Exploring commercial water electrolyser systems: a data-based analysis of product characteristics

Abstract

The urgency for energy transition is evident through the increasing demand for new technologies such as water electrolysers (WEs), which have the potential to generate green hydrogen using renewable electricity. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the technical capabilities of commercially available WE system products. The analysis is based on publicly accessible data gathered from 28 WE manufacturers worldwide with a total of 186 products, focusing on technology types and various technical characteristics of each WE system, including capacity, footprint, hydrogen output pressure, hydrogen purity and conversion rate. The analysis reveals that the current WE system solutions in the market exhibit diverse and varied characteristics. Further, there is a lack of standardized product specifications adopted by manufacturers. This underscores the urgent need for the development of frameworks and standards. Implementing such standards is crucial for enhancing clarity and understanding, facilitating efficient comparisons and selection processes, and supporting the future advancement of WE technologies and WE-enabled Power-to-X applications on a global scale.