By: Franyi Sarmiento, Ph.D., Inspenet, July 4, 2022
Automotive firm Rolls-Royce enters the hydrogen production market and acquires a 54% majority stake in electrolysis cell specialist Hoeller Electrolyzer, whose technology will form the basis of a new range of MTU electrolyzer products from its Power Systems division.
Hoeller Electrolyzer, based in Wismar, Germany, is a technology startup that is developing polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) cells under the Prometheus brand for the cost-effective production of hydrogen.
Green hydrogen is needed for fuel cells and engines; for the production of direct synthetic fuels; and for industrial processes that currently use this component that is not created in a carbon neutral process. Consequently, high-performance electrolyzers are a key component of any system.
In hydrogen electrolysis, water is subjected to direct electric current, producing hydrogen at the negative pole and oxygen at the positive pole. In this way, it is possible to produce carbon-neutral hydrogen using electricity from renewable sources such as solar or wind power.
The electrochemical reaction takes place in a cell between plate-shaped electrodes separated by membranes. Hundreds of cells placed on top of each other and pressed together form a stack, the heart of an electrolyzer.
Rolls-Royce and Hoeller Electrolyzer are united by a shared belief in the opportunity of carbon-free energy; both for power supply and heavy vehicle propulsion. With decades of experience and systems expertise, Rolls-Royce will develop a complete electrolyzer system and has a global sales and service network, opening up the potential for significant sales worldwide.
This material from the EnergíaHoy portal was edited for clarity, style and length.
Source: https://energiahoy.com/2022/06/29/rolls-royce-desarrollara-electrolizadores-de-hidrogeno/