10101577SurreyLoop: Chemical Loop for High-Efficiency Green Hydrogen on DemandClosedInvestment AcceleratorInnovate UKThe UK has highlighted hydrogen as a key part of its net-zero strategy as a gaseous fuel to be piped through the national grid, industrial applications such as the decarbonisation of iron production, transport applications and hydrogen storage for vector shifting electrical generation. Hydrogen is predominantly produced as "Grey" hydrogen via Steam Methane Reformation; but it generates significant amounts of CO2 which must be captured to become "Blue" hydrogen and low-carbon. There are three main technologies for "Green" hydrogen electrolysis, including Polymer Electrolyte Membrane cell (PEM), Alkaline Electrolysis Cell (AEC) and Solid Oxide Electrolyser (SOE). Both PEM and AEC electrolysers are operated commercially, with Alkaline electrolysers being older technology and more widely used in industry, whereas SOEs are still under development and have yet to be commercially deployed. AEC's operate with efficiencies in the range of 70% whereas modern PEM cells utilise expensive platinum group metals with efficiencies up to 82%. The innovation in our process "SurreyLoop" is a redox system with both an oxidising and reduction step through which circulates a simple zinc metal catalyst. In the oxidation unit (a hydrolyser), the metal catalyst reacts with water at between 250 to 400C to produce metal oxide, hydrogen, and steam. The oxidised catalyst is introduced into the modified alkaline electrolyser, where the oxidised metal is reduced back to the metal at room temperature with water to produce metal (which is recycled), hydrogen and oxygen. Experimental data from an earlier SMART award to prove the concept of SurreyLoop shows that the process efficiency is up to 25% better than the best PEM electrolysers having an efficiency of 94.5% hydrogen conversion with an energy consumption of 3.4kWh per m3 or 42 kWh/kg of Hydrogen. The next stage for "SurreyLoop" is to construct a small demonstration scale system and operate it for 9 months with assessments of performance and reactor conditions. We will utilise variable power to demonstrate how SurreyLoop technology is compatible with renewable power sources. The main objective from this project is to have a demonstrator to show potential end-users and investors and make the technology investment ready to build a full-sized 250kWh electrolyser and attract investment to do so.