Water electrolysis is a viable pathway for hydrogen generation because hydrogen in the form of water is abundantly available. However, splitting of water is achieved by overcoming the inter molecular forces of the constituent atoms (hydrogen and oxygen), that requires an electric current to pass through it. Electrolyzers are devices that are used to split water molecules into its constituent elements i.e., hydrogen and oxygen gas by passing an electric current through it.The proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer is the most commonly used technology for commercial electrolyzers. It uses a proton exchange membrane to selectively oxidize water at the anode while simultaneously reducing protons to form hydrogen gas at the cathode. PEM electrolyzers are often used in fuel cells, as they can produce large amounts of hydrogen quickly and efficiently. The oxygen that’s left over is released into the atmosphere or can be captured or stored to supply other industrial processes or even medical gases in some cases.
PEM electrolyzers are modular, scalable and have a relatively low capital cost. Additionally, they can be configured to produce either “green hydrogen” (i.e., using renewable energy sources) or “blue hydrogen” (i.e., using natural gas). PEM electrolyzers has variety of applications, for example, PEM electrolyzers can be used to power homes and businesses, or to create zero-carbon transportation fuels. In addition, PEM electrolyzers are becoming increasingly cost-effective as technology improves and scale increases. As a result, PEM electrolyzers are an important part of the hydrogen economy and are expected to play a major role in the transition to a zero-carbon future.