“Hidrógeno” en acción — Observación de la industria de la energía de hidrógeno | Reducción de costos y aumento de eficiencia: la producción de hidrógeno verde se “renueva y mejora”

Central Radio Network Beijing, April 1st (Reporter Lü Hongqiao)
According to the Central Radio and Television Station’s Economic Voice “World Finance” report,
Due to tense geopolitical tensions, international oil prices have recently risen sharply,
The importance of new energy has been further highlighted. Among them, hydrogen energy,
Since it can consume surplus upstream green electricity and provide clean, efficient energy downstream,
It is highly anticipated. To develop hydrogen energy, technological equipment must come first.
Currently, how is the research and application of equipment in each link of China’s hydrogen energy industry chain?
The Economic Voice launches a series of reports “Hydrogen in Action—Hydrogen Industry Observation,”
On April 1st, it released “Reducing Costs and Increasing Efficiency: Green Hydrogen Production ‘Renewal Upgrade’.”

Alkaline electrolyzer (Reporter Lü Hongqiao, Photo)

Zeng Guodong from the Hydrogen System Department of CRRC Zhuzhou Institute’s Comprehensive Energy Division
Introduces the core equipment for water electrolysis—electrolyzers.
Currently, the main types of electrolyzers are alkaline electrolyzers, PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolyzers,
And anion exchange membrane electrolyzers. Among them, alkaline electrolyzers have advantages such as low cost, mature technology, and long lifespan,
And can be made very large, further reducing unit energy consumption, initial investment, and hydrogen production costs.
Zeng Guodong said that in recent years, China has achieved significant results in large-scale alkaline electrolyzers,
With the maximum hydrogen production capacity of a single cell increasing tenfold over five years.

Zeng Guodong stated: “Around 2021, alkaline electrolyzers in the industry were probably around 200 standard cubic meters or 500 standard cubic meters.
From 2022 to 2023, the development speed of alkaline electrolyzers was particularly fast,
Later, models of 1000, 2000 standard cubic meters appeared.
Recently, alkaline electrolyzers of 3000, 4000, and 5000 standard cubic meters have been developed.”

Alkaline electrolyzers are limited by their own performance and require relatively stable power sources for hydrogen production.
Some new energy sources are variable—sometimes large, sometimes small, sometimes available, sometimes not—
Electrolyzers must withstand such fluctuations, start and stop promptly, and adjust loads accordingly.
PEM electrolyzers can meet these requirements better, matching fluctuating power sources more effectively.
In 2024, China achieved full-chain independent R&D of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis technology,
Reaching industry-leading levels and gaining market recognition.

Zhang Youjie, Sales Manager of the Market Department at Shanghai Hydrogen Era Technology Co., Ltd.,
Said: “The main feature of proton exchange membrane electrolyzers is their very fast load response,
Able to respond in seconds, making them very suitable for matching the fluctuations of wind and solar power.
We have signed the order for China’s largest single-cell 400 standard cubic meters, or two-megawatt, proton exchange membrane electrolyzer,
The project is currently in manufacturing and delivery.”

Anion exchange membrane electrolyzer (Reporter Lü Hongqiao, Photo)

Anion exchange membrane electrolyzers are one of the cutting-edge technologies for water electrolysis hydrogen production.
They respond faster than alkaline electrolyzers and are cheaper than PEM electrolyzers,
Considered the “solid-state battery” in the green hydrogen field.
Zhang Youjie revealed that this technology will move from laboratory to demonstration applications.

Zhang Youjie said: “It combines the advantages of alkaline and PEM electrolyzers,
Can use less expensive membranes and catalysts, and adopt more affordable, cost-effective membranes for water electrolysis.
We are conducting frontier technology R&D, capable of producing 100 standard cubic meters of hydrogen per hour in demonstration,
The project will be verified and demonstrated on-site by the end of this year.”

Containerized water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment (Reporter Lü Hongqiao, Photo)

The latest data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology shows that, in recent years,
China’s water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment has developed rapidly, with manufacturing capacity leading globally,
Electrolyzer capacity approaching 60% of the world’s total.
Against the backdrop of rapid expansion of electrolyzer capacity, many companies have formed full-process hydrogen production system integration capabilities,
Hydrogen equipment is being “renewed and upgraded.”
This containerized alkaline water electrolysis hydrogen production device integrates electrolyzer containers, pure water containers,
And separation and purification containers, among other equipment,
Flexible in transportation, installation, and deployment, saving land and shortening construction cycles.

Zou Jianhua, Vice President of Hopu Co., Ltd., said: “It is an integrated device for a thousand-cubic-meter cell,
Capable of meeting the overall functions from power supply to hydrogen production to separation and purification.
It is not a core component, I think it is a complete product,
Achieving a hydrogen production capacity of one thousand cubic meters per hour.”

By the end of last year, the number of hydrogen-related patents in China had risen to 100,000,
Ranking first in the world.
Among more than 50 key hydrogen energy technologies, 6 reached leading levels,
3 moved from follow-up to parallel development,
Accumulating 5 batches and 27 sets of hydrogen energy core technologies and equipment.
Overall, China’s hydrogen energy technological innovation capability has significantly improved,
With notable breakthroughs in key technical levels.

Professor Yu Zhuoping, Director of the China Hydrogen Alliance Expert Committee and Tsinghua University,
Said: “More critically, the core industry technology costs are also entering a rapid decline channel,
The costs of alkaline electrolyzers and proton exchange membrane electrolyzers have decreased by over 30% and 60%, respectively.”