In the field of alkaline electrolyzers, Gen-Hy, a French start-up offering innovative solutions for the production of green hydrogen, has developed new high-performance catalysts without noble metals with catalytic deposition processes on its Gen-AEM® membranes. This technological advance makes it possible to achieve efficiencies of more than 85% compared to 65% on average currently on the market. Gen-Hy is positioned as the most efficient company in the sector.
There are several processes for producing green hydrogen, including water electrolysis, which achieves high purity but at a high cost.
Optimizing the hydrogen manufacturing process is a race towards efficiency so that the hydrogen thus produced becomes an ecological and economical alternative.
That is why Gen-Hy has developed a new formulation of high-performance catalysts based on nickel nanoparticles, an abundant and inexpensive metal. Gen-Hy thus replaces platinum and iridium, rare and expensive metals commonly used in catalysts.
The process improvement is linked to an increase in the contact surface between the catalyst and the water made possible by the use of nano-catalysts deposited on the Gen-AEM® membranes.
Thanks to an application process that is unique on the market, Gen-Hy improves electrolysis performance and increases the quantity of hydrogen produced by 30% for a 1 MW electrolyser.
Gen-Hy achieves efficiencies of over 85% with a hydrogen production quantity of 518 kg/day for 1 MW consumed while the market average is 65% efficiency for 395 kg/day of hydrogen produced.
These research results were obtained after 3 years of R&D. Patent applications are in progress.
With serious assets, Gen-Hy must successfully transition from the laboratory to industrial production of hydrogen with the construction of its AEM electrolyser manufacturing plant in Belfort, delivered in 2024.
With such results, Gen-Hy is well on its way to making hydrogen an ecological and economical alternative.
For Sébastien Le Pollès, President of Gen-Hy: “ This is a step forward in the production of hydrogen at high yields, without the use of rare metals, limited resources on our planet. It is the one and only path compatible with the production of hydrogen on an industrial scale.. ».
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Understanding catalysis in water electrolysis: There are several processes for producing green hydrogen, including water electrolysis, which involves dissociating the water molecule using an electric current to obtain hydrogen and oxygen. Most electrolyzers use catalysts, which improve the chemical reaction of water molecule dissociation, thereby increasing the efficiency of electrolysis. Catalysts lower the water molecule dissociation voltage during electrolysis. Thus, the more active catalysts there are, the less energy is spent to produce hydrogen and the higher the hydrogen production efficiency. These catalysts mainly contain noble metals such as platinum and iridium, rare and very expensive metals. Mining these rare metals is incompatible with an ecological and economic approach. For example, in platinum deposits, 1 tonne of ore must be processed to obtain 3 grams of platinum. 1 kg of platinum costs around €29,000 (x 2 in 10 years), 1 kg of iridium oxide around €200,000 (x 10 in 1 year). However, in an acidic environment, for a 1 MW electrolyser, 1 kg of platinum and 2 kg of iridium oxide are required to have the same performance as that obtained by Gen-Hy. We must therefore try to find replacements with abundant and cheap metals that are just as effective. Gen-Hy, which developed high-performance electrolysis using the alkaline method, has just developed a new formulation of high-performance catalysts without noble metals. |
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About Gen-Hy:
Since 2019, Gen-Hy has been designing and manufacturing energy solutions integrating exclusive technologies, capable of exploiting hydrogen energy with complete reliability, safety and performance. Gen-Hy offers solutions for the production of hydrogen for mobility, storage, energy supply and cleaning of large-capacity engines.
8 AEM membrane manufacturers worldwide including 3 in Europe including Gen-Hy
2 alkaline electrode manufacturers in the world including Gen-Hy
More information on: www.gen-hy.com
