The growing emphasis on developing sustainable and efficient energy sources to meet the energy demands of the world's population has led to various innovations and discoveries in the past century.
The water electrolysis machine was a key discovery that opened the possibility of clean hydrogen as an alternate sustainable energy source.
The first demonstration of water electrolysis was made in 1789 by Dutch merchants Jan Rudolph Deiman and Adriaan Paets van Troostwijk, who used an electrostatic generator to create an electrostatic discharge between two gold electrodes. Johann Wilhelm Ritter later separated product gases—namely, hydrogen and oxygen—using Alessandro Volta's battery technology in 1800.
What is the water electrolysis process?
The process of breaking water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity is known as water electrolysis, and it happens in a system known as an electrolyzer. This process is mainly used to produce hydrogen, which is then stored as a compressed or liquefied gas. Oxygen produced during the electrolysis process is either released into the atmosphere or stored to use for other purposes.
Current demand for the water electrolysis market
Water electrolysis has gained ground in recent years as interest in low-carbon, sustainable technology has grown. Companies are developing more interest in water electrolysis machine since it produces no carbon emissions using cheap, readily available water as a feedstock.
Alkaline electrolysis and proton exchange membrane electrolysis have both seen several technical and performance advancements in recent years, but new technologies like solid oxide electrolytic cells (SOEC) and anion exchange membranes (AEM) have also made their way onto the market.
Other significant factors influencing the growth of the global water electrolysis market include rising consumer demand for environment-friendly and sustainable technologies, government and private sector investments in renewable energy, rising sales of fuel cell vehicles, and a growing emphasis on decarbonization and greenhouse gas emission reduction.
According to BIS Research analysis, the global water electrolysis market is projected to reach a valuation of $7.61 billion in 2031 from the valuation of $359.96 million in 2021. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 35.4% during the forecast period of 2021-2031.
Hydrogen has become a viable alternative to fossil fuels as a clean and sustainable source of energy. However, the effective production of hydrogen to meet the demand for hydrogen on a commercial scale is a major challenge.
To overcome this challenge, various investments and experiments are being carried out around the world. Some of these developments are discussed further in the article.
Crucial Investment by Irving Oil on an Electrolyzer for Hydrogen Production from Water Electrolysis
Irving Oil, a Canadian oil and gas production business, is expanding hydrogen capacity at its Saint John, New Brunswick, refinery to lower carbon emissions and offer customers sustainable energy. The family-run firm revealed on Tuesday that it has an agreement with Plug Power Inc. of New York to buy a five-megawatt hydrogen electrolyzer that will use electricity from the nearby grid to produce two tons of hydrogen per day, or enough to fuel 60 buses.
Hydrogen is used in the refining process to lower the quantity of Sulphur in petroleum products like diesel fuel. However, most refineries use natural gas, which produces carbon dioxide, to produce hydrogen.
In an interview, the director of Irving energy transition, Any Carson, stated, "Investing in a hydrogen electrolyzer allows us to produce hydrogen in a very different way; instead of using natural gas, we're actually using water molecules and electricity through the electrolysis process to produce a clean hydrogen."
According to Irving officials, the province's efforts to decarbonize the grid and ensure a practical source of electricity to power its hydrogen electrolyzer will continue.
Currently, the electrical infrastructure of N.B. Power consists of 14 generating stations that are fueled by hydro, coal, oil, wind, nuclear, and diesel. The utility has pledged to increase its use of renewable energy.
With this contract, Irving will acquire electrolyzer equipment, making it the first oil refinery in Canada. In Atlantic Canada, the company claimed to set up an efficient infrastructure for hydrogen fueling.
Andy Carson stated, "This kind of investment allows us to not just move to a cleaner form of hydrogen in the refinery. It also allows us to store and make hydrogen available to the marketplace."
Research Experiments on the Seawater Electrolysis by Stanford Fellows
Graduate students at the TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy at Stanford University conduct promising early-stage research on cutting-edge climate solutions with the goal of their global implementation.
Under this program, Daniela Marin, a Ph.D. candidate in chemical engineering, is working on electrolysis-based energy production using renewable energy and untreated water.
Green hydrogen produced from a renewable energy source can be used in fuel cells to help meet the growing need for electricity while lowering carbon emissions.
However, communities without access to clean water would not be able to utilize the green hydrogen created by electrolysis because highly pure water is required for water electrolysis.
Marin's solution involves a variable power source is coupled with a water electrolyzer that makes use of a bipolar membrane to provide effective pathways for the various contaminated components present in dirty water.
The apparatus can prevent undesirable ions, which are frequently present in various water sources, from damaging the electrodes and creating an internal environment that is not suitable for manufacturing hydrogen.
An Attempt to Power Satellite Propulsion Using Water Electrolysis Process
A deal was inked by the French aerospace corporation Thales Alenia Space and the Italian start-up MIPRONS to create a totally new propulsion system for satellites that run on water.
This high-thrust thruster is based on MIPRONS' own technology, and the Italian patent has been expanded to 49 more nations. It uses water as its propellant because it is both environment-friendly and reasonably priced. The water is electrolyzed to produce hydrogen and oxygen, which are then supplied into the combustion chamber.
The system would just require water loading, allowing for quicker orbit-raising, de-orbiting, and collision avoidance maneuver times. The technology can be applied to satellites of various sizes, from small to huge, because it is both scalable and compact.
The creative MIPRONS idea uses 3D printing for a few parts as well. This robust, high-efficiency thruster is intended for Thales Alenia Space satellites and will have a smaller overall size and weight.
To build a dependable, high-performance propulsion system for small and medium spacecraft, Thales Alenia Space will direct the development of thrusters. The engineering model's environmental testing will be aided by Thales Alenia Space in Italy.
Conclusion
As businesses and governments look for renewable and low-emission energy sources, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has predicted that by 2040, the energy demand would increase by 25 to 30 percent. The IEA also predicts that the creation of hydrogen from water electrolysis could stop the atmospheric emissions of 830 million tons of CO2 each year, which is why hydrogen is being referred to as the fuel of the future.
In addition, the desire for green products such as green methanol, green ammonia, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is boosting the investments and innovations in water electrolysis technology.
