Evaluation of Alkaline and PEM Electrolysers for Green Hydrogen Production from Hydropower in Ecuador
Authors: Felipe Contreras-Vásquez Luis , Eduardo Escobar-Luna Luis , Alexander Urquizo-Analuisa Henry 
Published: October 2023

Introducción

The yearly increase in energy demand has encouraged the scientific community to find new sources of energy production without affecting the environment. Renewable technologies have become extremely popular due to the low greenhouse emissions and availability of natural energy sources (wind, sun, water, earth, tides, etc.), However, because of the intermittent energy generation from renewable sources, it is complex to rely on these technologies to guarantee the energy supply. Therefore, over the last decade, hydrogen has become increasingly studied as an energy carrier to replace current energy production technologies based on fossil fuels. Hydrogen can be easily coupled with other energy sources, increasing the efficiency of the systems. Nevertheless, hydrogen cannot be found in nature on its own and needs to be produced, currently, the most efficient method for green hydrogen generation is based on the electrolysis of water, this electrochemical process relies on the availability of water and the efficiency and correct selection of the electrolyser. Thus, this research evaluates the Alkaline and Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysers for green hydrogen generation using water from hydroelectric power plants in Ecuador.

Objetivos

Evaluate Alkaline and PEM electrolysers for green hydrogen generation from hydroelectric power in Ecuador

Método

The methodology consists of a literature review of different brands of alkaline and PEM electrolysers selecting the ones with the highest efficiencies. For the analysis of data and information processing, quantitative methods were used. Finally, a sample of 9 hydroelectric plants was obtained for the study (Molino, Mazar, Agoyán, San Francisco, Pucará, La Península, Illuchi N 1, Illuchi N 2, Marcel Laniado).

Principales resultados

Different electrolyser manufacturers were analysed: Nel ASA producer of alkaline as well as PEM electrolysers, among them several models were evaluated NEL A 300, NEL A 485, NEL A 1000, NEL A 3880 with alkaline technology, and NEL MC 250, NEL M 5000 with PEM technology. H-TECH Electronic Co.Ltd with its model H-TEC HCS 10 using PEM technology. SIEMENS Energy, with its electrolyser technology PEM Silyzer 300 and McPhy with Mclyzer alkaline technology. All models were evaluated with the data from the 9 hydroelectric plants. Using technical data from the selected electrolysers and availability factor (90 %) from the hydroelectric plants, the potential of hydrogen production per year was calculated. The NEL A 3880 model with a system factor of 94% and a power of 14.7 MW displays the highest hydrogen production for alkaline technology, while the NEL MC 250, with an efficiency of 79% and 1 MW of power using PEM technology shows the highest hydrogen generation, these results are achieved for the Agoyan hydroelectric plant.

Conclusiones

The alkaline electrolysers show a better hydrogen generation capacity, achieving a total of 300 x 10e6 Kg of H2 per year with the NEL A 3880 model, in comparison with the PEM electrolyser technology that accounts for a maximum hydrogen production of 214 x 10e6 Kg of H2 per year. These results from the evaluation of the electrolysers show that it is feasible to establish a system for green hydrogen production based on hydroelectric power plants in Ecuador. The authors acknowledge the financial support received from the Universidad Técnica de Ambato and Dirección de Investigación y Desarrollo (DIDE) through the research project number PFICM28 “ANÁLISIS DE FACTIBILIDAD DE GENERACIÓN DE HIDRÓGENO VERDE MEDIANTE FUENTES DE ENERGÍA HIDROELÉCTRICA EN EL ECUADOR”.