I’ve been listening to the US Department of Energy’s Hydrogen Annual Merit Review and can sense the “energy” of the various aspects that support he transition to a Green Hydrogen economy.  The feeling one gets is that there has been consideration acceleration in hydrogen production, infrastructure and Fuel Cell Technologies, not only in the USA, but on a global basis.  Exciting times!  One area that I found has garnered considerable press is electrolyzer technology.

According to GMI Insights, the electrolyser market is expected to expand at a staggering CAGR of 24.5% between 2023-2032..  With rising deployment of clean hydrogen, coupled with shifts towards environmental security with large-scale renewable integration and with favorable governmental policies and incentives, this technology is well-positioned to achieve its aspirational goals.  There has been noticeable R&D and scale-up efforts in the development of PEM and Alkaline electroyzers.  The IEA has produced an excellent paper summarizing projected capacity, costs, the state of manufacturing and policy.

The electrolyzers are used for electrolysis of water. Through electrolysis, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen, which are further collected separately for use in industrial process, automotive, power and chemical industries. The electrolyzers are available in various sizes and have different methods of electrolysis. Depending on product, the market is segmented into alkaline electrolyzer, PEM electrolyzer and solid oxide electrolyzer. By capacity, the market is categorized into less than 500 kW, 500 kW to 2 MW, and above 2 MW.  Most of the electrolyzers used are alkaline electrolyzers although PEM electrolyzers are expected to demonstrate rapid growth brought about by technological advancements and their inherent higher stability.

The key players operating in the market are Hydrogenics, Nel ASA, Siemens Energy Global GmbH, Co. KG. AG, Toshiba, Air Liquide, Plug Power, McPhy Energy, ITM Power, Idroenergy, and Next Hydrogen, not to mention an array of companies in China.  Of particular note is Cummins, Inc, traditionally thought of as a diesel/ heavy truck engine manufacturer.  As recently as  March, 2023, Cummins Inc. announced the launch of Accelera by Cummins, a new brand for its New Power business unit. Accelera is dedicating 89,000 sq. ft. of the existing Cummins facility in Fridley, MN to electrolyzer production, starting with its HyLYZER® proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers.  There is an excellent graphic, again produced by the DOE which provides a visual of where new electrolyzers are planned ,installed and their output size. 

Another exciting recent announcement involved the collaborative partnership between Cipher Neutron Inc. and Ionomr Innovations.  These companies are set to create North America’s first 250kW AEM Hydrogen Electrolyzer, adding significant capacity to the green hydrogen movement, making them the only ““Made in Canada” solution-to-date.  Projects like these can only accelerate adoption both in North America and around the globe.

There is so much more that can be said about this exciting technology – we haven’t even touched on the technological advancements.  At Match Point Strategies, we are all about bringing our energy to your business needs.  Contact us to explore what we can do to assist in delivering your goals!