Photo: Areva H2Gen
In its new environment, the container is unlikely to attract attention. Because pipes, valves and pressure vessels abound in the Höchst industrial park near Frankfurt. There, various companies use hydrogen for their production and chemical processes, and this is where the latest Areva H2Gen product will find its first place. With its contribution to the “MethQuest” research project, the company shows in which direction the development of large-scale PEM electrolysis can go. The specific device has an output of slightly more than one megawatt. The novelty is the overcapacity in the same amount.
Introduce the top 5 memory highlights
Together with Messe Düsseldorf, pv magazine produced a special edition in advance of Energy Storage Europe, which will take place in Düsseldorf from March 10th to 13th, and entrusted an independent jury of renowned analysts and industry experts (see below) with the 22 trade fair highlights submitted to rate. First, we present the five best "gigawatt winners" in an article series, then the 5 "megawatt winners".
On the second day of the Energy Storage Europe fair in Düsseldorf, on March 11th from 10:05 am to 11:25 am, the 5 gigawatt winners pitch their concepts and products at the exhibition forum in hall 8b, followed by a discussion with the audience and the jurors . The event is free for visitors to the fair.
There you can also discuss the Areva H2Gen product with Julius Holsten, Project Manager PEM Electrolysis & Hydrogen Infrastructure.
According to the optimistic cost estimate by project manager Lucas Busemeyer, the technology already comes at a hydrogen cost of 3.60 per kilogram, including electricity costs of 5 cents per kilowatt hour. This would place them where decentralized electrolysis will only take in the next five to ten years. However, only with almost full utilization of the device with 8000 hours a year over 20 years. It must therefore be operated with mains electricity.
But since hydrogen from steam reformation is often even cheaper, Areva wants to make its unit fit for marketing on the balancing energy market (FCR) and to cross-finance it with its revenues. In addition, the device then contributes to the integration of renewable energies.
The challenge for this is that the electrolyzer can run at times with twice the output of 2 megawatts, at times with only 250 kilowatts, without damaging it or aging faster. The adaptations of the technology to this highly dynamic driving style are deliberately kept to a minimum, explains Busemeyer. The overcapacity should only increase the investment costs by 20 percent. He expects this premium to pay for itself within three to five years and hopes that the novelty will lower the hydrogen price to around EUR 3.45 per kilogram.
Comments from the judges
Xavier Daval : “The solution can deliver balancing energy and contribute to grid stabilization. Once the energy is converted to hydrogen, it can be used for various applications such as mobility or industry. ”
This article originally appeared on pv-magazine-usa.com, and has been republished with permission by pv magazine (www.pv-magazine.com and www.pv-magazine-usa.com)
