A proposal with testing guidance for assessing performance degradation in water electrolyser stacks
This document introduces proposed accelerated stress testing (AST) protocols for assessing the performance degradation of water electrolyser (WE) stacks. These stacks play a crucial role in generating clean hydrogen in bulk amounts through the electrolysis of water, primarily using electricity from renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic arrays and wind turbines.
By implementing these protocols, it becomes feasible to assess the performance degradation of various stacks systematically especially following a design of experiment approach. This allows for a thorough comparison of the three main low-temperature water electrolysis technologies: alkaline water electrolysis in an alkaline water electrolyser, anion exchange polymer membrane water electrolysis in an anion exchange polymer membrane water electrolyser, and proton exchange membrane or polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis in a proton exchange membrane or polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyser.
It is important to note that this document does not delve into specific techniques for accelerating particular failure modes or enhancing different degradation phenomena at the component and sub-component levels within WE stacks. Instead, it offers broad guidelines for establishing AST procedures for stacks to ensure their reliable operation in water electrolyser systems utilising fluctuating renewable electricity.
These protocols are intended for use by both the research community and industry, serving purposes such as research and development (R&D), and stack prototype qualification, assessing R&D progress, setting priorities with cost targets, development milestones, and technological benchmarks, and making informed decisions regarding technology selection.
MALKOW Thomas;
PILENGA Alberto;
2024-06-13
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC133726
978-92-68-09646-8 (online),
978-92-68-09647-5 (print),
1831-9424 (online),
1018-5593 (print),
EUR 31748 EN,
OP KJ-NA-31-748-EN-N (online),
OP KJ-NA-31-748-EN-C (print),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC133726,
10.2760/988717 (online),
10.2760/79843 (print),
