Challenges of Industrial-Scale Testing Infrastructure for Green Hydrogen Technologies

Jonas Bollmann, Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu and Moritz F. Kühnel ()
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Jonas Bollmann: Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems, Am Haupttor, BC 4310, 06237 Leuna, Germany
Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu: Research Centre for Carbon Solutions, Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
Moritz F. Kühnel: Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems, Am Haupttor, BC 4310, 06237 Leuna, Germany

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: Green hydrogen is set to become the energy carrier of the future, provided that production technologies such as electrolysis and solar water splitting can be scaled to global dimensions. Testing these hydrogen technologies on the MW scale requires the development of dedicated new test facilities for which there is no precedent. This perspective highlights the challenges to be met on the path to implementing a test facility for large-scale water electrolysis, photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic water splitting and aims to serve as a much-needed blueprint for future test facilities based on the authors’ own experience in establishing the Hydrogen Lab Leuna. Key aspects to be considered are the electricity and utility requirements of the devices under testing, the analysis of the produced H 2 and O 2 and the safety regulations for handling large quantities of H 2 . Choosing the right location is crucial not only for meeting these device requirements, but also for improving financial viability through supplying affordable electricity and providing a remunerated H 2 sink to offset the testing costs. Due to their lower TRL and requirement for a light source, large-scale photocatalysis and photoelectrochemistry testing are less developed and the requirements are currently less predictable.

Keywords: hydrogen; electrolysis; testing; photocatalysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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