£500k of electrolyser innovation funding confirmed as Scotland eyes hydrogen opportunities
At least 5GW of ‘green’ hydrogen production capacity should come online in the UK by 2030, if existing UK Government targets are met. Green hydrogen production involves running water through an electrolyser to separate the hydrogen molecules, in processes powered by renewable electricity.
The NZTC has today (3 October) announced the recipients of funding to develop next-generation electrolysers, as part of a competition intended to help scale the domestic supply chain and establish a strong export market.
Out of 36 applications, three were successful: Clyde Hydrogen Systems, Aqsorption and Latent Drive.
Latent Drive has developed a direct seawater-to-hydrogen electrolyser that could help with the production of hydrogen even when freshwater availability is lacking. Its ‘SeaStack’ technology could be deployed at the site of offshore wind farms, reducing the need for additional infrastructure and thus cutting costs and maintenance.
Aqsorption is innovating a high-pressure, membrane-free technology which purports to be more efficient. The lack of the membrane also reduces the need for expensive and scarce rare earth materials.
Clyde Hydrogen Systems specializes in ‘decoupled’ electrolysis, whereby hydrogen and oxygen are produced separately at different times and rates. This reduces running costs as production can happen at lower temperatures.
Programme manager Darren Gee said:
Electrolyser technology is an exciting sector right now, and the technological breakthroughs of today will pave the way for the green energy solutions of tomorrow.
“By supporting technologies at an early stage of their development, we have an opportunity to drive this technology forwards and make a direct impact on the future of green hydrogen production in Scotland.”
The NZTC was created in 2017 as part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal, with initial funding from both the Scottish Government and the UK Government. This deal focuses on maximising the economic opportunity of the region’s energy transition as fossil fuels phase down and low-carbon technologies grow.
The 2024 Electrolyser Funding Competition is part of the Net Zero Technology Transition Programme (NZTTP) which was awarded £16.7m from the Scottish Government’s Energy Transition Fund and is match-funded by the private sector.
Earlier this week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) published its latest annual global hydrogen review.
The review concludes that there is “continued momentum” for bringing low-emission hydrogen production projects online, despite “persistent cost pressures” across the world.
However, the IEA warned that Europe risks losing out to Asia and the Middle East without clearer plans to stimulate demand for hydrogen from industrial sectors.
Production targets set by governments worldwide add up to as much as 43 million tonnes per year by 2030, but annual demand is currently forecast to total some 11 million tonnes by this point.
The IEA is calling on governments focus more strategically on reducing the cost of low-carbon hydrogen production, tackling challenges such as supply chain bottlenecks for electrolysers.
And, in the meantime, more must be done to de-risk investment in hydrogen projects across the value chain for would-be investors.
READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central
£500k of electrolyser innovation funding confirmed as Scotland eyes hydrogen opportunities, source
