Recent Advances in Cell Cost and Efficiency for PEM-Based Water Electrolysis

Water electrolysis using proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology is a promising pathway to generate hydrogen for energy applications because of the lack of corrosive electrolytes, small footprint, and ability to generate at differential pressure, requiring only deionized water and an energy source. Using a renewable energy source as the input power enables a carbon-free cycle. In 2008, Proton created a cell stack roadmap to leverage the material advancements made in fuel cells as well as address new design requirements. The overall impact of this research to date has been considerable. Efficiency improvements of 20% have been demonstrated for membrane and catalyst configurations that have been tested to over 1000 hours. Cost reductions of over 15% of the total stack cost have also been proven to be feasible. Additional pathways for the next 3-5 years are expected to continue to make progress in reducing the cost of hydrogen from water electrolysis.