Novel modular and eco-designed PEM electrolyser integrated with solar energy for green hydrogen production

By 2050, the UK government is required to reduce the country's net emissions of greenhouse gases by 100% relative to 1990 levels. Hydrogen offers a path to a carbon-neutral or even a carbon-free society in both the short and long term. The net-zero targets and policy incentives encourage investment in green hydrogen production, especially in the research and development of water electrolysis methods integrated with renewable solar energy.

The electrolyser's cost and durability remain the significant barriers to commercialization. Easily replaceable standardized modular proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) electrolyser, with a smaller scale, allows the system to be flexible, robust, and universally applicable. It provides a feasible solution for cost reduction and prolongs the electrolyser lifetime even when powered by intermittent solar energy. This project aims to develop an optimized modular and eco-friendly PEM electrolyser with higher energy efficiency and a longer lifetime. The electrolyser modules are integrated with solar photovoltaic for accelerating worldwide carbon-saving.

The candidate will investigate and develop a novel recyclable material for membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with advanced physical and electrochemical characterisation tools. This project will need molecular/electronic/systematic modelling to investigate the mechanism of the water-splitting reactions, their relationship with the cell components, degradation mechanisms, and raise performance level. An experimental study of a small lab-scale prototype will be conducted for validating the module's heat and mass transfer behaviour, stability, and durability. Potential benefits for solar-powered electrolysis, like cost reduction, enhance durability, and environmental impact will be evaluated through techno-economic-environmental study.

ReNU's enhanced doctoral training programme delivered by three uniquely co-located major UK universities, Northumbria (UNN), Durham (DU) and Newcastle (NU), addresses clear skills needs in small-to-medium scale renewable energy (RE) and sustainable distributed energy (DE). It was co-designed by a range of companies and is supported by a balanced portfolio of 27 industrial partners (e.g. Airbus, Siemens and Shell) of which 12 are small or medium size enterprises (SMEs) (e.g. Enocell, Equiwatt and Power Roll). A further 9 partners include Government, not-for-profit and key network organisations. Together these provide a powerful, direct and integrated pathway to a range of impacts that span whole energy systems.

Industrial partners will interact with ReNU in three main ways: (1) through the Strategic Advisory Board; (2) by providing external input to individual doctoral candidate's projects; and (3) by setting Industrial Challenge Mini-Projects. These interactions will directly benefit companies by enabling them to focus ReNU's training programme on particular needs, allowing transfer of best practice in training and state-of-the-art techniques, solution approaches to R&D challenges and generation of intellectual property. Access to ReNU for new industrial partners that may wish to benefit from ReNU is enabled by the involvement of key networks and organisations such as the North East Automotive Alliance, the Engineering Employer Federation, and Knowledge Transfer Network (Energy).

In addition to industrial partners, ReNU includes Government organisations and not for-profit-organisations. These partners provide pathways to create impact via policy and public engagement. Similarly, significant academic impact will be achieved through collaborations with project partners in Singapore, Canada and China. This impact will result in research excellence disseminated through prestigious academic journals and international conferences to the benefit of the global community working on advanced energy materials.