32 steering members and 20 supporting members (Nov 2018).

13 members (Jan 2017).

92 members (Sept 2020).

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US Hydrogen Study/Roadmap

http://www.fchea.org/us-hydrogen-study

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H2@Scale Analysis Overview

https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy21osti/77610.pdf

Accomplishment: Developed and Reviewed Economic Potential Results: 22-41 MMT H2 / yr

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Initiated Analysis of Spatial and Temporal Issues

Looks for most economic build out options, in this case pipeline transport and salt caverns storage found as optimal.

Electrolysis includes low-temperature and high-temperature electrolysis

Source: Ruth, et al. “The Technical and Economic Potential of H2@Scale within the United States” (2019) –Version for External Review

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Energy Vectoring Costs

https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/review18/pd102_james_2018_p.pdf

The costs of energy transmission are also being investigated.

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H2NEW Consortium: H2 from Next-generation Electrolyzers of Water

A comprehensive, concerted effort focused on overcoming technical barriers to enable affordable, reliable & efficient electrolyzers to achieve <$2/kg H2

• Launching in Q1 FY21

• Both low- and high-temperature electrolyzers

• $50M over 5 years

Durability/lifetime is most critical, initial, primary focus of H2NEW• Limited fundamental knowledge of degradation

mechanisms.

• Lack of understanding on how to effectively accelerate degradation processes.

• Develop and validate methods and tests to accelerate identified degradation processes to be able to evaluate durability in a matter of weeks or months instead of years.

• National labs are ideal for this critical work due to existing capabilities and expertise combined with the abil ity to freely share research findings.

The focus is not new materials but addressing components, materials integration, and manufacturing R&D

Clear, well-defined stack metrics to guide efforts.

Draft Electrolyzer Stack Goals by 2025

LTE PEM HTE

Capital Cost $100/kW $100/kW

Elect. Efficiency (LHV)

70% at 3 A/cm2 98% at 1.5 A/cm2

Lifetime 80,000 hr 60,000 hr

Utilize combination of world-class experimental, analytical, and modeling tools

National Lab Consortium Team

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Electrolysis cost pathway

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Energy Density of Chemical Bonds

Hydrogen at Scale (H2@Scale): Key to a Clean, Economic, and Sustainable Energy System, Bryan Pivovar, Neha

Rustagi, Sunita Satyapal, Electrochem. Soc. Interface Spring 2018 27(1): 47-52; doi:10.1149/2.F04181if

www.nrel.gov

Thank YouBryan.Pivovar@nrel.gov

NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

Expanded content included in this presentation available athttps://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/review19/sa171_ruth_2019_o.pdfhttps://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/htac_nov19_01_satyapal.pdf