Marty Neese, CEO at Verdagy shared with Hydrogen Central interesting details about their electrolyzers and the role they play in the green hydrogen economy. Verdagy is seeking to fundamentally change the way industrial-scale hydrogen is produced in order to massively decarbonize the most difficult sectors of our global economy.
Marty’s commitment to addressing climate change is evident in his extensive career – spending the last fifteen years in the clean energy industry working to make solar and now hydrogen the lowest cost, most economic and sustainable choice globally. Marty is also the co-founder of Nuvosil A.S. an Oslo and Silicon Valley based company and serves on the Boards of Ballard, a PEM fuel cell company, the Ellen Macarthur Foundation USA Board of Trustees, and Renu Robotics. He is a passionate advocate for the transition to a sustainable, circular economy with a goal of eliminating the concept of waste.
1. Verdagy’s technology leverages large-scale AEMs. What are the benefits of this technology compared to traditional electrolyzers?
Our patented very large single-element architecture cells using membranes are designed to run at very high current densities. The cells are nearly 3m2 in size and operate at industry-leading current densities that far exceed any other alkaline water electrolysis technologies.
Bigger cells operating at higher current densities means more hydrogen production at every level. Additionally, with the wide dynamic operating range with load shedding ability of 95%, there is an opportunity to reduce energy costs and load-gaining ability to maximize H₂ production.
Our recent launch of the commercial module illustrates the benefits of large-cell design, with the three 28,500 cm2 cells producing hydrogen at a rate of >3.0kg/hr per cell.
Other benefits include seamless integration with renewables, as Verdagy’s eDynamic™ process is designed to rapidly change operating parameters to capture the most optimal input energy pricing.
Without the dependency on costly noble metals such as platinum and titanium, and due to the very large size and ability to run at high current densities, we’ve achieved the lowest CapEx in the industry and the lowest H2 production costs when coupled with renewable energy.
2. How do Verdagy’s Electrolyzers facilitate scalability?
Verdagy’s technology is designed to grow with our customers. The membrane-based water electrolysis is engineered to make it easy to scale and maintain into the future. With our design, a 20MW electrolyzer and 200MW plant can rapidly change operating parameters in order to meet changing conditions, such as fuel demands of industrial processes, or fluctuations in energy pricing.
This helps to optimize facility design and ongoing operating costs. In addition, we build our electrolyzer and plant using very large active area cells with the ability to run at industry-leading current densities.
Taken together, these attributes add up to the lowest upfront capital costs and the lowest unit production economics. We also facilitate scalability with the ability to replace key components over time as we continue to innovate, ensuring our customers have access to the most advanced technologies.
3. Verdagy’s sights are set on commercial scalability. What can the industry expect from Verdagy in the years to come?
We started with scalability as the problem we wanted to address. Scalability and growth are unlocked by having the lowest CapEx possible. Verdagy’s approach to electrolysis lends itself to very large scale very rapidly.
We have engineered our product solution to address the GW-scale challenges and use cases needed to decarbonize industrial processes.
Further, our cell architecture and operating approach enable innovations of all kinds going forward, which means we can continue to lower both CapEx costs and improve efficiencies and lower unit costs over time.
4. What is the role of green hydrogen in worldwide decarbonization efforts?
Green hydrogen will play a critical role in decarbonization of the industrial landscape and is expected to become a primary source of clean energy for a large portion of the global energy supply.
Unlike today’s hydrogen which is produced from fossil fuels, this green hydrogen will be generated using electrolyzers powered by renewable energy. We are seeing more and more hydrogen projects being announced, driven by expanding renewable energy resources, expansion of hydrogen infrastructure, and regulatory directions.
5. What industries are well suited to benefit from Verdagy’s hydrogen solutions?
We are designing and engineering large-scale electrolyzers that generate hydrogen at scale, driving economics that makes it easier for industry to replace fossil fuel with hydrogen.
Our sights are set on the industry’s lowest CapEx and highest efficiency electrolyzer solutions, aiming for best-in-class levelized costs of hydrogen for our customers. In decarbonizing large sectors of the industrial landscape, Verdagy is addressing the largest near-term markets and helping customers transition to green hydrogen and replacing their CO₂ and GHG emitting production assets.
6. What about Verdagy’s team makes them well-positioned to provide scalable solutions for hydrogen in industry?
While “eDynamic” is an entirely new category of electrolyzer and plant, it comes from a team with solid industry experience and proven base technology.
We know how to successfully operate our very large cell at high current densities and in highly dynamic operations. At our world-class lab and pilot plant in Moss Landing, CA., we have everything needed onsite to quickly scale innovation from the lab to the pilot plant to commercialization. We also understand how to work with customers to manage risks and unlock the potential of industrial hydrogen as a fuel.
Our veteran team has been working tirelessly to design the best, most advantageous features of large cells while designing out all the aspects that cause failures. As we are gearing up to bring our electrolyzers to market, we recently brought in a new CCO and COO to facilitate manufacturing and commercialization.
For more info about Verdagy visit their website – https://verdagy.com/
READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central
Copyright © Hydrogen Central. All Rights Reserved.