Degradation and lifetime of components in Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers and mitigation strategies

Abstract

Hydrogen production through water electrolysis is an exceptionally viable method of sustainable electricity generation and can be produced using electricity from renewable sources. This dissertation is a literature review discussing and analyzing current electrolyzer technologies, in particular Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers, for the generation of hydrogen by water electrolysis. The separate components of PEM electrolyzers, the effects that various conditions and materials have on the cell's degradation and impacts on the operation, overall performance, and lifetime of the electrolyzer are highlighted. To improve the efficiency of hydrogen generation, cell performance and to extend the lifespan of electrolyzers, the research also examines mitigation strategies and provides actionable intelligence. It was successfully determined that application of the mitigation strategies discussed in the following study can decrease the average degradation rate to 1-2 % from the current average 3-4% per year, thus increasing the lifetime of PEM electrolyzers from 20 000 to 40 000 hours with an average voltage decay rate of 1.5 μVh-1.